Tag: author

The Last Drive with Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes.

~ John W. Howell

Jaye Marie and Anita invited me to their blog to help explain The Last Drive. I am thrilled to be with them, and you can visit their post HERE.

Anita
Jaye Marie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been following Anita and Jaye Marie for several years and have always been very impressed with their ability to capture the emotions that come from great accomplishment and disappointment. Their writing comes from the heart and never fails to elicit a response due to their fine work. Jaye Marie has four books available, which you can see on her Amazon Author’s page.

Anita has six novels available, which can be seen on her Amazon Author’s page.

Here is a little more about Jaye Marie and Anita.

Jaye Marie came to writing rather late but has always loved books. She enjoys reading many different genres, so was surprised to discover a passion for writing detective thrillers. Five of them to date, with more to follow. She also enjoys running a website/blog, https://jenanita01.com, and loves meeting all the wonderful people who drop in to say hello!

Anita Dawes loves all things esoteric, magical, and the otherworldly and would prefer to live in a fairy tale. In between these moments, she likes to visit old churches and ancient buildings. She has written six fiction novels in various genres, Bad Moon, Simple, Secrets, The Scarlet Ribbon; Let it Go, and Not My Life. She is presently working on a sequel to her popular supernatural romance, The Scarlet Ribbon.

Anita has recently rediscovered her childhood love of poetry and often writes and posts them online.

Once owned by an egocentric black and white cat called Merlin, named after her favourite hero, Anita dislikes computers and prefers to write longhand, sharing a website http://jenanita01.com with Jaye Marie, who transcribes and edits her work…

Anita’s latest – Click for Amazon.
Jaye’s Latest – Click for Amazon

Thank you, Jaye and Anita, for helping spread the word on The Last Drive

I have closed comments, so you only have to write once on Anita and Jaye’s post.

 

Views of the Neighborhood – The Ice Man Comith

~ John W. Howell ~ 104 Comments

Today we will motor around and check out the ice damage from the storm that passed through Texas. No need to leave the bus since we will be catered to by Paperboy of Austin. Our entertainment is who else but Vanilla Ice.

BRUNCH

classic breakfast – two eggs, maple sausage, potato wedges, buttered toast, apple butter

texas hash – roasted pork, sweet potato, onion, kale, poached egg, pecan mole
add avocado

paperboy pancake – warm maple syrup, brown butter, sea salt 11 add blueberries or chocolate chips

migas – egg, avocado, pico de gallo, cotija, serrano hot sauce, grilled tortillas add pork carnitas

steak & eggs – 44 farms steak, chimichurri, sunny eggs, potato wedges, secret sauce, arugula

chicken & biscuit – crispy-fried chicken, country gravy, sunny egg, spicy honey

lox plate – grilled toast points, everything spice, caper cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, dill

Picture of an old time school bus

So let’s get rolling.

So here is a juniper pretty well split.

Downed limbs, but also the ice is beautiful

Limbs in the street.

More beauty

Another juniper.

A tree uprooted. Seems the drought caused the surface roots to dry out and weaken.

The same tree is now available for pick-up.

More brush for city pick up, which Lakeway said they will do beginning Monday.

Closer to home. Our artichoke agave is covered in ice.

The mountain laurel on the right and the magnolia tree on the left took hits.

Closer view of the mountain laurel

The magnolia is my 80th birthday tree and looks worse for wear.

She is all cleaned up now and feeling better, although lighter.

Time to relax and enjoy the food and music. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Saturday – A Little Personal – Lucy and Twiggy Survey Ice Damage

~ John W. Howell ~ 118 Comments

“Where you going Little One?”

“I thought I heard dad say there was some damage to the trees from the ice storm.”

“The damage is over here on the patio side.”

“Oh. I don’t know why I thought it was the potting bench plants.”

“Well, they are toast too. But take a look at the mountain laurel.”

“There are some limbs here on the ground.”

“So true. The weight of the ice broke those limbs off the tree.”

“Can we put them back on?”

“I’m afraid not. Once a limb has been severed it will die.”

“OMG. That sounds pretty severe.”

“Did you notice Dad’s magnolia?”

“He’s not going to like all those limbs on the ground.”

“I think we’ve seen enough, Little One. Let’s go play.”

“This stuff still smells alive. Are you sure it can’t be put back?”

“I’m sure Little One. It is the way nature works.”

“Well then we ought to invent a way that things can live even if they have something wrong wth them.”

“You talking about trees, now?”

“Like these leaves, Lucy. Why do they have to lie here.”

“It’s a cycle that we have talked about before. It is the way nature works.”

“Doesn’t mean we have to like it.”

“You can stay there and sniff that turf all the way to St Louis. As for me? I’m thinking about a soft chew.”

“Hold on. I think I found an acorn.”

“Too early. It’s a rock.”

“Tomato, tomahto. Still interesting.”

“You coming?”

“Right behind you.”

 

The Last Drive Tour with Lauren Scott

~ John W. Howell

Laren Scott is hosting this stop on the tour. I am grateful for her help in spreading the word about The Last Drive. You can visit her post HERE.

I have been following Lauren since 2015. I have always been impressed by the passion she puts into her work. Lauren writes prose and poetry. She has four titles published. Three are stand-alone, authored by her, and one is an anthology. You can see them all on Lauren’s Amazon author’s page.

A little more about Lauren in her words.

Currently, California is my home where my husband, Matt, of thirty-three years, and our cuddly canine, Copper, reside; we have two grown children. I have authored two collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013) and Finding a Balance (2015), and my latest book, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose, was published in September of 2021.

My writing projects are sometimes serious – drawn from painful subjects and raw emotions – or they spotlight my silly side – pulled from humorous moments. I am inspired to write about family, love, loss, and nature – the marvelous wild world that surrounds me: the smell of the woods, the sound of a babbling brook, and the chorus of birds singing. Recent backpacking trips with my husband along the California coast and Sierra Nevada mountains have stirred up thoughts to pen about fear, loss of friendship, overcoming challenges, and the possibility that anything can happen. Hikes along the Paper Mill Creek remind me that life is fragile. From trout hatchlings to swallowtail butterflies, I marvel at how the world is interconnected and every living thing matters. I hope my readers will find a little nugget of delight, comfort, or understanding in my poetry and stories – some detail that resonates with them beyond my words.

Lauren’s latest – Click for Amazon.

Thank you, Lauren, for hosting me today. I appreciate you.

I have closed comments so that all the words fit to write are left at Lauren’s place.

The Last Drive Tour with Elizabeth Gauffreau

~ John W. Howell

I’m honored to be with Liz Gauffreau, talking about The Last Drive. You can visit her post HERE.

Liz is amazing. She has had multiple positions in higher education. She was a navy wife for twenty years and is a poet and novelist. She has one book of poetry in print and a novel. She is also one of eight authors contributing stories to an anthology. You can see all her books on her Amazon author’s page.

Here is more about Liz.

Elizabeth Gauffreau writes fiction and poetry with a strong connection to family and place. She holds a BA in English/Writing from Old Dominion University and an MA in English/Fiction Writing from the University of New Hampshire. Her fiction publications include short stories in Woven Tale Press, The Long Story, Soundings East, Ad Hoc Monadnock, Rio Grande Review, Blueline, Slow Trains, Hospital Drive, and Serving House Journal, among others. Her poetry has appeared in North of Oxford, The Writing On The Wall, The Larcom Review, and Natural Bridge. Her debut novel Telling Sonny, was published by Adelaide Books, New York, in 2018.

Liz grew up a child of the 1960s in northern New England before spending twenty years in the South as a Navy wife. After working for Granite State College in Concord, New Hampshire, for eighteen years, she accepted a faculty position as Assistant Dean of Curriculum and Assessment at Champlain College Online in Burlington, Vermont. In addition to academic advising, teaching, and higher education administration, her professional background includes assessment of prior experiential learning for college credit. Liz lives in Nottingham, New Hampshire, with her husband; their daughter has flown the nest to live in sunny California.

Liz’s Book of Poetry – Click for Amazon

Thank you, Liz, for helping spread the word about The Last Drive.

I have closed comments, so you will be fresh at Liz’s site.

 

The Last Drive Tour with Geoff Le Pard

~ John W. Howell

I am excited to be with Geoff Le Pard to talk about The Last Drive. You can visit Geoff’s post HERE.

Geoff and Dog

Geoff lives in London with his wife and Dog and has embarked upon writing after a successful law career that saw him achieve the position of partner in his firm. Geoff’s talents include cooking, gardening, and a killer sense of humor. He has authored 17 titles and has been included in three anthologies. You can view all his books on his Amazon author page.

More on Geoff in his words.

I have been writing creatively since 2006 when at a summer school with my family I wrote a short radio play. That led to a novel, some more courses, more novels, each better than the last until I took an MA at Sheffield Hallam. I published my first novel in 2014 – Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle. In 2015 a second followed – My Father and Other Liars. In 2016 I have an anthology of short stories out, Life, in a Grain of Sand. I have now added ‘memoir’ to my list of genres with the launch of Apprenticed To My Mother. Other novels can be found here. I write in a range of genres, so there is something for everyone.

Before writing, I was a lawyer, ending up at the London Olympics. Now I mix writing with a range of activities, often walking to find inspiration or taking in a variety of sports events. I blog at Tangental – https://geofflepard.com/, and you can find more of my writing and poetry there.

Geoff’s latest – click for Amazon.

Thank you, Geoff, for helping spread the word about The Last Drive.

I have closed The Comments so that you can save your creativity for Geoff’s post.

 

 

The Last Drive Tour with Marcia Meara

~ John W. Howell

What a delight to be with Marcia Meara to talk about The Last Drive. You can visit her blog HERE.

I really got to know Marcia when she was a member of Story Empire. I joined after she was a member, and she made me feel welcome and was always ready to help a novice navigate the unknown. Marcia is a prolific writer with 11 Titles published. You can see them all on her Amazon author’s page.

Here is a little more about Marcia.

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty-five years and four big cats.

When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. She enjoys nature. Really, really enjoys it. All of it! Well, almost all of it, anyway. From birds to furry critters to her very favorites, snakes. The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, the one thing Marcia would like to tell each of her readers is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do that very thing), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

The Emissary Series by Marcia- Click for Amazon.

Thank you, Marcia, for helping spread the word on The Last Drive.

I have closed the comments so that Marcia will be delighted with fresh words posted at her place.

The Last Drive Tour with Annette Rochelle Aben.

~ John W. Howell ~ 2 Comments

I am happy to be with fellow Michigander Annette Rochelle Aben to discuss The Last Drive. You can visit Annette’s post HERE.

Annette can be described as a Communicator, WordSmith, Artist, Guide, Mentor, and Muse. She is all of these things. As a communicator, she is a trained radio broadcaster and has a blog talk radio show. Her wordsmith moniker is proven by the fact she has a daily blog and has written 20 titles which are available on Amazon. Her artistic talent can be seen in her Zazzle store. Here is the link http://www.zazzle.com/annetteaben. As a mentor and guide, Annette has developed the concept of Attitude with Gratitude. She shows folks how to approach life in a way that produces happiness. You can visit several examples of her teachings HERE.

As a muse, Annette invites everyone to her blog with these works. “In addition to writing, I am completely in love with Angels, cooking, making jewelry, photography, cats, listening to music, and laughing! Perhaps we have something in common, if so, leave me a comment, and let’s connect.”

Click for Amazon

Thank you so much for helping me tell The Last Drive story, Annette.

I have closed the comments, so you don’t have to think of something clever to say here but you can do that at Annette’s place.

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway Heritage Tour

~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

Today we are going on the heritage tour of Lakeway. There are 22 stops, and we will be chauffeured in a brand-new bus. Of course, we will have to take our bus to get there. We are catered by Odd Duck of Austin, and our entertainment is The Who.

Menu

Starters

Gulf seafood ceviche, carrot leche de tigre, strawberry, radish, potato chips

Grilled kale salad, fennel, citrus, sunchoke dukkah, shiitake ranch

Charred broccoli, chèvre, mole spice, apple gastrique, sesame

Cast iron cheddar cornbread, green garlic butter

Mushroom tamal, kohlrabi cheese, field greens, cilantro

Smoked oyster chowder, turnip, pork belly, brassica greens, pork rinds

Main

Capellini pasta, sunchoke cacio e pepe, TX cheddar, carrot salsa macha

Blackened redfish, sourdough sauce, wilted romaine, pecan, lemon

Grilled quail, XO fried rice, braised greens, beet BBQ, fried chicken skin

Dry-aged wagyu burger, blue beer cheese, tostada, pork birria jam, cabbage slaw

Aged pork loin, tzatziki, caramelized fennel, beets, pepitas

Chile beer glazed short rib, radish kimchi, Japanese sweet potato, peanut

Dessert

Lime mousse, strawberry sorbet, puffed rice, butter mochi

Sunchoke blondie, caramelized white chocolate, sherry vinegar caramel, cocoa nib ice cream

Salted peanut butter budino, chocolate cake, marshmallow creme, dark chocolate-covered peanut butter cookie

Picture of an old time school bus

All aboard.

Here is the map of the tour and a list of the stops.

After the tour, we each get a hardcover book about Lakeway.

That bus makes ours look a little shabby. Not as lovely inside, I’ll bet.

There are the registration tents. Yes, we had to have reservations.

We can also meet the mayor, who is here somewhere, and Gwen Wunneberger, who as a girl, lived in the cabin in the background.

Gotta have a sweet and cup of coffee but don’t spoil your brunch.

Always terrific to be welcomed.

The old Liebelt cabin was moved to this spot.

Kay Andrews, dressed in a period costume, gives us a tour of the cabin.

A horse-drawn hay cutter sits in the cabin yard.

Behind the cabin sits a replica of August Liebelt’s headstone in honor of him.

It is time to get on the other bus for the tour. If you really want to see what the tour is like. you can visit a previous post on the subject HERE

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Now, let’s sit back and enjoy the food and entertainment. I hope you have a terrific week.

 

Saturday – A Little Personal – Lucy and Twiggy Messing Around

~ John W. Howell ~ 122 Comments

“Lucy. What are you doing?”

“Who says I’m Lucy?”

“What do you mean, ‘who says I’m Lucy?’ I say you’re Lucy.”

“Look closer, pesky puma. There is a water buffalo stalking you.”

“We just played this yesterday. Let’s do something else.”

“Play puma? Play? Do you think this is a game?”

“You’re funny, Lucy. We always play this game.”

“So I’m funny, huh? What kind of funny? Funny, haha, or what?”

“What’s come over you, Lucy? I just said I thought you were funny.”

“Yeah, I know, and I want to know what is so funny?”

“Oh, I get it. You’re doing a Joe Pesci Goodfella riff.”

“Okay, so you figured it out. Had you going though, didn’t I?”

“Let’s just say I thought you had finally gone off the deep end.”

“Why do you always sniff the stair when you are nervous?”

“I’m not nervous, and I think you just made that up.”

“I’m just telling you what I have observed.”

“Don’t go near that door. I heard mom putting together the bath stuff.”

“When did you hear that?”

“Just before we came out. Man, I do not like baths.”

“See, you’re doing it again. Sniffing the stair.”

“Okay, you stay by that door until you’re discovered. I’m heading the other way.”

“I think I hear mom coming.”

“I’m outta here.”