My GRL Blog Tour Volunteer Recognition – Charles Yallowitz

January 22, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 10 Comments

Charles Yallowitz is a volunteer today who I should thank for supporting the My GRL Blog Tour. It is interesting that Charles is the author’s author. By that I mean, he not only writes some really good Fantasy Genre books, but he also comes to the aid of any author who seems to be needing help. He posts and reblogs and comments endlessly on behalf of others. He also has a place on his site where authors can go for information on book promotion. Charles also stands by to answer questions when the subject of writing comes up.

If you visit his blog Legends of Windemere you will find really intelligent discussions of topics relating to character and plot development. Charles takes an active interest in all things cerebral as it relates to the construction of a story. If you don’t believe me just ask him about a character’s family sometime. I believe even the most minor characters have an extensive back story which could be a stand-alone novel if Charles had the time.

Speaking of time, the following three books in the Legends of Windemere series, The Bestiary Series and the novella Catalysts are now available and Charles has plans for three more books in 2014.

Legends of Windemere

LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE: BEGINNING OF A HERO

Cover art by Jason Pedersen

Take a step into the magical world of Windemere where history is forged by brave adventurers.

Luke Callindor was born into Windemere’s most decorated family of adventurers. Since his birth, he has been treated with the greatest amount of respect and awe. Now, with a lifetime of training and the reckless cockiness of youth, Luke has set out to prove that he deserves the admiration that comes from being a Callindor.

Luke gets his chance when he convinces a royal messenger to hire him to protect the heir of Duke Solomon. This future leader is secretly attending Hamilton Military Academy, an esteemed school run by the former mercenary, Selenia Hamilton. It is a dangerous secret mission requiring that Luke pretend to be an average student while keeping an eye out for any sign of danger. Unfortunately, Luke has no idea which student the heir is and a demonic assassin is already several steps ahead of him. Finding himself in over his head and constantly in trouble, the young warrior realizes that the only things he has on his side are some new friends and his unwavering courage.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE!

LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE: PRODIGY OF RAINBOW TOWER

Cover art by Jason Pedersen

The action-packed, humor-filled, dramatic sequel to ‘Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero’.

Battling through a demonic assassin and an army of monsters, Luke Callindor has survived his time at Hamilton Military Academy. Now, Luke and his friends must leave the safety of the academy to escort Duke Solomon’s heir down the L’dandrin River and into the safety of the city of Gods’ Voice. Joining them for this journey is Nyx, a powerful caster apprentice of Rainbow Tower. With her talent for combat magic and her short temper, Nyx will prove to be a challenge for Luke and all of their enemies.

Who will survive the harrowing trip down the L’dandrin River? And, who will be the one to break Luke’s trust?

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE

LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE: ALLURE OF THE GYPSIES

Cover Art by Jason Pedersen

The adventures of Luke Callindor and Nyx continue after their journey down the L’Dandrin River in Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower.

Reeling from his failures in their previous adventure, Luke leads his surviving friends to his hometown. With his mind frayed and his confidence fractured, Luke must face the family and fiancée he left behind. It is a brief homecoming when the vampire Kalam attacks the village, forcing Luke and Nyx to break into his lair for the key to resurrecting a fallen warrior. It is a quest that will force both young heroes to reach new heights of strength and power that they never knew they had.

Can Luke and Nyx escape the lair of Kalam? And, what role will the orphaned gypsy Sari play in their looming destiny?

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE

Bestiary Collections

Amazon Kindle

Novellas

Cover Art by Dean Kealy

When trapped in an elevator together, Jeffrey and Darla learn that misery doesn’t always love company. With the screams of death and chaos echoing from outside, they find themselves slowly slipping into a world of fear and darkness they may never recover from. All the while, something is terrorizing the convention outside and turning the guests and celebrities into psychotic monsters.

Available on Amazon Kindle

My GRL Tour Volunteer Recognition – Linda Hill

January 22, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 2 Comments

Linda Hill is a volunteer to help launch My GRL. One has to wonder where she finds the time to volunteer or even eat for that matter. Currently Linda has two blogs: The latest is titled; Get On My Plate with a subtitle of Or I Will Eat You Right Now . This is the site that showcases Linda’s fiction. You will find a number of intriguing stories and poetry. Linda shows here talent is so many ways here which make frequent stops a must.

Her other site is titled simply Lindaghill Life in progress. It is here Linda talks about her experiences and her life. She has some touching antidotes with usually a twist from which all of us can take a lesson. Her writing runs a wide spectrum and if you pause to click on any of her tabs: Boy Series-One Through, Poetry, Life, On Writing and Parenting you will see the writer clawing to get out. She also publishes contributions to the Just Jot it January which is a fun way to keep writing. Here is the information. There are only a few more days left in January, but as you can see you can participate any time.

Post on your site, and join Just Jot it January. The rules are easy!

1. It’s never too late to join in, since the “Jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post) counts as a “Jot.” If it makes it to WordPress that day, great! If it waits a week to get from the sticky note to your screen, no problem!

2. If you write a JusJoJan post on your blog, you can ping it back to the above link to make sure everyone participating knows where to find it.

3. Write anything!

4. Have fun!

Linda is also an Editor of the Community Story Board and well as a frequent contributor. Go to her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday. Today is Linda’s birthday and she still finds time to support others. Thanks Linda for helping with the launch.

Hump Day is as Hump Day Does

January 22, 2014January 21, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 23 Comments

Here is a quick story for hump day. Warning. . . this one is a little weird and came rolling out of my head with little control. It is called My FLY.

“OMG, if I don’t find a place to lay these eggs soon I am going to burst.”

“Now dear you can put those eggs anywhere. You know that.”

“The doctor told me I needed to find some healthy waste so the babies would have a good start.”

“Start schmart. You know those little maggots don’t appreciate anything.”

“Yes, but it is a mother’s duty to give them the best chance.”

“Yeah and what does it get you. When’s the last time we heard from any of those adults? How many are there now a couple a billion?”

“Well dear I’m sure they are just busy. You know with flying around and looking for places to lay eggs. It is nowhere near a billion. I think millions would be more accurate. Of course, who knows how many have been taken by the giant swatter?”

“I heard old man Nichols got swatted last week.”

“Oh my. I hadn’t heard. How’s Mrs. Nichols?”

“Took it real hard. She hasn’t left her dung heap since.”

“I’ll have to stop by and give her my condolences.”

“Now there is an idea. You could kill two birds with one stone. Say hello and you’re sorry to Nichols, then drop off that pile of eggs.”

“You know it just might work. Get my suitcase it is time we went to give birth. Thanks for the idea.”

“No problem. We should probably fly low. I hear there is a swatter up high.”

“You know best dear.”

My GRL Blog Tour Volunteer Recognition – Hanna Stern

January 21, 2014January 21, 2014 ~ John W. Howell

Thanks to Hanna Stern for helping launch My GRL. Hanna is an outrageous humorist who has been transplanted from Washington DC to Ireland. Her stories are out of the real life of a Jewish mom and wife trying to make some sense out of the Irish society. She also has some interesting observations in general about life, liberty and happiness. I really look forward to her posts (which are not often enough).
Her Blog is titled Sunny Days in DC and she lets us know that she is a Jack of All Trades and Master of 3ish. Having spent the last year reading her blog, I can tell you the jack of all trades part seems right, but the master of only three ish seems understated.
Hanna can write a good story about some of life’s highs and lows. She does it with the sense of humor you would expect to pay good money to see. Her latest desire other than being a writer is to perform in a strip show. She wants to be part of a legitimate strip show according to her. I think we all need to check back often and see how this thing goes. Please pay her a visit and tell her hello from me. Thanks Hanna so much

My GRL Blog Tour Volunteer Recognition – Sarah Cradit

January 21, 2014January 21, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 3 Comments

A big thank you for helping with the My GRL launch. Sarah Cradit on her Blog And Then There is Sarah is a self-proclaimed writer, traveler, Tolkienite, author of the House of Crimson and Clover series, queen of hyperbole. A visit to her site will immediately convince you that she does not brag. She is accomplished in all of the areas outlined. Her site gives the visitor a number of reasons to stay a while. She has reviews, tips for authors, guest authors, and travel guides. A truly nice place to visit. Also effective January 20 all things Sarah can be found at http://sarahmcradit.com

Sarah is also the author of the four Crimson and Clover series which have received the highest critical accolades. There are two more on the way in 2014.

The Illusions of Eventide is Now Available

The long-awaited third novel in The House of Crimson and Clover series is now available on Amazon, BN, Kobo, and Smashwords! Links for Itunes, Sony, and Diesel coming soon.

Story Overview

Nicolas Deschanel was betrayed by the only two people who matter to him. Their disloyalty stung and an overwhelming sense of loss lingers. Nicolas has lived the high life professing to not have a care in the world, and now this illusion is calling his bluff.

Determined to take control of an existence now devoid of purpose, he sojourns to his family’s holiday home on the Gulf of Mexico. Resolved more than depressed, he plans to privately say goodbye to a world which no longer needs him. Of questionable fortune, he finds a woman, Mercy, sitting alone on the shore at eventide. Nicolas is conflicted between an obligation to help, and annoyance at her intrusion.

Mercy has many layers of secrets. Deepest of all, she cannot tell this Child of Man she is thousands of years old and very powerful. In her presence, Nicolas’ own dormant powers begin to surface, triggering a sequence of events that cause both of their lives to spiral further out of control. When old friends from both sides come to help, together they all learn a painful truth: new life can only begin once you’ve set free what means the most.

What Reviewers Are Saying

“In a word… beautiful. With every new installment I get to read in this fantastic series I fall more and more in love. This is by far the best novel by Sarah I have read, and one of the best books I’ve gotten my hands on of the year.”

“Many books can leave you breathless until the book abruptly ends and you have so many unanswered questions and feel cheated. That is not the case with this book. The author takes you to the very edge, then brings you back on multiple occasions.”

“LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!! Could not put it down!!”

“This is a story about forgiveness and redemption, thickly seasoned with fantasy and paranormal. Cradit has mastered connecting the dots.”

“Cradit’s ability to weave a story filled with mythology, paranormal, and the reality of life so fluidly kept me turning page after page, thoroughly engrossed. The Illusions of Eventide is by far my Top favorite of 2013!”

”Page after page of twists and unexpected turns, running the full gamut of emotions. At times it is heartbreaking, exciting, witty, charming.”

“I said it before, and I’ll say it again, this author develops characters better than anyone else I’ve had the pleasure of reading. I simply cannot recommend this book enough.”

“Sarah did a fabulous job of painting the pictures of places, characters, events, and visions! I felt the pain, passion, love, hate, and anguish of each character!”

“I cannot wait for the next installment!”

“This series is one you won’t want to miss out on. Sarah is an amazing writing and knows how to suck her readers into the story.”

St. Charles at Dusk

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B005RT0ZKE

BN: http://bit.ly/18Kzhsp

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/304600

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1hHmscx

Itunes: http://bit.ly/18u5810

Sony: http://bit.ly/18LkGUj

Diesel: http://bit.ly/1bP8SR0

CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/3685393

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1dXqBHS

The Storm and the Darkness

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00DS86XU2

BN: http://bit.ly/IeFNSW

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333021

Kobo: http://bit.ly/17Tb1KG

Itunes: http://bit.ly/14VDe0Z

Sony: Coming Soon

Diesel: http://bit.ly/1knwY4B

CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4345896

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1bopnAM

Beyond Dusk: Anne

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00EUI53IC

BN: http://bit.ly/1aOUw14

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/381449

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1chBJIH

Itunes: Coming Soon

Sony: Coming Soon

Diesel: Coming Soon

CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4489254

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1daqVhF

Also Coming Soon

My GRL Blog Tour Volunteer Recognition – Ionia Martin

January 20, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 12 Comments

Have you ever run across someone who must be an angel because of all the good things they do for others? If you know Ionia Marin then you can answer yes to this question. She is dedicated to filling her days with more activities than is reasonable to expect from one person. Her energy appears to be endless as she takes on project after project which have as an objective to make whatever world Ionia has chosen to support, better off as a result of her presence. Want details?

How about the blogging world? Ionia not only has a very successful blog Readfulthings, but she has also established the critically acclaimed and Freshly Pressed Community Storyboard. Not content to start a literary juggernaut she turned to a fun project called The Year Long Story – line by line. This is a place where loads like me can take a swing at contributing to a story which is developing one line at a time. Talk about laugh out loud. The comments section is like grabbing the Sunday funnies and forgetting troubles for a while.

How about the caring for other author’s world? Ionia is one of the most well read and learned reviewers on the planet. She is very serious about this aspect of her life , but not to the point of wanting to hurt an author or cause them to become discouraged. Her reviews point out the good and bad without false optimism or degrading scorn. She is the consummate (I have always wanted to use the word) professional and demonstrates with every review her care for the author community.

How about the step up and take care of those who need help world? Ionia is a safe haven for an orphan, lost puppy, or emotional human needing support. She continues to open her heart and in many cases, her home to those who simply need a friend and one who cares. She has an immense store house of love available to all who can benefit from a kind word, gesture, hug or even a roof. Her offer of taking care of others has no strings and is freely offered.

How about the love for her family and friends world? Her children, her pets, her fiancé all benefit from the overwhelming love that Ionia showers on each of them. There seems to be no limitation to where she will go or what she will do to make certain they feel and are comforted by her love. Her friends have the same benefit and all of them know if there was one person to call in times of trouble it would be Ionia.

Thank you Ionia so much for helping Launch My GRL and I will always be grateful for the support you have given not only on this one, but all the others writings as well.

My GRL Blog Tour Volunteer Recognition – Kevin Brennan

January 20, 2014January 20, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 4 Comments

The name Kevin Brennan certainly must ring a bell. It really should since he has one of the hottest books on the market today. His Yesterday Road is a story of an older man who has witnessed tragedy in his life. In fact, his own mind is trying to help him cope by forgetting almost everything as the day moves on. This is a piece of literary fiction which any author would give a piece of the left brain to have written. It is a story calculated to be kind, warm and restore your faith in mankind. It will make you cry in the end, but what the hell we all could use a little crying now and then to take the edge off.

Speaking of What the Hell; this is the name of Kevin’s blog. It is a place where you need to make a visit each time he posts since what he puts on there is really worth the time to read. Kevin explores, researches, and then lays the damnest spin on a subject causing one to ask, “where the hell did that come from?”

Kevin’s other books have to be, by association, a must read.

Our Children are Not Our Children – Poet Kahlil Gibran has said, Your children are not your children. In this collection of short-shorts, Kevin Brennan (Parts Unknown) turns that simple idea on its head with five case studies in bad parenting. From a father who won’t pull over to let his boy pee on the roadside to a couple who unwisely lock their twin toddlers in a closet all day while they’re at work, these parents embody the adage that it takes a village — to save innocent kids from idiots like them!

Parts Unknown – This novel is about a photographer, Bill Argus, a kind of desert Ansel Adams. He has a late mid-life crisis and decides to return to the small town and family that he had abruptly left forty years before. He left behind a young wife and four or five-year-old son. Just up and left them with no warning. And then, with almost the same lack of warning, he decides to go back. And he brings his current wife along, Nora, who’s roughly the same age as his son.

Kevin also has a newsletter which might be an interesting thing to sign up for. You can do that by clicking HERE

As you can see Kevin brings a lot to the party. You would do well to pay him a visit. Thanks for your help on the tour Kevin

Top Ten No Nos is as Top Ten No Nos Does

January 20, 2014August 8, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 2 Comments

Here is the 29th 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 If You Go Into a Car Dealer

10. If you go into a car dealer, make sure you really want to buy a car. If you don’t, at best you may walk away from a car that you fell in love with but can’t afford. At worst you might end up paying for that car the rest of your life.

9. If you go into a car dealer, do not say anything regarding your like or dislike of a car. If you do, at best you will tip your hand. At worst, you may end up with the one you dislike since it is priced so well.

8. If you go into a car dealer, do not drink a big gulp prior to arriving. If you do, at best you may need to interrupt your negotiations at a bad time. At worst, the sales rep may detect your uneasiness, interpret it as a sign of weakness, and hammer the negotiations until you agree to everything just so you can make a break for the bathroom.

7. If you go into a car dealer, do not wear any clothing with designer labels. If you do, at best you will impress all the people in the show room. At worst, you may pay thousands more for a car than the people at JCP.

6. If you go into a car dealer, do not bring the children. If you do, at best they will get hyped up on the sugary donuts the salespeople will feed them. At worst, the kids will want to sit in your lap just as you try to negotiate a good deal and tell the salesperson that you are just kidding.

5. If you go into a car dealer, do not park your car where it can be seen. If you do, at best the condition will tip-off the salesperson as to your trade-in before the deal. At worst, the sales person will get a heads-up as to how badly you need transportation.

4. If you go into a car dealer, do not accept anything to eat or drink if offered. If you do, at best you’ll take on extra calories you don’t need. At worst, you may feel you owe the dealership something and you don’t want to get talked into a thousand-dollar cup of coffee.

3. If you go into a car dealer, do not sign anything before you read it. If you do, at best you may have some expensive surprises when the car is delivered. At worst you may have sold your home for a dollar.

2. If you go into a car dealer, do not demand to see the manager if you’re unhappy with the deal the sales person is offering. If you do, at best you may be embarrassed to learn that the sales person is the manager. At worst, the employees will use the video tape of you ranting at the company party as the main entertainment.

1. If you go into a car dealer, do not even think of special ordering a car. If you do, at best you may pay too much. At worst, you may be riding around in something that lost fifty percent of its value the minute you drove it off the lot since Habanero Orange is not everyone’s favorite color.

My GRL Blog Tour Volunteer Recognition – Devorah Fox

January 19, 2014January 20, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 6 Comments

Devorah Fox is helping spread the message of the launch of My GRL. Visit her at http://devorahfox.com

Devorah is an author of critically acclaimed novels. She is unique in the fact she is capable of writing in both the literary fantasy and thriller fiction genres. Her books The Lost King and The King’s Ransom are acclaimed literary fantasy novels whose time and place carry the reader into a land where all things are magical and still practical at the same time. The reader can follow the story of King Robin Bewilliam as he tries to sort out the details of circumstances causing him to lose his kingdom. Book One, The Lost King, Robin awakens one morning to find himself mysteriously transformed from a beloved and respected ruler to a homeless vagabond. His quest to uncover and break the bewitching spell that plagues him and regain his kingdom sets him on a journey of adventure, romance, and self-discovery. Book Two, The Kings Ransom finds Robin at sea both literally and figuratively. At first directionless and purposeless, he determines to reunite with his sons and with them restore his shattered kingdom but Fate has different plans for the lost king. Driven far from his home in the Chalklands, Robin pits his will against a dragon, a fortress’ duplicitous and deadly guards, high winds on the open water, and a horrifying sea monster only to meet his most formidable opponent.

Devorah with Jed Donellie also wrote the contemporary thriller Naked Came the Sharks which tells the story of murder and mayhem in the Texas Costal Bend. Chasing her dream of becoming an investigative reporter in San Francisco. Holly Rivera Berry returns to her hometown of Bonafides on the Texas Coastal Bend to settle her recently deceased father’s estate. She comes to doubt that her father died of natural causes. The more she investigates, the more things don’t add up.

Devorah has also written for television, radio, magazines, newspapers, and various blogs. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and wrote her first novel in the third grade. She now lives in Port Aransas, Texas, where she writes the “Dee-Scoveries” blog at http://devorahfox.com and columns of the same name for The Island Moon newspaper and TexasNOW magazine. On the rare occasions when she’s not writing, she dabbles in glass painting and etching and enjoys relaxing with her Significant Other and a trio of gray tabby cats.

Her three books can be found by clicking on the covers or HERE, HERE and HERE

My GRL Blog Tour Volunteer Recognition – Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie

January 19, 2014January 19, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 2 Comments

Keep Calm and Write ON is not only the name of Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie’s blog, it also is the philosophy that permeates throughout the entire site. When you arrive you immediately get a feeling that this person knows exactly what is going on in this hellish world and stands ready and able to help the reader understand as well. The places to visit on her blog are like the listings of a tourist attraction. There is: HOME, ABOUT ME, MY WRITING, WHAT CAUGHT MY SENSES THIS WEEK, GUEST AUTHORS/EVENTS, BOOK REVIEWS, MOVIE REVIEWS, MUSIC, ENCOURAGEMENT, CONTESTS, TIPS, EXTRAS. Kristy seems to have something for everyone.

Interesting as well, she is also a YA writer and has made her novel Jaded available for a free read and comments on Swoonreads. Her story is a YA fiction thriller and is generating a lot of interest

What Readers are Saying About her YA Novel, Jaded:

“Couldn’t put it down. It was that good! Hope the sequel comes out soon.” – Camille Ferolino

“I found JADED to be well-written, with creative prose, realistic dialogue, thorough characterization, and a good dose of suspense, particularly at the end. The dystopia, Nirvana, is similar in some ways to Suzanne Collins’s in THE HUNGER GAMES, and the love story was reminiscent of the one in Ally Condie’s MATCHED. The ending hinted at a sequel, which I’d look forward to reading…” -Jenny

“Kristy girl, I loved “Jaded” and can’t wait to read the sequel! You are a fantastic writer with so much talent. I love everything you have written and can’t wait for more!!! This novel is a “10″….but then so are you!!!” -Terry Mauller

To sum up the delight that is Kristy I think her own words describe her best:

I’m happiest when: I’m in my home office writing, drinking coffee, and burning pumpkin scented candles. And taking cross-country road trips with my mom.

Favorite Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald- “Winter Dreams” is my favorite short story. A substitute teacher read this to our 11th grade English class and I was smitten.

Favorite Food: Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream which I don’t eat often because I gain a pound from a teaspoon, I swear.

If I could live anywhere: It would be near a beach. I feel most at home in the ocean.

If I could go back in time: I’d choose the Roaring Twenties, hands down.

Thank you Kristy for helping launch My GRL