Tag: A little personal

Thursday – A Little Personal

~ John W. Howell ~ 42 Comments

Since I have hauled back into honest work, I have had to sacrifice some of the fun of being an author for the sake of the available time. One of the joys of being an indie author is formatting the manuscript for publication. You know, the four or five late nights as you struggle with getting the Create Space and Kindle formats in place. Let’s not mention the euphoria that comes with getting a table of contents working. Oh Yeah!

Jo Robinson

Well, I’m pleased to report I outsourced my most favorite activity next to a sharp stick in the eye. Jo Robinson who you know as a talented author provides services to Indie authors. You can go HERE  to check them all, but she was a Godsend when it came time to do the formatting work on the next John J. Cannon Thriller which I needed badly.

So thank you, Jo. You save my butt and I am now a believer in professional formatting.

Thursday – A Little Personal

~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

I thought I would give you a view of the early morning hours at the beach on a holiday. The focus will be how people reserve their spots.

This first one made me laugh out loud. I’m sure the grocery cart will be there forever.

Shopping cart

This next one the people dropped a bunch of chairs and put some American flags around. Lotta faith some bohunk in a pickup doesn’t just roll right in.

Beach

Stakes in the ground with a colored rope works too.

Beach

So does a bunch of chairs.

Beach

Maybe a collection of pop-up frames will work well

Beach

For real staying power you need heavy duty hardware and a few cones

Beach

These folks blocked off about a hundred feet of beachfront.  guess they felt they deserved the space. Who can argue with them.

 

 

Thursday – A little Personal

~ John W. Howell ~ 21 Comments

Lisa Burton

Today I am so pleased that Ned Traines one of the characters in both My GRL and His Revenge is interviewed by Lisa Burton on her radio show.

For those who don’t know, Ned is a police chief and close friend of John Cannon. He has helped John stay alive through many of the adventures in both books.

Take a moment to check out the interview and while there, check out C.S.Boyack’s books. I have read The Playground and can say it is a very entertaining read. Here is the link.

https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/my-grl-his-revenge-on-lisa-burton-radio-rrbc/

Here is also a link to The Playground and all the books by C.S.Boyack

Thanks to Craig and Lisa.

Thursday – A little Personal

~ John W. Howell ~ 70 Comments

Commas

Hi. My name is John, and it has been over four weeks since I last eliminated a comma from my writing.

This statement may sound like something I would say at a comma avoidance anonymous meeting. I don’t mean to keep eliminating commas, and I think it just might be a disease or something.

I tell ya, I try to not avoid commas. I work hard at not avoiding the use of commas and then before I know it I avoid one comma, and I’m right back to where I started. It escalates into a nightmare of avoiding comma’s until I’m in a position where I don’t remember how to use a comma at all.

When I get to this point, I know its time to go back into comma rehab. There are some excellent facilities around the country where you can find peace while you overcome your comma avoidance addiction. The best part is that the institutions tend to keep you away from the critical evaluations of those who notice missing commas.

Of course, within yourself, one has the capability to decide if the comma avoidance addition is going to control one’s life or one is going to control it.

So, I will keep trying to stay ahead of the addiction and keep the  comma avoidance prayer in my mind. God help me control the commas I can control, forget those I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Sunday – Views of the Neighborhood

~ John W. Howell ~ 42 Comments

Today I want to take you on a quick tour of the Marine Science Education Center

 

Pictured is the education center located on the grounds of the Marine Science Institute here in Port Aransas.

The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute is the oldest and most significant marine research facility on the Texas coast. The Institute is dedicated to the three central functions of a major university, research, education, and outreach, as they apply to the Texas coastal zone and other marine environments. As an organized research unit, the primary goal of the Marine Science Institute is to improve understanding of the marine environment through rigorous scientific investigations.

 

This is the plaque at the base of the sculpture titled, Interdependency. The sculpture contains over fifty marine species and symbolizes the interdependent nature of our marine world.

 

 

Inside the Educational Center are a number of interactive exhibits designed to explain the mysteries of the coastal zone.

 

For example here is a game teaching where fish are found in the Gulf. The lighthouse mural on the right is named the Lydia Ann lighthouse.

 

There is a telescope inside the center so that you can look at the Lydia Ann lighthouse. I took a photo through the telescope and you can see it off in the distance.

There are also interactive displays.

 

Here is a fishing boat on the bay with a little pond filled with fish that can be caught with a magnet on a rod (yes,the fish have a metal spot with which you have to connect)

Here’s what the boat looks like loaded with tourists (actually my family – daughters and grandkids)

 

There is so much more to see and feel but we are just about out of time. Here is an aerial view so you can get an idea of how large.

 

 

 

Thursday a Little Personal – Interview with John J. Cannon

~ John W. Howell ~ 39 Comments

His RevengeMy GRL

Today we are pleased to have John J. Cannon on Fiction Favorites. John is the hero of the John Cannon Trilogy and from all accounts a very nice guy.

FF. “Welcome, John. it is a pleasure having you here today.”

John. Believe me; the pleasure is all mine. I have been wondering what this place looked like ever since I met John W. Howell. Thank you for the kind introduction.”

FF. “I hope you are not disappointed. We don’t get too many visitors here in the garret.”

John. “I think it’s nice. I like the view, and the coffee is great.”

FF. “So John, some of the reviews of My GRL and His Revenge keep describing you as a reluctant hero. What does that mean to you?”

John. “I have always wondered about those descriptions. I guess it means I’m not some muscle-bound hero type.”

FF. “How does that make you feel?”

John. “I’m good with it. I’m an average person after all.”

FF. “You are a lawyer.”

John. *Laughs* “Yes that’s true. I can’t avoid my chosen career.”

FF. “I know you want to be a charter captain. How does that square with being a lawyer.”

John. “Some would say being a lawyer is a good experience for catching sharks. Seriously I just needed to get away for a while.”

FF. “Your boat My GRL was destroyed. Did you get a new one?”

John. “I sure tried, but I ran into more trouble with certain people trying to kill me.”

FF. “Can you name them?”

John. “I would like to but since there is an ongoing investigation I can’t.”

FF. “So you know who they are?”

John. “After dealing with them in My GRL and His Revenge, I certainly do.”

FF. “How about the police.”

John. “You wouldn’t believe how many agencies are involved. The people responsible are very wealthy and smart. I was very lucky to get away.”

FF. I noticed that your author has another book almost ready to be launched.’

John. “Yes, you are referring to Our Justice.”

FF. “That’s the one. Will this bring some closure to this terrorist situation?”

John. “I think the title leads us to that conclusion. of course, I have not been given the liberty to disclose anything.’

FF. “Liberty? By whom?”

John. “That guy looking at us right now. John W. Howell.”

FF. “I get it. You need to say no more.”

John. “I would like to mention that over to the right and just below this post the reader can find enough links to My GRL and His Revenge to choke a horse. You can click on them if you want more of the story.”

FF. Well, John it has been nice but we need to wrap-up. Any last thoughts?”

John. “Thanks for having me and could I get another cup of coffee?”

 

 

Thursday – A little Personal – Pelicans

~ John W. Howell ~ 42 Comments

By now you must realize I have a fascination with the birds here on the Gulf. They never seem to tire of providing a fun watch as they go about their day. This first picture is of an approaching flock of pelicans.

IMG_1678

I would like to point out a couple of things. Notice the haze in the sky along with the clouds. ((Trust me it is there) This photo was taken on Tuesday this week and believe it or not the haze is from the burning of crop lands in Mexico and South America. The farmers do it each year as a method of pest control. The smoke flows over South Texas when the wind is from the South as it has been for a few days. The other thing I would like to point out is the haphazard way the Pelicans are in formation. Usually, they form the classic V formation much like geese. The winds are blowing at about 20 knots, so it is difficult for them to hold the position.

Here is an another look. I waited for them to get closer for this shot.

Pelicans on the Gulf

They still look all over the place. I’m sure their commanding officer will have a chat with them back at the perch.

I managed to catch a shot of the Pelicans in the water (Those black things at the water’s edge). The gulls were having a time with the wind as well.

Gulls and Pelicans

So you will not think the haze is forever, here is a shot taken Wednesday morning after the winds shifted to coming out of the North. (Thank you, Yankees) What a difference a day makes.

IMG_1703

This shot is a long beach view taken from about a half mile North of our walkway. (The dogs get a mile walk in the morning, and since the wind was coming out of the North, I started out heading into the wind. I just turned around to head back and took the photo) The haze will return today but it was a nice break.

 

Thursday – A little personal

~ John W. Howell ~ 40 Comments

Two weeks ago I ran a photo of Peggy the Heron and received a number of questions on the state of her health.  She is doing well and to more or less prove my point I have some photos to share.  This first is from about a week ago.

Peggy Looking for a hand out

This was a foggy morning. You can see a couple of fisher people. Peggy is right there with them and you will get an idea on how she stays healthy. It is very hard for folks to deny her a handout especially when she puts on her injured bird routine.

Peggy keeping watch

This was taken yesterday. Peggy is perched on the dune and waiting for a group of fisherfolk to get settled. Once they are ready to bait hooks she will fly down and land on one leg. There will be aw’s and a call to the rescue group (who have given up catching her). Finally, a few undersized fish will be tossed and Peggy will have had her normal day.

This last photo is not of Peggy but thought you would enjoy one of the sights greeting me each morning.

On watch

It is another Heron sitting on the beach marker. This was also taken yesterday

 

Thursday – A little Personal Radio Interview with Anna Celeste Burke #RRBC

~ John W. Howell ~ 10 Comments

Blog talk radio image.unnamed

I am very pleased to be interviewing Anna Celeste Burke on the RAVE WAVES BlogTalkRadio production of “Spotlight Honors” at 11:00 CDT Today. You can listen in by clicking on this LINK.

Anna Celeste Burke

About Anna Celeste Burke in her words

“Life is an extravaganza! Figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challenge. On my way to Oahu, to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I had married in Tijuana, I was nabbed as a runaway. Eventually, the police let me go, but the rock band broke up. Our next stop: Disney World, where we ‘worked for the Mouse’ as chefs, courtesy of Walt Disney World University Chef’s School. More education landed us in academia at The Ohio State University. For decades, I researched, wrote, and taught a number of gloriously nerdy topics. Retired now, I’m still married to the same, sweet, guy and live with him near Palm Springs, California. I write mysteries set in sunny California! The Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series set here in the Coachella Valley and the Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery Series set in California’s Central Coast, The Georgie Shaw Mystery series and coming soon, The Misadventures of Betsy Stark.”

A Dead Husband

Book Blurb

“My first day as a sleuth was more Stephanie Plum than Miss Marple.” Jessica Huntington, amateur sleuth with a shopping jones and a black AMEX card, finds out money can’t buy happiness, or save your neck. Her well-planned life in shambles, she’s hiding out near Palm Springs. When her best friend’s husband is murdered, Jessica and her friends are soon stalked by scoundrels in pantyhose, stilettos, Bruno Maglis, and Armani suits. Roger Stone had something that got him killed. What was it and what will they do to get it back?

Contact Anna

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aburke59?lang=en

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

Website address: http://www.desertcitiesmystery.com

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Anna-Celeste-Burke/e/B00H8J4IQS/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1459439732&sr=8-2-ent
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7553558.Anna_Celeste_Burke

 

Thursday – A little Personal #RRBC Member of the Month

~ John W. Howell ~ 24 Comments

a book-club-badge-suggestion-copy-1

As most of you know, I’m a member of Rave Reviews Book Club. Among the many methods of promoting its members is the designation of Member of the Month. This honor is a twelve times a year event, and I am pleased to be the Member of the Month for the Month of April.

The reason I’m posting this award is to demonstrate the fact that Rave Reviews Book Club is chartered to position mutual recognition and author help above all other priorities. In addition to the Member of the Month selection, there are slots available for Member of the Week (think 52), Book of the Month (3 per month), #PushTuesday (52) and #PushWeek (52). On top of all of all these efforts, each member is mentioned three times a week on Twitter through the Tweet Support Team.

a spotlight-honors11

During the month, there are eight RAVE WAVES BlogTalkRadio broadcasts where RRBC author interviews take place about their career and books. These shows reach thousands of listeners yearly and serve to promote the members.

On top of all of that, there are tours, contests, incentives, a weekly newsletter and a number of other opportunities for support.

The Mission and goal of RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB are to Profile, Promote & Propel the careers of Indie authors. So if you are an author or reader looking for a place where you can give and receive support this is the place for you.