Friday is Here. Yay.

June 6, 2014May 31, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

Friday again and it has arrived just in time to make a truly great weekend. Good weekends seem to happen more than they are planned. Usually when we make some big plan for the weekend things happen to disrupt what we had intended. When we plan nothing for the weekend those plans usually go through without a hitch and in the end a great weekend has been had. Just shows, expectation of a good time sets you up for the possibility of disappointment. In the end, maybe it’s better not to have plans and therefore no expectations, since this would be a way to eliminate disappointment. Naw I don’t think so. Living to avoid disappointment is way too negative. Half the enjoyment of doing something fun is looking forward to the activity. Here is a Johnku on the subject of planning for fun.

Fun plan is ready,

Anticipation very high . . .

Summer rain melts cake.

I always wonder what others do on their weekends. Do you plan for a great weekend or just let it happen? When the plans fall through is it worse than having no plans at all?

Story Day – AKA Wednesday

June 4, 2014May 31, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 12 Comments

Wednesday is the day for a story as you may know. Today’s story was inspired by one of those quaint Ben Franklin almanac quotations. “Let he who drinks his cider alone, catch his horse alone.” I think this quotation speaks volumes about the concept of sharing. If a person cannot find the heart to share the good moments of life, then when the troubles of life show up let that person face them alone. Seems logical, but it never ceases to amaze me how some folks who have no thoughts for others in good times want all the help they can find when things turn bad. This story is about one of those people. It is titled: All About Me and stars my favorite character Frank.
All About Me By John W. Howell © 2014
“I can tell, you think I should help you with this problem.”
“Well, are you going to stand around and watch me struggle?”
“Hum let me see. The last time I asked you for help, you were busy remember?”
“No I really don’t remember. I don’t even remember you asking for help.”
“That’s pretty strange. At the time, you gave me a lecture on how to avoid the problem.”
“Did it work?”
“Hell no Frank. It didn’t work. I needed help getting out of the problem, not some words on how to avoid it.”
“Did you ever get into the same problem again?”
“No never.”
“See I did help.”
“Right now it isn’t so much about me Frank it’s all about you. You are in trouble and you are asking me to help you.”
“Isn’t that what friends are for?”
“If we were friends I would say yes that’s what friends are for.”
“You mean we aren’t friends?”
“Frank for god’s sake. You are asking me for money and the last time I asked you I got nothing.”
“Except good advice.”
“Except advice yes.”
“Say it, ‘good advice.’”
“No I won’t and I’m not giving you any of the money.”
“You are hurting my feelings Gerry. Please say you will give me the money.”
“I don’t think you have feelings Frank and again, no.”
“If I kill you, I can just take the money.”
“I don’t think so Frank. Look around. There is no way out of here. We are locked in the safe overnight sitting on millions. You kill me and take the money and the boss will hunt you down like an animal. You have to wait until the bank opens in the morning and the safe automatically unlocks just like me. Then, like in the plan, we both take the money out of here. That is my final say so on this subject. I can’t believe you are so stupid. Point that gun in another direction before I slap you.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Pet Sitting

June 2, 2014May 31, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 24 Comments

Here is the 48th 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 When Petsitting for Friends

10. When petsitting your friends’ dog Buster, do not think that running circles in the backyard for five minutes will be adequate exercise. If you do, at best, Buster will be obedient enough to come back inside when you call and thus you will be none the wiser regarding Buster’s pent-up energy nor his overactive bladder. At worst, Buster will refuse to come in and proceed to chase you in circles until you drop from exhaustion or are rescued by a sympatric neighbor whichever comes first..

9. When petsitting your friends’ dog Molly, do not think that while taking Molly for a walk, her friendly and amiable behavior will extend to other dogs. If you do, at best, you’ll have enough upper body strength to keep her from tangling with another dog that is (fortunately for you) leashed to a post in the neighbor’s front yard. At worst, you’ll get tangled up and hauled by Molly stopping only when, the other dog is inches from your face, with the neighbor calling the police because of your inability to control the dog..

8. When petsitting your friends’ dog Jake, do not forget to bring plastic bags with you when you take Jake on a walk. If you do forget, at best, Jake will wait until you are in your friends’ front yard before deciding to do number 2 in front of countless witnesses. At worst, he will pick the most pristine lawn (with the sign Keep Off) in the neighborhood and promptly do number 2 in full view of the owner and you will have to make apologies and promises as you run back to your friends’ house to retrieve the plastic bags and then take a long walk of shame to return and clean up.

7. When petsitting your friends’ dog Bella, do not think you can be late for a visit without dire consequences. If you are late for a visit, at best, Bella will only give you a dirty look when you finally arrive and let her out to do her “business.” At worst, there will be more than a dirty look waiting for you when you finally show up and your friends will ask you where to send the multiple carpet cleaning bills.

6. When petsitting your friends’ dog Hugo and taking him for a walk in a local park, do not think you can ignore the posted leash laws and allow Hugo to run without a leash in the hope that he tires himself out fast and you can go home sooner. At best, you’ll get dirty looks from the other dog walkers who chose to obey the law as well as a dirty dog because Hugo found a small pool of muddy water to play in. At worst, Hugo will take off like a rocket and you will spend hours searching to no avail and then panicking over what to tell your friends only to arrive back at the house in the dark and find Hugo, happy and tired, waiting for you on the front steps along with the animal control officer who followed him there.

5. When petsitting your friends’ cat Princess, do not forget to check the litter box at every visit. If you do forget, at best, Princess will be resourceful enough to find unsoiled spots and allow your nose to alert you to the need to clean the box. At worst, Princess will decide to teach you a lesson and leave you a surprise or two shaped like a Tootsie Roll just inside the front door which you will find under your first step..

4. When petsitting your friends’ cat Tom and seeing that they have a harness and leash for him, do not think taking Tom on a walk will be one way to avoid it needing the litter box (and thus you having to clean it). If you do take Tom on a walk, at best, Tom will spend most of the time lounging in a square of sunshine and be loath to move unless you pick him up and carry him back home. At worst, Tom will see another cat and set off to chase it with unexpected strength, pulling your shoulder out of its socket in the process.

3. When petsitting your friends’ cat, do not think the cat’s nickname—PsychoKitty—is actually a term of endearment and you can caress her to your heart’s content. At best, PsychoKitty will tolerate your petting and you will know enough to stop when you hear a low growl. At worst, you ignore the low growl and quickly find yourself in a situation at the ER where several doctors are required to convince PsychoKitty to release your arm.

2. When petsitting your friends’ cat Milo, do not ignore your friends’ warning that Milo likes to rub against people’s legs when he’s hungry. If you do, at best, you’ll just find it takes longer to get to the kitchen since you have to navigate around Milo’s paws as he loops in and around your legs. At worst, you step on Milo’s paws causing him to emit a banshee-like yowl and you to trip over your own feet, resulting in a face plant on the tiled kitchen floor.

1. When petsitting your friends’ cat Ruby, do not forget your friends’ warning that Ruby likes to lurk on the top of bookcases. If you do, at best, you’ll simply have a few panicked hours of thinking Ruby had gotten out of the house before you finally see her at the top of a bookcase, her eyes mere slits of boredom. At worst, after hours of a panicked search, Ruby will finally make herself known by jumping from the bookcase onto your shoulders, causing you to make face plant on the hardwood floor, where you lie for several minutes convinced you heard Ruby laugh as she ran off of you and jumped back onto the bookcase.

Friday Haiku

May 30, 2014May 23, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 21 Comments

Friday is finally here. It is always comforting to know the week is almost over. Also, it is nice to know the weather is finally nice enough to really enjoy the weekends. The summer season has to be the best. I’m not sure I have ever heard anyone up North say “I’m really glad winter is here.” Mostly people are glad to be able to move around and take in some outdoor activities. Of course, one can ski and enjoy winter sports, but after, facing a long cold winter is not usually everyone’s cup of tea. Today’s Haiku (or as words4jp calls it Johnku) encourages us all to take in the summer fun.

The sun is out there,

Ready to let us run free. . .

Need high SPF.

Wednesday the Day for a Story

May 28, 2014May 23, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 12 Comments

Wednesday means story day. Last week I posted a story titled Empty Room. There were several of my blogging pals and my daughter who wanted a little more of the story since it seems I left the protagonist Frank telling us something leading to more questions than answers. The story ended with Frank not wanting to buy the house he was looking at because the room, which he wanted to always have available, would not be suitable. So here is the Empty Room Part Two. Maybe there will be more light shed on the situation. To review; Frank said last week: “You don’t know the person. It would have to be perfect. I have to make sure everything is perfect before they come back. They left in the first place because I couldn’t keep everything perfect. This room won’t work.”

“What do you mean they? Who are they?”

“Yeah well, I really don’t want to go into it. The house won’t work and that’s it.”

“Come on Frank. I have been looking all over for a house for you and this one is perfect. Give me something to work with here.”

“Okay I’ll try. Let me tell you a story and then maybe you will understand.”

“Let’s go and sit on the back porch. There are some chairs out there.”

“Off the kitchen right?”

“Yeah follow me. Here, let me open the door. Man, look at this yard. This is killer.”

“It’s really nice. I like that swing set over there.”

“You have kids?”

“No. I told you no before.”

“I-I’m sorry I forgot. Sit here and tell me everything.”

“I used to have a wife. She made my life a living nightmare. She was always leaving me alone for days at a time. She would go away and I wouldn’t hear anything from her until she came back.”

“Did she tell you where she was?”

“No. She always seems unhappy at being back home though.”

“So what happened?”

“Well she finally ran off for good.”

“How do you know for good?”

“I just knew.”

“What did you do?”

“I looked for her and tried to find out where she went.”

“Any luck?”

“Well sort of. I ran into someone who said they knew her. This was in Reno. I went there because she had once worked there. I met her when I was travelling. Anyway, I was showing her pictures around and some guy said he thought she was working in one of the casinos.”

“Was she?”

“I never found her. So I ran an ad in the paper and said that I would always have an empty room waiting for you.”

“But you said they before. Is there another person involved?”

“Uh. . . besides her you mean. You mean associated with her?”

“Yes I guess so.”

“No. She didn’t have anyone but me.”

“Why would you say they then?”

“Well I wrote the story down and I guess I was referring to whoever reads it.”

“You mean this is the story and you wrote down what happened?”

“Well, no it never really happened like it was real. I am a fiction writer and it’s a story I wrote. It is a piece of flash fiction. Here take a look it’s all here.”

“You mean I have been looking for a house for you with this so-called empty room and it is just a story?”

“I’m sure if you were a writer you would understand that I can’t live in a house where the empty room is not perfect. My character deserves to have the empty room perfect, as do the readers. The room in this house is not even close to the room in the story. I actually wrote a part in the story where the house was mid-century with two bathrooms and two bedrooms. One of those bedrooms was to be kept empty in case she came back. In fact this house is exactly like I wrote it except for that room. You Gerry are exactly like I wrote in the story as well.”

“Frank?”

“Yes Gerry.”

“I think you need some help.”

“And I think I’m going to write you out of the story and start over. You don’t seem to get the point. Gerry.”

Ten Things Not to Do on Memorial Day (Today)

May 26, 2014May 23, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 10 Comments

Here is the 47th 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 On Memorial Day (Today)

10. On Memorial Day, do not accept an invitation to your boss’ house for a picnic even if you think it will be good for your career. If you do, at best, you might just have an awful time. At worst, you might be pressed into service as one of the wait staff.

9. On Memorial Day, do not accept an invitation to your friend’s parents’ house on the lake. If you do, at best, you might be subjected to uncomfortable questions about why you don’t eat potato salad which has been left in the sun for an hour. At worst, you won’t notice the potato salad and end up riding to the ER in an expensive ambulance.

8. On Memorial Day, do not try for the record number of drinks in an hour set by the Legend last year before he died. If you do, at best, you will feel awful the next day. At worst, you just might meet up with the Legend to compare notes.

7. On Memorial Day, do not show the crowd how many hot dogs or anything else you can consume in less than sixty seconds. If you do you, at best, you may get off lucky with just one. At worst, you may eat enough hot dogs causing you to go into a Nitrite coma which takes days to wear off.

6. On Memorial Day, do not try to better any story being told by someone who has served in the military. If you do, at best, you might be actually telling the truth, but will look like a braggart. At worst, you might get in so deep that you will need to join up just to make the stories come true.

5. On Memorial Day, try to resist the beer bong challenge. If you don’t, at best, you will need to find a ride home. At worst, you will have lost all power to reason and the ability to talk which will make great discussion topics for the next day, not to mention the cell phone pictures on Instagram.

4. On Memorial Day, do not offer to light the fireworks display. If you do, at best, you will be contributing to an illegal act in most places. At worst, you may just set off the whole pile and be faced with trying to explain to Homeland Security exactly what your intentions were, hoping you can talk them out of a planned water board session.

3. On Memorial Day, do not decide to join in the volley ball game if you don’t know how to play. If you do, at best, you will slowly learn how to play and eventually stop making points for the other team. At worst, your team mates will decide you need to be eliminated and will hire someone to take you for a long ride out-of-town.

2. On Memorial Day, do not wear any bathing attire which doesn’t fit or is designed for competitive racing. If you do, at best, the rest of the party will try to ignore the sight. At worst, your picture and all the stuff that doesn’t fit in the suit will make the internet rounds on sites titled: “What not to wear in the pool this summer.”

1. On Memorial Day, do not think you need to entertain all your friends with stories of horrific behavior on Memorial Days past. If you do, at best, everyone will eventually walk away as they lose interest and you’ll be left with the Golden Retriever. At worst, someone remembers your antics and is able to top your story with an even more embarrassing tale about you which you may or may not remember.

TGIF Haiku and Margarita Friday

May 23, 2014May 16, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 22 Comments

Feels good to have the work week finished. (well eight hours from now) Looking forward to the memorial Day weekend. Although it is usually a hassle getting around town, Memorial Day is one of those holidays that is like a gateway to something better. Up North, Memorial Day means you might be safe putting out those tender plants. I know when I lived in Indiana, we used Memorial Day as the final safe measure for planting tomatoes. Down south, Memorial Day used to mean putting on white shoes, pants and belt for the men. Not sure it still does, but if so, good wishes to you all.

Here at the beach Memorial Day means crowds and the need to get to the store before Friday or be face to face with (wait for it) tourists. Most tourists are nice folks who pretty much behave as if they are at home. Others are the kinds of folks you wish you could go visit and do unto them as they do unto you. The saving grace is those folks never get away from themselves. They do eventually leave our space for which we are thankful. Here is a Haiku celebrating the start of summer. It is called Memorial Day.

Warm breeze touches skin,

Sunlight kisses still cold ground . . .

Gateway to summer.

Wednesday – Story Day and Yes Hump Day Too

May 21, 2014May 16, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 12 Comments

Wednesday has come around again. This is a good thing since it allows us a momentary rest from the work week in anticipation of finishing out on Friday. I was asked the other day about inspiration for stories which show up on Fiction Favorites on story Wednesday. The question was really, “how do you think up the stories you write?” My answer was a little confusing I’m sure , but it is the truth. My stories come to me when I am doing something other than writing. Since I write these stories the same week they are published, the idea usually comes to me in kind of a flash. I’ll give you an example. This week’s story came to me while I was riding my bike on the beach. I have taken to listening to music while I ride since the guys I used to ride with have all fallen out of the routine. Well anyway, my mix includes a number of different kinds of music from all decades. I was riding against a 24 knot wind and “It don’t matter to me,” by Bread started to play. There is one line in the song that caught my attention story wise. The line, “There will always be an empty room waiting for you,” started the sequence to the story.

So here it is. The title is Empty Room. I hope you like it. Oh yeah, I put the song up so you might listen.

“Be careful Frank. I don’t want you to trip on this loose board.”

“Yeah I see it. Thanks.”

“So what we have here is a two bedroom one bath bungalow. Shall we go inside?”

“I like the door with that half-moon glass piece up on top there.”

“This house was built-in the mid-fifties and is now a classic. The style is called Mid Century and it’s all the rage.”

“I grew up in a house like this.”

“Yeah me too. Come this way Frank and look at this spacious living room. There are hardwood floors and even a fireplace.”

“I sure would enjoy that in the winter.”

“Back here is the dining room. You know you could turn these two rooms into one big one for entertaining. I don’t think there is any load bearing walls between.”

“I don’t do much entertaining.”

“Well it was just an idea. Come see the kitchen.”

“Wow this looks like it has been updated.”

“Good eye Frank. You are right. The countertops are granite and all the appliances have been traded out for stainless.”

“I see there is gas for cooking.”

“Yup and you have a microwave right over here. Don’t you love how light this kitchen is?”

“I could really be happy in this kitchen.”

“Let’s go look at the bedrooms and bath. Follow me. Here is the master bedroom. You have to admit it is a good size.”

“It sure is. Is that a walk-in closet?”

“You’re very observant Frank. Yes as rare as they were back in the fifties, this house has a walk-in closet. I have a surprise for you as well. This house is listed as a one bathroom, but in fact there is one connected to this room right through that door. I don’t know why they said there is only one. Go have a look.”

“Wow there is everything in here. A commode and a shower as well. This is very nice.”

“Okay follow me to the other bedroom and let’s take a look at the bathroom on the way.”

“I see there is a full tub and two sinks.”

“Yeah you might have to redo the pink and grey tile, since that was the style back then.”

“I sort of like it.”

“How about this bedroom?”

“Gee it’s kind of small. I don’t think it will serve very well as a bedroom. Maybe an office.”

“Okay then. An office it is.”

“But I can’t have a house with only one bedroom.”

“This has two Frank.”

“No I don’t think so.”

“You have family Frank?”

“No. No I don’t.”

“Then why be concerned about this room as a bedroom.”

“Well it’s a long story─”

“Frank I’m your real estate agent. If there is something about this room I need to know so I can help.”

“I don’t think you can help.”

“Try me.”

“I told someone I would always have an empty room for them.”

“This room would work.”

“You don’t know the person. It would have to be perfect. I have to make sure everything is perfect before they come back. They left in the first place because I couldn’t keep everything perfect. This room won’t work.”

Rave Reviews Book Club Recruiting Day

May 20, 2014May 20, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 15 Comments

Today is recruiting day for the Rave Reviews Book Club. Fiction Favorites is included in a number of blogs posting some information about Rave Reviews Book Club throughout the blogosphere. The purpose of this post is to give you an idea about the club and to provide an easy way for you to get even more information and to sign up if you wish.

RRBC Mission:

The Mission of Rave Reviews Book Club is to Profile, Promote & Propel the careers of indie authors. The only way the club can do that, is by supporting each of our author members with book sales and reviews. The club encourages and hopes each of the members will “PURCHASE” (either in e-book or paperback format) the selected author’s books AND when finished with the complete read, post an honest “REVIEW”. In this way each author’s book will be in that wonderful seat of being Profiled, Promoted & Propelled, will have the same courtesy extended. We proudly work on the HONORS SYSTEM here at Rave Reviews Book Club

Rave Reviews Book Club is a virtual book club made up of authors and readers. Books reviewed by the club will be selected by the Book Selection committee. All are encouraged to join, especially if you are an author, as members expect the books selected to propel the careers and sales of authors. The more members of the club, the more successful and stronger the collective voices will be. For more info on the club, please visit Rave Reviews Book Club FAQ page.

For you who are may be new to book clubs, here is how it works: Once the club has made a selection, our members get their copy of the selected book, read and then post their reviews on Amazon, B&N.com or whatever other forum they use for reviews. Then, once the club meets (virtually) on its scheduled meeting date, all members will join in with the discussion. When circumstances allow, the author will also be a part of the discussion for Q & A. After our meeting/discussion, a collective review of the bi-monthly selection will be posted on the club page under Book Club Reviews. Please be mindful of the club’s selection, as it is our hope to support, and propel the awareness and sales of each author during their selection period. Each member is required to buy and review at least four books for the year.

In addition to book reviews and purchases there are ample opportunities for an RRBC author to gain awareness on several levels.

The club selects an author each week for #PUSHTUESDAY which is a concentrated push all day by club members on Twitter
The club selects an author for a SPOTLIGHT honor which includes a number of blog tour appearances for at least a week and sometimes longer
The club runs several writing contests throughout the year
There are opportunities to participate in giveaways
A group of members working as the Tweet Support Team will be tweeting all member’s tweet handles to their followers every day each week (Except Sunday)
There is no fee (now. All you need to do is sign up and commit to supporting your fellow authors

If all of this sounds good to you sign up HERE.

Also please go to Rave Reviews Book Club and use the special voting button to select your favorite recruiting blog after visiting them.

Rave Reviews Book Club “SPOTLIGHT Tour” Author, Nicholas Rossis!!!

May 19, 2014May 16, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 22 Comments

I am very pleased to welcome Rave Reviews Book Club “SPOTLIGHT” Author, Nicholas Rossis author of: Pearseus,Year 18: The Schism (Book 1), Pearseus, Rise of the Prince (Book 2),and The Power of Six: Science Fiction Short Stories. Nicholas discusses the Snowfall Project.

Two Years After The Snowfall Project: What Happened to the New Way of Reading?

Have you heard of the New York Times Snow Fall project? It is an interactive web-based project called Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek by John Branch.

Taking six months to develop, it was designed as a completely immersive, interactive and dynamic reading experience. The format was touted as the future of online storytelling and the work is amazing – both from the standpoint of a programmer and an author. However, I am not sure that’s what books are about: we find it hard enough to get used to the ebook, that this vibrant knowledge can seem a bit overwhelming. It seems I’m not alone in that.

OK, the book is about an avalanche –obviously! There is a story behind it regarding skiers trapped under various levels of snow. The e-book has a video-like image of the mountains where the avalanche is supposed to have taken place and you have an aerial view of the whole area. You are also shown a satellite image of how, on February 19^th 2012 snow clouds gathered around this area (Washington state, apparently). Moreover, you get background information of how this area was discovered, what gave it its name (Stevens Pass), photos of the early 20^th century and other details –real ones, not -imagined of what the area looks like, how people have survived there, what sort of people used to live there –OK, you get the gist.

Additionally, you are presented with photos of the heroes –wherever the name of a hero appears on the text, it’s clickable and you can see various photos of that people, along with their age, profession and other important facts. You also find a geological map of how snow was amassing on the ground and what the earth under the snow must have looked like. Some chapters begin with all the photos of the people appearing in the chapter, just like a movie. All in all, this e-book has really taken advantage of how we can present a book in a really interactive way, using all the tools that media offer us.

And yet, like many others, I found it unsettling, and not for the usual reasons cited: that the bells and whistles distracted from the story. No, my first hesitation was due to a different factor altogether. I remember when I wrote my book, I had put an actual image of a hero in the cover, and a kind friend who was beta-reading it thought that it was absolutely awful not to be allowed to imagine what the hero looks like. She really considered this off-putting, since she wanted to dream and visualize, rather than being shown what the author had in mind. So, I guess she would not have impressed by the avalanche e-book. As we were discussing it, I realized that reading a fiction book means that you are given space to invent, dream up and create a whole environment besides the one the author has produced. How many times have we been disappointed by a book that has been turned into a movie; I often find myself saying ‘but that’s not how I had seen the hero’.

And yes, my second hesitation would be that all the outside-of-the-story information, although supporting and very informative, was directing my attention away from the plot. I was distracted because all the facts they were presenting were actually interesting: I read about history, climatology and sociological facts regarding the area, but then I forgot where I had left the story.

I might be saying all that because I am growing old. Oh dear, I sound like those old people who say ‘back in my days, things were better’ –or any other positive adjective you can think of – and I had sworn I would never be like that! Or, because I have been reading for the last 40 years, so perhaps I am used to how a book “should” be and my brain just can’t process huge differences compared to what I know. The fact of the matter is that I just found this e-book presentation complicated and I couldn’t get myself to continue reading the story.

What I can say is that this sort of story arrangement could really work well in kids’ books or school books. The facts are presented in an amazing way and they just catch your attention and make you want to read more, irrespective of the story. The interaction between videos, photos, quotes and historic elements is such that you can communicate pretty much any material that way and I can assure you that kids will love it. Also, spreading the text over multiple pages and diluting it with images and other visual material will convince the most skeptical of kids to keep reading.

I can also say that the writing is really good; the story flows, the description of the actual avalanche is impressive and I thought that describing the snow flakes on her face as ‘breadcrumbs’ was beautiful. So, I might buy the book in normal e-book format and just read the story!

Could this be a problem unique to the specific project? There have been many attempts to mimic it, and even a startup called Scroll Kit, that advertised the fact that “The NYT spent hundreds of hours hand-coding ‘Snow Fall.’ We made a replica in an hour” (a statement that landed them into trouble). The NYT itself created similar projects, as did a number of others.

I do like it that we can now talk of ‘normal ebook format’ as opposed to, say, ‘interactive ebook format’. It seems that we have gone a long way from the plain physical book, and the new medium certainly has a lot of endearing qualities. Is it beautiful? Absolutely stunning. Elegant? Definitely. Novel? You bet. But is it the future of reading?

Two years down the line, it’s clearly part of the future; but definitely not the future.

His books:

Pearseus, Year 18: The Schism (Book 1): www.amazon.com/dp/B00FXOJQA8/ Pearseus, Rise of the Prince (Book 2): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FYRKLPI The Power of Six: Science Fiction Short Stories: www.amazon.com/dp/B00K57JTAA/