with John W. Howell
Here is a podcast done by Adam Scull of Eat, Sleep, Write. His questions are very good and explores the writer’s mind in a way in which we can all identify. Please give it a visit and you can also send comments to Adam at Adam@EatSleepWrite.net. If you would like to do a podcast you can give Adam a pitch at http://eatsleepwrite.net/submissions
Another Wednesday. As a celebration of Wednesday there is a story to be told each week. In case you wondered, all the stories are written for this post and are original. I continually wonder if these stories are what you want to read. I have been reading up on what makes a good blog and have to admit some of the advice seems to make sense. Well . . . it seems to make sense for those bloggers who follow the advice. For instance; the advice says the blog can be really long and if enough good content is there, people will read it. This does make sense, since there are a number of really good blogs out there where the writer has over 4000 words and about as many followers. I try to keep mine to less than 400 words and up until recently I could say I had about that many followers. Maybe there is some relationship between number of words and followers. I sure hope not. I have this belief people are way too busy to read every blog they follow anyway and to have to read several at 4000 words it doesn’t take much time to get to 80,000 words. This would be like reading a book a day. So unless y’all have any objections I’ll go against the advice and keep it short. Which brings up the story for today:
The Follower by John W. Howell ©2014
“You asked for comments and here is mine. I really like your blog. You seem to understand the subject and it is presented in a very interesting way. I am following you.”
Your comment is in moderation
“Dear Frank. Thank you for following my blog. I had a chance to go and visit yours and am following you as well.”
Your comment is in moderation
“Thank you George for the follow. I hope you like my blog as much as I like yours. In case you want to read my book here is a link.” http://amazon.com/mybook/frankthejerk
“Yeah thanks for the link. I guess you never thought about certain rules regarding hijacking a comment section of a blog with personal promotion.”
“Gee. I did not mean to get you in a wad. I really thought you would like my book.” 🙂
“I’m not in a wad, but I have spent a lot of time on preparing this post and hate to see it ripped off with a book promotion.” 😦
“Well I really didn’t mean to rip off your blog with one little comment. I guess you are really sensitive.” 😉
“I don’t think sensitive covers it. This is not appropriate behavior.”
“Who made up the rules. You?”
“No. I just write this blog.”
“Figures.”
“What does that mean?”
“I‘ve noticed certain bloggers invite comments, but when they come in they have a problem with them” 😦
“I don’t think that is the point.”
“So what is the point?”
“You have used my blog to promote your book. If I promoted your book on my blog it would be a different matter. You did not even ask.”
“Oh I understand. Okay let me ask; will you promote my book on your blog?”
Your comment is in moderation
Here is a fun event that will get you a free copy of Where the Carnies Are by Kayla Curry. May 1 trough 7 is the time.
Here is the 37th installment of Ten Top Lists of What Not to Do by Marie Ann Bailey of 1WriteWay at http://1writeway.com and John W. Howell of Fiction Favorites at http://johnwhowell.com. These lists are simu-published on our blogs each Monday. We hope you enjoy.
Top Ten Things Not to do on Saint Patrick’s Day
10. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not dye any of your body hair green. If you do, at best, you will get strange looks and a possible reprimand from your boss. At worst, you will have to live with the color until the hair grows out or your divorce is final, whichever comes first.
9. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not try to wish everyone a happy day with a made up Irish brogue. If you do, at best, you might offend a genuine Irish person. At worst, the genuine Irish person offended might just be the local police officer.
8. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not believe you need to bring your homemade corned beef and cabbage to the office to share. If you do, at best, you might have coworkers avoiding your cube since the smell of cabbage might lead them to believe it is something else. At worst, the hazmat team from office services will have foamed down your work area before you have a chance to explain.
7. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not think Guinness stout drinks just like any other beer when you go out to celebrate with your coworkers. If you do, at best, you might have to find a ride home. At worst, you might have to rehearse your apology for the coworkers and your boss in an effort to salvage your job.
6. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not sing your favorite limericks no matter how innocent you believe them to be. If you do, at best, you will start a round of Limericks that aren’t so innocent. At worst, the local authorities will be called in to calm the disturbance reported by those within earshot of what can best be described as X-rated songs.
5. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not follow the suggestion of a coworker to play a Leprechaun at the cake and coffee gathering. If you do, at best, you will be the laughing-stock till next year. At worst, you will be asked by your boss to play the leprechaun at the family St. Patrick’s Day picnic and there is still snow on the ground.
4. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not wish everyone Erin Go Bragh unless you know what it means. If you don’t know what it means and you say it to the wrong person, at best, you may get some weird looks. At worst, you may find your self embroiled in a political battle with someone with a different view.
3. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not think Bushnell’s in coffee is no more harmful than sugar. If you do, at best, you may find yourself slurring your words when you say Erin Go Bragh. At worst, you may find yourself totally wide awake and unable to find your way home.
2. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not put any kind of green-colored hat on your head. If you do, at best, you will look ridiculous. At worst, there will be several photos snapped that you will pay large sums to have deleted.
1. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not drink anything green. If you do, at best, you will have the lips of a lizard. At worst, you will need to schedule a dentist appointment to have your teeth restored to their original color unless you plan to attend a vampire convention.
The thunder keeps rolling on. Someday we will all be hoping Charles will return our phone calls. In the meantime, buy his book and promote it.
Cover Art by Jason Pedersen
Book Blurb:
The magical adventure continues after Luke Callindor and his friends recover from their battles in Haven.
Nyx still has nightmares about casting the genocide spell in Hero’s Gate. Every night her heart is gripped by the sensation of hundreds of goblins dying by her magic. By the request of Lord Highrider and Duke Solomon, she is returning to fix the damage she caused. With Luke Callindor and Sari by her side, Nyx is ready to face the vengeful goblins and opportunistic thieves that plague Hero’s Gate. Yet, there is a darker threat that was born from her violated magic: The Krypters.
It is another action-packed, character driven story that will reveal one of our heroes has been lied to for their entire life.
Wondering what you’re in for?…
View original post 416 more words
Click to visit Amazon
Fellow Martin Sisters Publishing author Tracy Custer Slonaker is launching the second paraquel in the Angelmen series
Synopsis:
Every girl at Hanover High wants a piece of the track star, Asher Andrews. The colleges are after him, too, to further his football career. His world couldn’t be better until Angela comes in to change everything. Presented with a mission and a new identity from his angel, Asher finds he must leave his hometown, and his life will not return to the college track he expected.
Asher of the Angelmen is the second paraquel in the Angelmen series. Four angelmen will be brought together to take up their roles as leaders in The Battle of the Angelmen. (Book 5)
About the Author
A former elementary school teacher and subsequent lover of the English language in the written word, Tracy Slonaker found several new hobbies after embarking on the new career of motherhood. One hobby was running distances, which gave her plenty of time to create characters, build plots, and listen for God’s input. The result of all this thinking was the birth of a new hobby: writing the Angelmen Series, an analogy of God’s love for His people. Amity of the Angelmen is the first installment of this series.
Tracy enjoys her life as a wife and mother of three in just outside Reading, PA. She still has a soft spot for kids and an eagerness to use her degrees in Elementary Education by using them as Director of Christian Education at her non-denominational Christian church. She has also learned to love running, and has not given up her childhood fondness of sports (playing softball and watching football). She gives thanks to the Lord for all His good gifts.bout the Author:
Give it a look.
Friday is the last golden day of the work week. That is unless you are a type A personality and need to keep working through the weekend to satisfy some inner need to drive to perfection. If you are; allow me to step aside and you can bowl right through there and jump on those opportunities. I could almost feel the wind go by me on your way to perfection. YOU GO! Don’t let anyone or anything try to persuade you to alter the path to your own actualization. You deserve the best and by dammit you shall have it.
For the rest of us this is a day to look forward to some off-time. While the type A there is minding and grinding the details of the next salvation machine for mankind why don’t we relax. Take a deep breath and say after me. MAR . . . go ahead say it. GAR . . .that’s it. RITA . . .YAY you are well on your way to an enjoyable couple of days. Here is a Haiku to get you started.
Relax by John W. Howell © 2014
Every muscle tight,
Down to the very last nerve and . . .
Need Saturday now.
Have a great weekend everyone.
I just thought I would remind you there is a side bar on this blog (maybe you’ve missed it) which has a number of places to click for additional information. If you should be in the mood to buy my book, there is a handy book cover for Amazon. If you would rather do Nook there is a Barnes and Noble icon. If you have any other reader, you can click the Martin Sisters Publishing link under blog roll and there you will be. If you are not sure you want to buy a book, there is the first chapter waiting for you to read and then make a more informed decision. also, there are Facebook like buttons for the book and me. You really don’t have to buy the book to be helpful. A quick like lets others know on Facebook the book and I are alive.
Thanks
Well here we are on the cusp of the weekend once again. Boy do I love Fridays. It is the night of an authorized Margarita and a nice ending to the week. I hope your week was productive and you accomplished all you set out to do. I have to say mine overflowed with getting stuff done. I was able to do some editing in addition to recording a Pod Cast interview. All in all, a very productive week
Here is my Friday Haiku for this week.
Work Week by John W. Howell ©2014
Work is done for now,
Time to celebrate the week . . .
Margarita rocks.
Happy Friday and best to all for the weekend
I know the video has nothing to do with Hump day, but I really think this song is something we should think about now and then. It does relate to the story so I decided to put it up there anyway. Yes it is hump day after all and time for another story. This one is about a guy who asks a fellow worker for a favor. Hope you like it.
The Favor by John W. Howell ©2014
Frank makes his way down the hall. He needs to see Ronny about a loan and Ronny’s cube is in the next section of the building. Ronny’s Section BB is about a stone’s throw from section AA where Frank works. He always thought it strange how the company labeled the various rooms of the office. You would think they could just call it section A, he thinks to himself the many times he traversed the hall. Ronny and Frank are friends as well as co-workers. Even though they don’t have the same boss they feel they have a co-worker bond in addition to the friendship.
Frank weaves around the various cubes walls until the maze ends up and Ronny’s place.
“Hey Ronny.”
“Crap Frank. You scared the hell out of me.”
“I’m sorry. Can you chat a minute?”
“Yeah sure. Move that shit of the chair and have a seat.”
“You sure you’re not busy?”
“Oh oh looks like you need some money.”
“How did you know?”
“Whenever you are polite, you need money.”
“Well I resemble that.”
“I’m sure. So how much do you need?”
“How much you got?”
“Come on Frank, quit kidding. How much?”
“Well I need twenty but will take five.”
“Oh sure, let me get a five.”
“Not five dollars Ronny. Five thousand.”
“W-What. Five thousand? What the hell for?”
“I really need twenty, but the five will keep me alive until next week.”
“Keep you alive. What are you saying?”
“Um, I borrowed so to speak twenty thousand from a guy and now I need to pay it back.”
“Why did you do that?”
“This guy said if I didn’t give him twenty thousand he was going to throw me off the Empire State Building.”
“Just like that? He demands twenty thousand. Why didn’t you go to the police?”
“Couldn’t. I paid a guy twenty thousand not to kill another guy.”
“Aw Frank. This is becoming way too complex. I don’t have twenty thousand to give you and how in god’s name did you get yourself into this mess.”
“Well the guy they were going to kill was a friend of mine and the killer said he would not do it for twenty thousand. So I burrowed the twenty from another guy who now wants it back or I go sailing off the Empire State building.”
“Good luck on this Frank. You should have never gotten involved in the first place. I can’t help you.”
“Of course there is another alternative.”
“Yeah what is that?”
“I could collect the twenty if I killed the guy myself.”
“Frank. Listen to me. You are a big boy and for some reason you are acting like a kid. Do you know why they wanted your friend killed?”
“Yeah. He was playing the market and came up short. He owes them a bunch of money and it looks like they won’t get it.”
“So you got yourself into the middle. Is this friend worth it?”
“I don’t know Ronny are you?”
“Me? What the hell you talking about? What are going to do with that gun?”
“Don’t you owe some guys a bunch of money?”
“No. Did they tell you I did?”
“Yes. They said they were going to kill you if I didn’t give them the twenty.”
“Shit I didn’t think it would come to this. Yeah I do owe them the money”
“So can I have the twenty?”
“I don’t have it.”
“I think you better come with me Frank. Very quietly.”
*
Did you ever do a favor for someone and they not appreciate it?
