Tag: A little personal

Thursday – A Little Personal

~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

So here it is Thursday and I usually post something about my book or  maybe a picture of something. Today is raining and overcast so the picture idea is not a good one. Of course, the Birds of Paradise are blooming nicely. Hold on I’ll be right back. I’m going to see if they are picture worthy. I’m back. Well, they have some soggy and spent blooms but here they are.

IMG_1421

I also took  a photo of our Norfolk pines which are in the front yard to the right side.

IMG_1422

They are definitely getting big. The last photo is of a bush that behaves like a rhododendron but is for sure something else. The blooms are just starting to pop and they have a sweet smell. Here is a shot of the blooms. We don’t know the name. Maybe you can help.

IMG_1425

Thursday – A Little Personal – His Revenge Kindle Edition on Sale for $0.99 #RRBC #ASMSG

~ John W. Howell ~ 17 Comments

 

His Revenge front final

Well, this is the day. His Revenge Kindle edition is on sale for $0.99 and £0.99 from March 3rd to March 6th. Also, on March 4th there is a feature on Ereader News Today so you can stop by there and see other great books at bargain prices.

You can find His Revenge at Amazon exclusively

US Edition

UK Edition

Here is the blurb.

America loves John Cannon, its newest hero, and the President wants to present him with the highest civilian medal for bravery for saving the Annapolis midshipman from a terrorist plot to destroy them. While in Washington for the award ceremony, John unwillingly becomes an accomplice in another plan by the same group to attack the credibility of the US President and the stability of the worldwide oil market. There is no way out as John either becomes a traitor to America or causes thousands of innocent people to die if he refuses.
The second John J Cannon Thriller moves from a barrier Island off the coast of Texas to Washington DC, then to Northern California, and finally to Ecuador. John is on the receiving end of an offer he cannot, refuse. His avowed enemy Matt Jacobs now wants John to help him shake the reputation of the US in the world political arena. If John refuses, Matt plans to murder innocent Americans including John’s latest relationship. John’s only way out is to pretend to go along with the plan and hope for a miracle.

Thursday – A little Personal – Radio Interview with #RRBC’s Maggie Thom

~ John W. Howell ~ 13 Comments

 

 

I will be hosting an RRBC Rave Waves radio interview at 11:00 CST today with Maggie Thom, the talented author of “CAPTURED LIES” – Book One of the Caspian Wine Suspense/Thriller/Mystery Series. Join us as we explore this novel and become better acquainted with the author

Blurb:

She was kidnapped not once but twice… and now someone wants her dead because of it…
Her life was a lie!
Bailey knew her upbringing wasn’t normal, but she’s worked hard to stabilize her life. She finally has a good business, a stable home; her life is miles from that of her childhood. Then her mom suddenly dies, leaving a gaping hole and a discovery, that they may not even be related. If Guy, the private investigator is to be believed, her life was a lie. Growing up on the run has prepared Bailey for once again, fleeing to stay alive. Using the skills she learned on the street, Bailey travels back through a sketchy and dangerous past, to find answers. Dodging bullets, staying ahead of those who want her dead and convincing Guy she can do it alone, are making it difficult to uncover, not only the secrets of her mother’s past, but that of a family claiming she is theirs.
Everyone seems to have a story… but who’s telling the truth? And who wants her dead? To discover the truth,
she’ll have to untangle a web of deceit, lies, and secrets dating back over thirty years.

 

Bio

Award winning author, Maggie Thom, grew up in a house full of books and often made weekly trips to the library to get more. Reading was her go to when it was too cold outside to play. She started experimenting with writing at a young age, letting her imagination take her away on many adventures. Maggie has written everything from technical writing to nonfiction, to fiction for children, youth and adults, along with poems and short stories. She finally settled on her love of puzzles, mysteries, and roller coasters and now writes suspense/thrillers that will take you on one heck of a ride. Author of The Caspian Wine Series – Captured Lies and Deceitful Truths with Book 3 – Split Seconds – to be out late 2016. She has another published suspense/thriller, Tainted Waters (2013 Suspense/Thriller Book of the Year through Turning the Pages Magazine). Her latest novel, Deadly Ties, will be released spring 2016.
Maggie can be reached:

Twitter @maggiethom2

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

Website: http://www.maggiethom.com/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/maggiethom2/

 

Thursday – Little Personal

~ John W. Howell ~ 32 Comments

As most of you know I have been going on and on about the new walk over that is being constructed over the dunes. This is for our community and will allow us all to access the beach on foot or with a golf cart. My Sunday feature Fifty-Two Views of the Gulf has pretty much stuck to the pure form of looking out at the water from a common spot.

I think rather than disrupt that scene I will give a view of the progress of the walkover. This first picture I ran last  Sunday but shows the beginning of the walkway.

IMG_1354

This next picture is to give an idea of how the structure looks mechanically. It was taken on Tuesday of this week.

IMG_1362

 

This is a view looking toward the Gulf.

 

This is a photo of the structure at about the half-way mark. You can see the views will be pretty good. Where the walkway currently is unfinished will be an observation platform.

IMG_1359

The walkway will then take a left and end up on the beach. You can see the front loader taking more sand out of the dune to make way for the access to the beach.

IMG_1355

That red stake is a marker to show where the middle of the walkway will be.

And now for Dan Antion, I have a photo showing a closeup of how the boards and beams are attached. Yes, Dan, that is real stainless steel on all nuts, bolts, and nails.

IMG_1357

 

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Watch Heron

~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

IMG_1349

Here is a friend of mine that occasionally comes to survey what is going on from a perch on pole number 41. The entire beach has a marker every 10th of a mile, and this one is the pole near our walkover. In fact, you can see some of the construction rising out of the sand on the right side of the photo.

I like this heron since he is like a watchdog for the neighborhood. He is not easily distracted when he is sitting on pole 41. He will sit all day without complaint and pay either.

This photo was taken on Monday, Feb 1 at about 9:30 in the morning. The Gulf is to the right.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Sunshine Award

~ John W. Howell ~ 25 Comments

 

Charles Yallowitz nominated me for this award. I have been pretty much an award free blog unless someone wants to give me a prize, food, or money. I thought about avoiding this with some excuse like a broken finger, working on a big project, or having trouble with my computer. Then I looked at the questions connected with the award and happen to enjoy Charles’ books and blog. So I said what the hell I might as well do the questions. Now as to naming other sunshine winners, I will do it, but they are not obligated to acknowledge the award or answer the questions. So let’s go. Here are the questions: (A reminder Charles is a fantasy writer, so his questions by custom are a little fantastical)

  1. If you could have only one enhanced sense, what would it be? I think I would enjoy having an enhanced sense of hearing. As I get older sounds become a little more muted and I would love to be able to catch a question on the first ask. Of course, it might help is others wouldn’t mumble when they speak. With enhanced hearing I could do away with the “huh” factor.
  2. Are you going to eat that? Yes I’m going to eat that, and I would appreciate you taking that dirty dagger out of joint of dragon, (notice the tie into Fantasy)
  3. Do you think a stubbed toe or a paper cut hurts the most? I think it is the paper cut. Since I’m a writer and have paper editions of my books, I believe paper to be part of my family. A cut by a member of the family is the unkindest cut of all.
  4. What is the one thing you wish someone told you about being an artist? I wish they told me how to get all the paint out of those little tubes. You can stand on them and still not get it all. Those suckers cost a bundle. Wait…your’re talking about writing right? Oh, in that case, I wish they would have told me how hard this job is. When I considered being a writer, I thought it all looked so easy. Write a little, drink a little and answer fan mail. No mention of hours alone, word struggles, book promotion, and reviews.
  5. The protagonist of your latest book is at your door.  Is this a good or bad thing? What will you do? I will open the door and invite him in for a drink. He is a good guy and although a little confused about what is going on, a brilliant person. It would be a good thing.
  6. Is there one aspect of your personality that you’d never wish on a fictional character? I think a fictional character would be driven mad by my need for perfection. The sad thing for the character is the fact that perfection is seldom reached so they would be driven in pursuit of a rarely accomplished goal. I’m totally comfortable with it as I have been this way my entire life and believe it to be a personal challenge.
  7. What animal would you want as a totally tame, will never hurt you pet? I would love to have a lion. I have always admired their dignified air and the fact that they look like they would enjoy a nice scratch behind the ears. I happen to love cats, and this would be a logical extension of my current crowd.

Here are my award nominations

Dalecooper57

Kim Cox

Sally Cronin

Michell Clements James

Dan Antion

Teagan Genevieve

Linda G. Hill

Here are the questions:

  1. Have you ever fallen in love with a character (Yours or someone else’s)?
  2. What is the hardest part of a story or an article for you to write?
  3. Do you ever get into a “writer’s block” situation and if so how do you get out? If not how do you avoid it?
  4. What is the best part of being a writer or blogger?
  5. How do you keep yourself motivated to write?
  6. Do you need noise or quiet when you write?
  7. What is the way you celebrate when you write something that makes you proud?

Thursday – Little Personal #JusJoJan

~ John W. Howell ~ 34 Comments

I was in the backyard watching the dogs and under cloudy skies saw a couple of sights that made me smile. We can always count on seeing a brown heron or pelican on the beach. A Great Blue Heron is something not often seen. So imagine my surprise when this guy wandered into the scene.

IMG_1305

 

He stayed around a while and seemed content with doing his robust fishing in a fresher water supply. Then a group of his white feathered friends swooped down and started working the grass.

IMG_1306

 

Sorry, I couldn’t get closer.

This post is part of JusJoJan and if you would like to play go to the rules post. http://lindaghill.com/2015/12/31/just-jot-it-january-2016-rules/

jjj-2016

And in case you missed it, I have a couple of books for sale. Check the sidebar to the right.

 

Thursday – A little Personal

~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I will close this year with a couple of photos of some Herons who I  see during my bike rides on the beach.

IMG_1284 I managed to get close enough to take his picture. The day was foggy and misty so this photo although in color looks more like a black and white.

IMG_1288

Here is another Heron sitting on the dune walkover last week just before it was torn down. This was taken at the finish of my ride.

 

IMG_1240

So this is pretty much how the year ended. Lots of wind, rain and fog.

Best wishes for 2016.