Tag: author

Tuesday – Anything possible

~ John W. Howell ~ 35 Comments

I have often mentioned the fact that the city grooms the beach so that  the poor tourists do not get stuck. Although to the casual observer this looks like a good idea there are other problems connected with grading the beach. Among those are the burying of trash and firewood, disturbing the eco-system and making the beach a passable road. (more cars ). Here are a few pictures.

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This is the grader at work. Yes, it is a full-size piece of equipment.

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This will give you an idea of how the beach looks after the monster passes a few times. He will work the sand to the water’s edge. Guess how hard it is to ride a bike on groomed sand.

Top Ten Things Not to do if You Attend a Writer’s Conference

~ John W. Howell ~ 43 Comments

Since I’m at a Writer’s conference right now, I decided to look up my post from last year and check to see if there are any pointers I should follow. I decided to re-publish the post from last year since I really couldn’t improve on it. Hope you like it.

 

a writer's conference

Top Ten Things Not to do if You Attend a Writer’s Conference

10. If you attend a writer’s conference, do not think you need to impress the faculty with your knowledge of the writing craft. If you do, at best you will sound ridiculous teaching best-selling authors about writing. At worst, one of the best-selling authors may ask you how many books you have sold.

9.  If you attend a writer’s conference, do not volunteer to be the first to read your story out loud. If you do, at best you will finish your reading and no one will applaud since you obviously did not hear the instructions. At worst, you will finish your reading and the instructor will use you as the example of what not to read aloud.

8.  If you attend a writer’s conference, do not continually ask questions in the form of personal anecdotes. If you do, at best you will demonstrate to faculty and fellow attendees how insecure you really are in your writing. At worst, you may find the faculty intentionally ignoring your raised hand during Q&A to the delight of your fellow authors.

7.  If you attend a writer’s conference, do not think one of the agents attending will remember and represent you if you try to monopolize their time. If you do, at best you might find that agent has decided to go home early and will remember you forever. At worst, the agent will believe you to be a stalker and report you to the police and remember you forever.

6.  If you attend a writer’s conference, do not try to maneuver yourself next to best-selling authors at the social events. If you do, at best you will eventually be discovered and the authors will know you for a not so good reason. At worst, you will be the laughing-stock at the faculty gathering prior to each event which will result in an informal shunning procedure.

5.   If you attend a writer’s conference, do not believe you become even more interesting to best-selling authors after too many glasses of wine. If you do, at best you will be the only one at the conference who believes you to be a serious author. At worst, you may just go over the line and need help getting to your room which will leave a lasting impression on all those who witness the event as well as those who may not want to sign a contract with someone who has a drinking problem.

4.  If you attend a writer’s conference, do not jump to the front of the serving lines to be the first to grab your food so you will be ready to squeeze into the spot next to John Lescroart. If you do, at best you may have the conference attendees believing you have some kind of eating disorder. At worst, you might be sending a message to the conference that you will do all most anything to get ahead and will be able to count with one finger the number of people who might be willing to help you

3.  If you attend a writer’s conference, do not assume all the conference attendees can learn from your experience. If you do, at best you will eventually have difficulty finding people who will talk to you. At worst, you might be really humiliated when you discover the attendees you are trying to impress have signed with major publishing houses and dearly want to stay away from you.

2.  If you attend a writer’s conference, do not think others will be impressed by your numbers of followers on social media. If you do you, at best you may find out some successful authors do not personally do social media and will not be impressed. At worst, you will find that your numbers no matter how large are still smaller than others in attendance.

1.  If you attend a writer’s conference, do not promise to send e-mails and to keep in touch after the conference and then fail to do so. If you do, at best the attendees will forget about you and it will be your loss. At worst, you will be remembered as one who doesn’t follow through and at some point in the future you may have to live down that trait.

 

Sunday – Fifty -Two Views of the Gulf

~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

Here is this week’s photo.

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As you can see the beach is completely deserted with is a surprise in that these are the last days before school starts. Looks like the beach goers have decided to make it a late day. You can see the marks made by an earth mover. I purposely did not include it in the shot since next Tuesday I have a couple of photos of the monsters.

 

Last week’s photo is not too different, but there are a few more people.

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “VIS”

~ John W. Howell ~ 17 Comments

a socs-badge

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this week’s prompt is “VIS.” Linda Hill in her graciousness has allowed us to use VIS any way we want. For more information about this painful, exciting prompt go here.  http://lindaghill.com/2015/07/24/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-2515/

Vis by John W. Howell © 2015

All VISITORS MUST CHECK IN said the sign on the receptionist’s desk. Vincent stopped and waited for the young lady to acknowledge him.

“Yes, sir. May I help you?”

“Yes, you may. I’m here to see Mr. Viscount.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“I represent VIS Racing and yes I do.”

“Yes sir please sign in and I will call his assistant.”

“Thank you.”

“Sir?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Viscount is in the visual studio and cannot be disturbed.”

“But I have an appointment for ten o’clock.”

“I understand, but his assistant said he has a concern with the stock price of VIS vis-a-vis other industrials.”

“What is VIS?”

“Vangard Industrials.”

“They’re my competition. Why is he so concerned?”

“I would say he stands to lose a lot of money and if so his partner as well.”

“Partner? How come?”

“The partner goes where the Visa card goes, and Mr. Vincent might be broke enough to lose his.”

“Do you have the partner’s phone number?”

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA – Cherished Blogfest Day

~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

As you may be aware a group of excellent Bloggers put together an incredible Blogfest that includes over 128 blogs. The idea is to talk about a cherished item and to link together a number of bloggers who will be describing an item they cherish. The founders  of this idea are Damyanti – Daily (w)rite, Dan Antion – No Facilities,Paul Ruddock – Echoes of the Pen, Peter Nena – Demogorgons Fiction,Sharukh Bamboat – India Destinations and Tom Benson. Here is the badge for the event and if you click on it, you can go to a complete list of the participating bloggers.

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The following is my contribution. Todays JohnKu is suspended

A Cherished Item by John W. Howell

When I considered joining the Cherished Blogfest I had in mind some items that could qualify for the title Cherished. Of course, I ruled out family since although cherished they are not items and in keeping with the blog fest it would not be fair to include them. I finally settled on a piece that belonged to my father. I have so few items left since he died was I was ten and the years have taken their toll on those mementos that could also qualify as cherished.

My dad served as a naval aviator during World War Two. He was the bombing group navigator and had the awesome responsibility to plot the course to the bombing site and then back to the ship. He served on both the Aircraft carrier Lexington and Yorktown. His group participated in battles that included the invasion of Iwo Jima and bombing strikes to the Japanese homeland.

He was an older man when the war broke out and could have stayed behind since he had two children and was a member of the Detroit Police detective bureau. He chose instead to enlist and was promptly sent to school stateside to earn his navigator wings. He was commissioned as an Ensign and assigned to Bombing Group Nine of the US Navy. These were the dive bombers who were most effective against the Japanese fleet and land-based targets. He and his group earned a number of medals and to his credit never got lost or missed reaching the assigned target.

My most cherished item is the Year book that all members received upon completion of the war. Here is a picture of the cover. You can see the scuff marks of time. The book is now seventy years old.

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The next picture is the page devoted to my dad. The editor had a sense of humor in that a poem was written describing my father as a fighter that was intended to parody his true nature. The cartoon below the picture depicts the sinking of the battleship Yamato, which my dad helped plan and execute.

 

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This book and the fact that the Lexington is permanently docked close to my home are the last links I have to my father. I do cherish it.

Thursday- A little Personal BlogTalk Interview with #RRBC’s Micki Peluso

~ John W. Howell ~ 5 Comments

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Join us here on Rave Reviews Book Club’s RAVE WAVES SPOTLIGHT HONORS with host John W. Howell  and guest Author Micki Peluso. We will discuss her book And the Whippoorwill Sang-Memoir. Join us as we explore this book and become better acquainted with the author. To listen to the broadcast use this link http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravereviewsbookclub/2015/07/23/rrbc-rave-waves-spotlight-honors-with-micki-peluso

This segment of Spotlight Honors is being sponsored by John Fioravanti, the talented author of Passion and Struggle (The Genesis Saga Book I)

If you’d like to know how you can get your own commercial recorded or read on one of our shows, please visit  RaveReviewsByNonnieJules.wordpress.com 

Join on Twitter to ask a question. Type #RRBCSpotlightHonors in the Twitter search box and then hit Live.

 

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

~ John W. Howell ~ 33 Comments
'It was a last-minute change, but a good one.'
‘It was a last-minute change, but a good one.’

It is Wednesday story time again. Last week we left Bob and his mother in a pretty dark place. Bob had just threatened to choke his mom and she taunted him with the words, “you don’t have the guts.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t think that was a wise thing to do. It is time to get back and see where this goes.

“I don’t have the guts you say?”

“That’s right Bob. You are afraid to stand up to anyone in this world let alone your mother.”

“I may be afraid but Robert isn’t.”

“Where is this Robert you keep talking about?”

“Right here.”

“Where? I don’t see anyone but you.”

“I am Robert and I think you owe Bob an apology.”

“Ah, so you are the famous Robert huh?”

“Bob invented me to help him out of troubling circumstances.”

“So you are in his brain?”

“No, I’m here and in a minute I’m going to kick your ass.”

“Just because Bob says so?”

“No, I’ve been here when you treated him like dirt. He doesn’t deserve what you have been doing to him.”

“And you think you will settle the score huh?”

“That’s about it. I don’t have any other reason for being.”

“Are there others inside of Bob?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why don’t you find out? Once you deal with me how do you know there isn’t another personality to deal with you?”

“I don’t know but who cares if there is.”

“So you don’t want to live?”

“Never thought of it.”

“Favorite food?”

“Don’t have any.”

“Bob has pretty much kept you in the dark hasn’t he?”

“This is not about me. I have a job protecting Bob from you.”

“Hmm. If it were me, I would wonder how it would be without Bob.”

“You are trying to subvert Bob and my relationship.”

“From my perspective there isn’t much of a relationship. Looks like you’re a servant.”

“You have me confused. Let me think. Bob, where are you?”

Tuesday – Anything Possible

~ John W. Howell ~ 25 Comments

As most of the regulars know I have this annoying habit of taking pictures as I ride my bike and then writing little stories about what I see. The story is usually a piece of flash fiction inspired by the photo. Today is no exception. I saw this little car on the beach and couldn’t help myself. Hope you like it.

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The Trip by John W. Howell © 2015

“Okay. Where are we?”

“I’m not sure.”

“It was your idea to leave the movie and go on a trip.”

“Did I know the real world was not the same as the film world?”

“I think you could have made a guess it would be different.”

“Sure I thought it would be a little different.”

“But what?”

“Never counted on riding along on a sandy highway.”

“And not hitting a crab.”

“Well, that too.”

“So what do we do now?”

“Do you have your phone?”

“Yes.”

“Give it to me.”

“Please?”

“Please give it to me.”

“Here.”

“Hello. Triple-A? Is this the Disney Pixar Cars Triple A? Oh good. I need a tow. We hit a crab, and the front tire is messed up. Yeah, a crab. How big? I would say as big as the car. Hello. Triple-A? Hello.”

“They hung up?”

“Not sure. I still hear laughing.”

Top Ten Thing Not to Do if You Live at a Vacation Destination

~ John W. Howell ~ 78 Comments

a family vacation

This list has been inspired by observing the interaction between vacationers and locals at some vacation destinations in which I have found myself as a resident. Hope you like it.

Top Ten Things Not to do If You Live in a Vacation Destination

10 If you live in a vacation destination, do not honk your horn at the drivers who habitually go ten miles below the speed limit. If you do, at best they will go even slower. At worst, you may find yourself on the receiving end of a very frustrated lost out of towner with a car full of kids and someone asking “if we should have stopped and asked directions.” (And they might just have their semi-automatic weapon collection along for the ride.)

9 If you live in a vacation destination, do not put off grocery shopping until the end of the week. If you do, at best you will be able to check out before your ice cream is liquefied. At worst, you will have spent three hours fighting out of towners for items on your list only to find you lost a majority of the battles. (And the last six-pack of beer went to an immense guy named Tiny. ( At least that’s what the tattoo you read on the fingers of his fist said before you passed out.)

8 If you live in a vacation destination, do not drive your car downtown between Thursday and Sunday night. If you do at best, your round trip will be several hours. At worst, you will be forced to sleep overnight in your car since you parked in the only spot available only to find all the streets have been closed to traffic until dawn (And you didn’t bring a toothbrush,)

7 If you live in a vacation destination, do not plan to have dinner out from May 30th until September 2nd. If you do, at best you will be disappointed with the quality and service. At worst, you will be served hours after you order and will receive a meal lower than fast food quality and priced like Michelin Four Star. (And you ran out of things to talk about an hour before.)

6 If you live in a vacation destination, do not look forward to a peaceful summer. If you do at best, you will finally give up and stay inside. At worst, you will become known to the police as “that crank with no sense of humor.” (And even get a busy signal on a 911 call).

5 If you live in a vacation destination, do not think by being rude to the visitors somehow they will never come back. If you do, at best you will receive some rudeness in return. At worst, you may just be rude to the wrong person and end up looking like a raccoon. (Tough to explain as well)

4 If you live in a vacation destination, do not think everyone picks up after themselves. If you do, at best you will become disillusioned quickly. At worst, you will find yourself explaining to the police why you are threatening out of towners with a litter pick up stick. (And they have their Tasers at the ready)

3 If you live in a vacation destination, do not even think of going to the Dairy Queen. If you do, at best all your cones will look like shakes. At worst, your blood pressure will hit overdrive as you watch the two clerks try to handle one hundred customers. (And you wonder why management is surprised by a rush of business during vacation time)

2 If you live in a vacation destination, do not give anyone permission to park in your driveway just for a moment. If you do, at best you will not be able to get out for a few hours. At worst, you will have the vacationers in your driveway for two weeks. (And the car is locked)

1 If you live in a vacation destination, do not casually mention the idea people should visit. If you at best you will only get a few who will take you up on your “offer.” At worst, you will have a houseful of permanent residents, and you’ll be lucky if you even know them. (And they remind you of being out of beer.)