Guest Post – Esther Chilton – The Secret Dragon – Pre-Order Launch – #newbook

~ John W. Howell ~ 85 Comments

 

I want to welcome Esther Chilton to Fiction Favorites. Most of you know Esther as a fun blogger who puts up some interesting prompts. She also blogs about the places she has visited. You may not know that Esther is an accomplished author, writing tutor, and editor. She has many awards, and her work can be found in newspapers, periodicals, and commercial materials. Today, Esther talks about her latest book The Secret Dragon. So, without more chin music from me, here is Esther.

It’s a pleasure to be featured on John’s blog today, with news of my new children’s book for 5-7-year-olds. It’s called The Secret Dragon and is the first in the Saffy’s Secret Quest series. Publication day is 28th July, but the book is available for pre-order. Here’s a little bit more about it:

The blurb

 When Saffy discovers a dragon statue at the bottom of her garden, her boring summer holiday becomes full of excitement.

The statue is a real dragon called Lily. She’s from the magical world of Mandoreum, a place that’s in danger and in need of Saffy’s help.

 There are clues to solve, a wicked witch to battle, and secrets to be kept at all costs. Will Saffy be able to save Mandoreum before it’s too late?

 Extract:

 Saffy walked over to the bench and sank down onto the seat.

“Ow!” she cried, jumping up immediately. She had sat on something sharp. She turned round and looked down.

It was a statue of a dragon. Though it wasn’t a very pretty dragon, if dragons could ever be called pretty. Most of the dragons she had seen in books and films were ugly, fierce, fire-breathing monsters.

This one had bald patches all over its skin and scales hanging down. There were fluffy cotton wool balls where claws should have been and a silly little stump of a tail instead of a long one.

The dragon didn’t appear to have any teeth, and its wings were broken. Saffy was sure it wouldn’t be very good at breathing fire, either. In fact, the dragon looked very sorry for itself indeed and not even the tiniest bit fierce.

She wondered who it belonged to. Perhaps someone hadn’t wanted it anymore and had thrown it over the fence. No one would want a statue like that.

Saffy gasped. A tear was rolling down the dragon’s cheek. Something very strange was going on.

She thought about running back indoors. It was going to start raining again soon anyway. But something was forcing her forward. Unable to stop herself, her hand reached out and she clasped the statue.

A cackle filled the air, followed by a howl of anguish. Thunder clashed overhead, and a flash of lightning lit the sky, sending down a shower of sparkling stars. One by one, they fell on the statue.

“I’m sorry about that,” the statue said, “but I had to get you to pick me up. Well, that’s it. The last little bit of Mandoreum’s magic has gone. Did you hear Narla? That was her cackling. Awful, wasn’t it?”

It began to swell, growing bigger and bigger and bigger. Saffy dropped it and scrambled to get out the way. Too late – splash! Over she went, right into the middle of a murky, muddy puddle.

Saffy looked up at the statue – at its huge, cotton wool feet, up to its mighty scales dangling down and up into its face and row of red gums, which were looming closer and closer as the dragon bent towards her.

Suddenly, the dragon looked very fierce indeed.

Author bio:

Esther has been a freelance writer for over twenty years, regularly writing articles and short stories for magazines and newspapers such as Writers’ Forum, Writing Magazine, The Guardian, Best of British, The Cat, This England, Yours and The People’s Friend.  

Winner of several competitions, including those run by Writing Magazine and The Global Short Story Contest, she has also had the privilege of judging writing competitions and relished being given the role of head judge of the Writers’ Forum monthly short story competition.

Esther loves writing but equally enjoys helping others, which she achieves in her role as a tutor for The Writers Bureau. She also runs their monthly writing club, Let’s Write.

She has had two how-to books on writing published as well as two collections of short stories. Her first children’s book is coming out in July, where she writes under the name of Esther Moonstomp.

Blogs: https://estherchilton.co.uk

https://esthermoonstomp.co.uk

Buying links:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Dragon-Saffys-Quest/dp/1836283881

Ebook: UK  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FCMZ6LMW

EBook: US https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Dragon-Saffys-Quest-Book-ebook/dp/B0FCMZ6LMW

Thank you for hosting me, John.

Always a pleasure, Esther. Wishing you much success on The Secret Dragon

 

 

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Punch

~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

Today I randomly opened Our Justice to page 53 and pointed to the page with eyes closed. The word “punch ” was closest to my finger, our prompt today.

Punch by John W. Howell © 2025

“Go ahead. Take a swing.”

“Oh, come on. I’m not going to punch you.”

“But that’s what you said.”

“Yeah, I used the word, but in a different context.”

“Let me quote you. ‘If you don’t leave the girl alone, you’ll get a punch.'”

“Yes, that’s accurate.”

“So what part of that wasn’t a threat that you will punch me?”

“What I meant was the girl would likely punch you if you didn’t quit annoying her, not me.”

“Well, she didn’t.”

“Yeah, that’s because you turned on me instead.”

“Besides, I wasn’t annoying her. She was asking me for a ride.”

“Why would she ask you for a ride?”

“Hello. I’m a horse. She is all dressed for riding, so why not?”

“No one asks me for a ride.”

“That’s cause you are a donkey.”

“I don’t see the difference. I have four legs and can support the weight.”

“But you are not sleek-looking, and your voice is annoying.”

“Who said that?”

“It’s a fact.”

“Well, that is disheartening.”

“Forget it. I’ll run with you.”

“I appreciate that, but it doesn’t make up for no one wanting to ride me.”

“I’ll tell you, having a Gen X spoiled kid on your back is no picnic. Be glad.”

“Well, I see what you are saying.”

“Besides, you do a great job keeping the coyotes out of the pasture.”

“You’ve made me feel better.”

“Great. Let’s go run before that girl comes back.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Spending Time at the DMV

~ John W. Howell ~ 86 Comments

 

This post ran in 2014 and my last visit to the DMV validated that the information is still useful. My thanks to Marie Ann Bailey who co-authored this post back then.

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Spending Time in the DMV

10 When spending time in the DMV, do not show any sign of impatience. If you do, at best, the clerks will slow service just to see you sweat. At worst, you will need a defibrillator to restart your heart after you go apoplectic from missing your turn because you forgot to take a number.

9 When spending time in the DMV, make sure all your paperwork is complete before your number is called. If you don’t, at best, the clerks will have a good laugh sending you back to the end of the queue. At worst, you will be tempted to say something like “Really?” in a heavily sarcastic voice which will result in you being banned from the DMV for the day.

8 When spending time in the DMV, make certain you do not leave the room until your number is called. If you do, at best, your number will be called the second you leave and you’ll rush back in time. At worst, your number will be called and then the next person served. You will need to wait until your number comes up again in a week.

7 When spending time in the DMV, be careful on what and how much you drink. If you don’t, at best, you will experience number eight while visiting the restroom. At worst, you will try to gut it out and the clerks will be able to tell you are in a dire situation and prolong your agony along the lines of number ten.

6 When spending time in the DMV, do not arrive during the hours of eleven and two. If you do, at best, you will be subject to the lunch hour slowdown and have a longer wait. At worst, you will be caught in a never-ending situation with only one clerk at a time working while the rest go out for drinks and to celebrate the hundredth slow down heart attack of the month.

5 When spending time in the DMV, make sure you bring something to read other than your phone, kindle or tablet. If you don’t, at best, you will be forced to ask your neighbor for something to read since the DMV is a digital dead zone. At worst, you will be forced to watch the slowly moving clerks for hours on end who appear to be sharing the same “look at this” joke and working two and three together on one problem.

4 When spending time in the DMV, do not make eye contact with any humans in the room. If you do, at best, you will be asked to help with someone’s paperwork. At worst, you’ll have to hear some sad story of why this person needs to get back to work to support the sick family and a request to trade places which you will find hard to turn down.

3 When spending time in the DMV, do not talk to any human beings in the room. If you do, at best, you will need to endure the endless complaining on the slowness of the system. At worst, you may find yourself in the company of someone who is getting ready to crack under the DMV waiting pressure.

2 When spending time in the DMV, do not dress in your finest. If you do, at best, you will be subject to endless requests for “just a dollar so I can get my license.” At worst, you might be asked to hand over all your money by a serious looking gent who swears he has a gun in his pocket.

1 When spending time in the DMV, do not attempt to numb your pain with any kind of substance, controlled or otherwise. If you do, at best, you might fall asleep and miss the call of your number. At worst, you might end up on the six and eleven o’clock news leading a riot in the DMV which seemed like a good idea at the time you were leading it.

Views of the Neighborhood – Wildlife of the Hill Country – Walk Part II

~ John W. Howell ~ 83 Comments

Yes, we are back  to finish the wildlife of the hill country walk. These are animals that live all around us in Texas. If you missed part I here is a link. We are catered today by La Condsa in Austin. Our entertainment is

Menu

TOSTADA DE CALABAZA – requesón, pepita pesto, summer squash

ENMOLADAS – chicken thigh, tomatillo, pipian verde (gf)

SOPES DE BARBACOA – beef cheek, avocado, escabeche

CARNITAS TACOS – avocado, salsa cruda, joe’s microgreens (gf)

HUARACHE DE HUITLACOCHE – black beans, dos lunas clásico, mushrooms, epazote (v)

QUESADILLA DE SHORT RIB – dos lunas clásico, black bean mole, salsa verde, pickled onion (gf )

CARNE ASADA – black bean mole, squash, salsa jitomate (gf)

A LA BRASA – grilled chicken, carrot purée, chermoula, lemon (gf)

HONGOS – grilled mushrooms, chimichurri, mole amarillo, guajillo (vg/gf)

VERACRUZANA – grilled rockfish, olives, capers, charred tomato (gf)

COCHINITA PIBIL – braised pork, achiote, black beans, habanero (gf)

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s go

A word about the photos. The displays are under glass so reflections are hard to manage. It had just stopped raining so just a little more challenge. I hope youi enjoy the display in spite of the problems.

Nine-banded Armadillo

Black capped Vireo.

Leaf cutter Ants

Bobcat

Pollinators

Texas Toad

Feral Hog

Decomposers and Scavengers

Rio Grande Cichlid

Turkey Vulture

Monarch Butterfly

Red-tailed Hawk

Coyote

Painted Bunting

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Drink

~ John W. Howell ~ 57 Comments

 

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCS

 

With brain pounding and mouth drooling my coffee drink is finally ready. A sip of the life affirming elixir is interrupted by the invasive sound of Westminster chimes signalling some idiot can’t read the sign above the doorbell that reqads in large letters DO NOT RING THE DOORBELL. Twiggy and Tempeste have gone into stage two barking and a Benny bone has to be tossed into the soundproof room. Having tossed the bone and slammed to door behind the decibel bending fur sisters peace once again returns to the manor. Checking the security camera feed there is no one to be seen on the porch.  “What do you want?” is my command from the intercom. “Message from Linda Hill,” is the reply. “Just leave it.”

After some sniveling and expressed fear of losing a deliver job the security system shut down process is begun. The SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. Also, the flight of A-10 Warthogs must be diverted. Another call to the commander puts that worry to rest. The SEAL team needs to be called off and a call to the leader makes that possible. The control panel makes the shutdown of the security system process simpler. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the turret mortars disengaged, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gatling guns on safety, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The locks on the door are thrown.

Standing there is a character that looks very much like Daffy Duck. He has a note in one hand and the other looks like he is expecting a tip. Taking the note and offering as a tip to “Watch out for black holes,” the door is slammed. The security system shows the duck sticking his tongue out as he backs down the drive. I reengage the system and open the note. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “drink.” Use it as a noun or a verb, use it any way you’d like. Have fun

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s  post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/06/13/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-14-2025/

Drink by John W. Howell © 2025

“Are you kidding me?”

“What?”

‘Did you pay Linda Hill to come up with “drink” as the prompt?”

“No it just happened.”

“Come on. Every week we sit here and talk about VooDoo Rangers and then go drink them.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Just looks a little too convenient to me.”

“Well sometimes we can catch a break. This is the day.”

“I suppose. Well ow that we have broken the ide.”

“Call Uber.”

“I have. He’s right over there.”

Photo by Resa MCConaghy

“That’s colorful.”

“Yes, and looks at all the room in back.”

“I wonder what they hauled in that thing?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“What does that mean?”

“Part of the deal is we would help with deliveries.”

“Deliveries of what?”

“Golden Bird dung.”

“Huh?”

“Only two stops.”

“And?”

“We have to shovel it out.”

“Not sure I’m dressed for that.”

“Don’t worry there are boots, gloves, and overalls in the truck.”

“Gas mask?”

“Um. Don’t think so. Man you are so fussy.”

“Yeah that’s me.”

 

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF -Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell ~ 86 Comments

Today’s good news story comes from Clever Journey’s newsletter.  It was sent to me by GP, whose blog is at  https://pacificparatrooper.wordpress.com

Breakthrough at Texas University as Researchers See Plant Extracts  Remove Microplastics From Water

Researchers from Tarleton State University in Texas have discovered that plant-based extracts, particularly from okra, fenugreek, tamarind, and cactus, can significantly remove microplastics from wastewater.

In San Francisco Bay

Some plastics are made to be small. These are known as primary microplastics, like the microbeads intentionally added to face washes and other personal care products. But most microplastics come from the slow disintegration of larger plastic products, including plastic wrap, takeaway containers, polyester clothes, tires, paint, and artificial turf. These are known as secondary microplastics.

Exposure to microplastics can also occur through inhaled air. Data from animal studies have shown that once absorbed, plastic micro- and nanoparticles can distribute to the liver, spleen, heart, lungs, thymus, reproductive organs, kidneys, and even the brain (crosses the blood–brain barrier).

Key highlights:

Okra and fenugreek mucilage (plant-based goo) work by acting as a natural coagulant.

When combined in the correct ratios, they can remove up to 90% of microplastics from water.

Unlike synthetic coagulants (like polyacrylamide), these natural alternatives are non-toxic and environmentally friendly.

The study is part of an effort to find sustainable solutions to the growing problem of microplastic contamination in water bodies.

The extracts are especially effective when removing microplastics from the ocean and freshwater sources.

The lead researcher, Dr. Rajani Srinivasan, emphasized that this approach could make wastewater treatment safer and more eco-friendly, especially in areas lacking access to expensive treatment technology.

Meanwhile, common chemicals found in plastic products—especially phthalates and BPA—have been linked to a significantly increased risk of heart disease.

These chemicals are widely used in items like water bottles, food packaging, and toys. According to research, such exposure may contribute to over 350,000 deaths globally each year due to cardiovascular complications.

Phthalates are known to disrupt hormones, raise blood pressure, and increase the risk of conditions like diabetes and heart failure.

Scientists are urging more regulation and awareness as plastic pollution continues to impact public health.

The good news in this story is that there is continued concentration on solving the single-use plastic problem. Today’s JohnKu talks about hope. I wish you a very peaceful weekend.

Progress by John W. Howell © 2025

There are several ways,

To eliminate problems . . .

Keep hope up on all.

Thursday – A little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste as Puma and Panther.

~ John W. Howell ~ 99 Comments

“Want to play Puma and Panther?”

“I’m always up for that game.”

“Want to switch? I can be the panther, and you the puma?”

“Wait a minute. Look at my color. How would that work?”

“You would have to imagine that you were a puma.”

“That would be hard since I have invested so much of my persona in being a panther.”

“All right then. The puma pads through the desert.”

“The panther is on a hilltop overlooking the puma’s progress.”

“The puma is surprised by the attack.”

“The panther roars and demands the puma surrender.”

“The puma roars back. ‘Not on my life.'”

“The panther tells the puma that she will take that wager.”

“Wager? What wager?”

“You just bet your life rather than surrender.”

“Okay by me, panther. You want a piece of me, come get it.”

“I can trash-talk with the best. Your old lady wears combat Boots.”

Where did you get that one?”

“I was watching an old Henny Youngman stand-up routine.”

“The puma has to avoid another onslaught from the panther.”

“The panther comes close to finishing off the puma.”

“Too bad. The puma pulls the old salamander trick and breaks free.”

“Hey, that move was outlawed in 05.”

“Well, tough. It still works. Want to rest?”

“I could go for a breather. Sure.”

“That was fun.”

“It sure was.”

“You okay?”

“I just love my sister.”

“Aw. You are the best.”

 

Guest Post – Poetic Justice by Dan Antion and Willow Willers

~ John W. Howell ~ 133 Comments

 

I want to welcome Willow Willers and Dan Antion to Fiction Favorites. The two got together to craft an exciting story, and I’m so pleased they are with me today. I’ve laid out the tea, so maybe Willow and Dan can spill more about their book. Welcome, Dan and Willow.

“John, Willow, and I would like to thank you for hosting us today. Your support means a great deal to us. We’ve been talking a little bit about Poetic Justice, but it’s available now, and we’re both thrilled that you’re helping us kick off the sale. I understand you have a few questions for us.”

“Yes, I do. I want to start with you, Dan. In your bar post when you first mentioned this book, you told David this story was a complex murder mystery. Mysteries, by their nature, are complex. I thought the complexity had to do with the fact that it’s ‘a Rascal Todd Mystery with Brody Thompson’, but I sense that there’s more to it. What’s different about this story?”

“It’s a murder mystery, John, but the murder occurred five years before the story begins. The police looked into it but halted their investigation abruptly. Trevor Barcroft, the murder victim’s son, is still looking for answers. He lives in Rochester, New York, but his father lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania so the local police can’t help him.

He tried to get the Pittsburgh police to reopen the case, but they refused. He discovers that Brody Thompson, an author living in Rochester, published a murder mystery that seemed similar to his father’s murder. Trevor asks Brody to help solve the real crime. Brody agrees, but things get complicated after that.”

“Brody’s a retired cop, right?”

“Yes, Brody was a Rochester policeman. He started his writing career after he retired.”

“What was the similarity between the two murders?”

“Both murders occurred in Pittsburgh. Both men were shot, and both shooters left behind the gun they used. The interesting thing is that, in both cases, someone else came along and picked up the gun and the expended shells. Given the odd details in common, Trevor assumed Brody used the details of his father’s murder as a plot element in his book. Brody says he never heard of Trevor’s father’s murder, but he agrees to help.”

“So, the two guys travel to Pittsburgh. How does Rascal Todd get involved?”

“Once in Pittsburgh, Brody buys a copy of the Courier-Reformer. He discovers an article by Rascal Todd (about a different murder), does a little research, and realizes that she has investigated a couple of old crimes. He reaches out to see if she or her editor can offer any assistance. Once details about the murder begin to surface, Bernie, the editor, decides he doesn’t want Rascal or the paper to get involved.”

“I see the complications setting up. But I have to ask. How does poetry factor into the story to the extent that you named it Poetic Justice?”

“I wrote a scene where Brody Thompson wants to visit Wilson Barcroft’s grave. Trevor doesn’t want to go. He doesn’t think there’s anything of value to find there. While visiting the grave, Brody discovers a laminated funeral card that had been pressed into the ground in front of the headstone. The card looks real, but he verse on the back isn’t Biblical; it was a foreboding poem. At the time, I thought it would be a minor detail, something just to show Trevor that Brody knew what he was doing. I tried to write that poem, but that didn’t end well, so I asked Willow for help.”

“Our friend Dan here has done a nice job to this point. Willow, I assume that’s when you got involved. But how did this go from poetry being a minor detail to being in the title of the book?”

” Now John that is the $1,000 question. I got Dan’s email and wrote what I thought was a generic clue….in fact, I wrote a few poems… different types in fact …but something about them didn’t ring true. Then there was a voice, a thought that was just definitely something that was saying …”that’s not what I am saying,” so daft as that might sound, I listened to that voice …That’s when the poet arrived; he had so much to say. I just had to listen to him. His voice grew from there. So much later down the line, Dan and I discussed a title…Poetic Justice seemed perfect.”

“Let me add one more point, Willow.”

“Go ahead, Dan.”

“Once the poet arrived, the story changed to lean more heavily on the poet, and his and Wilson Barcroft’s experience in Vietnam during the war.”

“One last question for Willow. The story is tangled up with the Vietnam War. I know Dan is the right age to know about the war, maybe too young to be drafted, but still aware. But you live in England. Did you know much about the war over there?”

“I was two years old when the Vietnam War started in 1955 and twenty-two years old when it finished in 1975. By the time I was ten years old I was old enough to read about the war in the newspapers and listen on the radio news. We have always had great coverage of world news in the UK via the press, TV, radio, and cinema news reels…We didn’t have a TV in the house before the early to middle 60s. My elder brothers and sisters were socially aware and often went on protests outside the American Embassy in London, and of course, I learned a lot from their conversations and their music, lots of protest songs. The BBC and independent TV coverage were really good.”

“Thank you both. It sounds like an exciting story, and as you said, Dan, it’s available now. I hope you have some purchase links I can share.”

“You bet, John. Here they are. Thanks for having us.”

Poetic Justice – Kindle – https://relinks.me/B0FBLH5YKB

Poetic Justice – Paperback – https://relinks.me/B0FBRCQSHQ

Poetic Justice – Audio – https://relinks.me/B0DP5FR58S

Video Trailer: https://youtu.be/PLUZ9wwyQnA

Blurbs

Series Blurb

Rascal Todd mysteries feature a tenacious young reporter with an insatiable appetite for investigating crimes the authorities can’t solve or choose not to. For various reasons, she’s not being allowed to work this case the way she might like.

Poetic Justice Blurb

Trevor Barcroft enlists the help of crime and mystery writer Brody Thompson to help solve his father’s murder — a murder the police and the FBI are ignoring.  Rascal Todd wants to help, but her editor keeps her away from the story. Why?  What was Wilson Barcroft doing at Gateway Park the night he was killed?  Who is the mysterious Poet? What do the odd bits of poetry he has spread around mean? Is the Poet still alive? Will Brody and Trevor survive?  Join Rascal and her friends and coworkers as they try to help from the sidelines without becoming targets in an ever-growing list of deadly crimes. Real life turns out to be far more dangerous than any fiction Brody could create, as the history of a war long over comes back to haunt the city of Pittsburgh.

Consistent with previous books by this author, this is a character-driven story with an ensemble cast sharing their concern and a fair amount of often inappropriate humor. You will fall in love with some of them, as they try to keep Brody and Trevor alive.

Author Bios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dan retired from a 42-year-long career in systems development and other technology and began writing his first book the next day. He’s married, the father of one child, and although there are no pets around today, he and his wife have had four Irish Setters and a handful of Tuxedo cats over time. Dan is the author of the Dreamer’s Alliance Series and the Rascal Todd Mysteries. When Dan isn’t writing, you might find him in his woodshop, working around the house, or walking around with a camera. He also might be having a beer with friends, and some of those encounters have inspired the fictional bar stories on his popular blog—NoFacilities.com.

Author page: http://relinks.me/DanielAntion

Blog: https://noFacilities.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ptjdluuxckfau3dnaihh2sn5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/

DAntionYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNHXESp0LosdxjU-7elOu3g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danantion

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dantion/

 

 

Willow, London born, now retired, lives in Berkshire, England, with her husband and a procession of foster dogs. Mum of three boys and two beautiful grandsons, she shares her observations, poetry, prose, and music at her blog willowdot21, where she says: “Writing poetry and prose has helped me a great deal, in fact I think it has saved my life.” And she adds: “I hope that you might see how the poetry is moving from very dark through the grey and hopefully into light.” For this book, Willow needed to reconnect with the dark.

Author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Willow-Willers/author/B0DZD1TNZX

Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/share/16AwsHVCqk/

Blog at wordpress.https://willowdot21.wordpress.com

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Shower

~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

Today I opened Circumstances of Childhood randomly to page 229. With eyes closed I pointed to the page. My finger fell closest to the word “shower.” That is our prompt.

Shower by John W. Howell © 2025

“So what did the weatherman say?”

“We should experience a shower today.”

“It looks like more than a shower.”

“I admit the rain is falling pretty heavy.”

“It has been going on since last weekend.”

“I listened to the ten day forecast and it is supposed to continue as a shower.”

“Do you think it was a good idea to take this hike?”

“Sure why not? A little rain isn’t going to put a damper on our fun.”

“Okay I just don’t want to be too far from home.”

“Don’t worry we can get back pretty quick.”

“How far have we come?”

“I would say we are a day’s walk fro m home.”

“Not sure I want to get any further away.”

“That’s fine we can stay here for a while. You’ll see the rain is going to taper off and the sun will be out.”

“I hope so. I do recall Noah telling us not to go too far.”

“You know that old guy is nuts. He says there is going to be a flood but I don’t see any flood warnings.”

“Well all the same if the rain doesn’t slow down I think we should head back.”

“Okay That is a deal. Don’t forget we unicorns can run like the wind.”

“I know I just don’t want to get cut off by rising water. What if Noah is right?”

“Okay we can head back now. I see you are a little nervous.”

“That would make me feel a lot better.

* * *

Tomorrow I am pleased to host Dan Antion and Willow Willers on launch day of their new book, Poetic Justice. See you then

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Traveling With a Cat

~ John W. Howell ~ 75 Comments

 

This post was published in December 2013 by Marie Ann Bailey and me. Since summer travel time is upon us, maybe there will be some helpful hints here.

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Traveling With a Cat

10 When traveling with a cat by car, do not assume that your cat will not get car sick.  Take it for a short spin first.  Usually, five minutes is long enough to determine if you will need to pull over to the side of the road and empty the pet carrier of the results of a double-end evacuation response while keeping kitty contained in the car.

9 When traveling with a cat by car, do not assume that because your cat sleeps all day, it will also sleep through a two-day trip up the coast.  At best, your cat will keep a running commentary in cat-speak, attempting to convince you to provide a release from the confining pet carrier.  At worst, your cat will scream like a banshee, and you’ll end up with hearing loss as a lasting souvenir of the trip.

8 When traveling with a cat by car, and your cat is behaving in the worst-case scenario of #9, do not let your cat out of the pet carrier, thinking it just needs a little room to stretch out.  At best, your cat will simply continue to howl, but now with the added advantage of doing so directly into your ear.  At worst, your cat will nose-dive to the floor on the driver’s side, and you will narrowly miss a few or more accidents as you keep stepping on your cat while feeling for the brake.

7 When traveling with a cat by train, do not try to sneak your cat on board a train that you know is non-pet-friendly.  Just because you’ve trained your cat to lie across your shoulders like an overfed mink stole, doesn’t mean that the conductor will be fooled.  One growl from Fluffy might be enough to find yourself and your cat dropped off at the next station, if you’re lucky.  If you’re not lucky, you’ll be charged with animal abuse, and Fluffy will have the satisfaction of seeing you take the perp walk off the train.

6 When traveling with a cat by train, do not think that your fellow travelers will find your cat’s antics as amusing as you do.  Hiding under your seat and swiping at every foot that passes by within an inch of Smoky’s nose is, at best, annoying to passengers trying to walk the aisle unmolested.  At worst, you will have forgotten to clip Smoky’s claws, and so those needle-sharp claws will snag on every sock or exposed skin that passes by.

5 When traveling with a cat by train, do not think it is okay to allow your cat to use the seat upholstery as a scratching post.  At best, the conductor’ll simply admonish you to put Tigger back in his pet carrier (providing that you are not guilty of #7).  At worst, you will be made to take a pair of scissors, a needle, and thread and attempt to repair the damage done by Tigger (and he will watch you the whole time with great satisfaction).

4 When traveling with a cat by plane, do not think that once the seatbelt sign has been turned off that you can let Kitty out of the pet carrier stowed under the seat in front of you.  While you may think Kitty won’t bolt the second she senses freedom, in fact, she will.  In the best case, she’ll get no farther than the passenger next to you who just happened to bring a chicken sandwich on board.  In the worst case, she will go careening down the aisle and into First Class, lost to you forever.

3 When traveling with a cat by plane, do not assume that Felix, who had never worn a leash and harness before, will remain calm while going through the security checkpoint.  At best, Felix will simply attach himself to your leg like Velcro, and the TSA will defer giving you a full body scan.  At worst, Felix will make the Tasmanian devil seem meek by comparison, and you will be held financially responsible for the “pain and suffering” of the TSA agents if not tasered first.

2 When traveling with a cat on a cruise ship, well, first ask yourself why you would do that.  Then, if Merlin manages to escape from your cabin, the best you can hope for is someone finding Merlin huddled in the kitchen, sampling the chicken being prepared for that evening’s meal.  In the worst-case scenario, the ship’s crew will have found a new mascot.

1 When traveling with a cat on a cruise ship, don’t let the staff talk you into working Snowy as a mouser in return for a discount on your ticket.  For one thing, there probably aren’t any little mice on the ship, and what she comes across may just catch her instead.  For another, Snowy prefers Fancy Feast’s Beef and Cheddar Cheese Feast and will undoubtedly go on a hunger strike if she is served anything different.