Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

Is it Friday yet? No? Come back when it is, please.

 

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we discovered through Larry’s astute (?) questioning that Louis was hired by Sandusky to experiment in finding a way to remove organs from the body without a visible entry. The reason Sandusky gave for the research was to facilitate organ transplant. Of course, getting an organ back into the patient was an open question. Larry invited Louis to go downtown for further questioning. Louis agreed, and they all left for police headquarters. I see that Andrew and Larry are in Larry’s office. Let’s pop over there and find out what they are talking about.

 

“So you think the story about the reason for the research by Sandusky was a ruse, Andrew?”

“A ruse. I mean how stupid would it be to explode organs and then cut someone open and put in a new one. My god the mess in there alone would be impossible to clean adequately.”

“What does that mean?”

“Think of a chicken exploding in the microwave. Do you ever get the little pieces cleaned up?”

“Well, I would stay with it until I did.”

“Showing a certain anal retentiveness, I would say. In a body, the old tissue would be in every recess. After the new organ is in the old residual pieces of tissue would rot, and no doubt cause an infection.”

“A little different from a microwave.”

“Right. I used that example so you would get the degree of difficulty.”

“I understand. So why did Sandusky use a ruse to get the experiments done.”

“I can only imagine he didn’t want old Louis calling the cops.”

“You don’t think Louis couldn’t figure out the downside of the procedure.”

“I’m guessing he did. Fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money.”

“To keep one’s mouth shut.”

“Yes, for sure. You also have to wonder how Sandusky became one of the victims.”

“What do you think happened.”

“I could paint a scenario where Louis got a little greedy and asked Sandusky for more money. He and Sandusky got into a spat which ended with Sandusky in the vibration pool hooked up to a negative lead.”

“So it is good we have Louis here for questioning.”

“Don’t know the best way to make him break down and confess.”

“I’m the detective leave it to me. We also need to think of possibilities as well.”

“Like getting some coffee?”

“Good suggestion but other motives for Sandusky to bite the terminal so to speak.”

“I knew that. Coffee first. Then motives.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #197 by Keith Channing

In Keith’s words. “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

The photo.

Kreative Kue #197

“What’s that old saying?”
“Okay, you got me. What old saying?”
“Something about the red sky.”
“Oh, that one. Red sky at night sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning sailor take warning.”
“Yeah, that’s it. Have you seen the sky tonight?”
“No, I haven’t been out of this radio shack for five hours.”
“You gotta go out and take a look. I’ll watch the radio for you.”
“What am I going to see?”
“You will not believe the sunset. It is almost like the sun is going to drop into the ocean.”
“I would love to see that. All you have to do is put on these earphones and listen for our call sign which is  ‘Fairwind.”‘
“What happens if I hear it.”
“Just record the message in this log and answer them. Start your answer with ‘Fairwind.”‘
“Sounds easy enough. After all, you won’t be gone but a few minutes.”
“That is true.”
“Okay, I got this. You go look.”
“Thanks. Be right back.”
*
“Boy, that was quick. You back already?”
“Are you kidding me? It must be a hundred degrees out there. That sun is coming very close. I couldn’t stay long.”
“Well, there was one message.”
“You have got to be kidding me. I was only gone a couple of minutes. What was the message?”
“Here it is. It is from the atmospheric agency. It is pretty short.”
“Read it to me.”
“Fairwind. Farewell.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do If You Were with Edison in 1879

Thomas Edison

This is a continuation of the Top Ten on a historical backdrop. On October 21st after 14 months of testing, Thomas Edison first demonstrates his electric lamp, hoping to one day compete with the gaslight.

Top Ten Things Not to do if You were with Edison in 1879

10 If you were with Edison in 1879, do not say, “Watson come here I need you.” If you do, at best no one will answer. At worst, you will be escorted from the room and your 100 shares of Edison stock revoked. (You somehow got Alexander Graham Bell mixed up with Edison, Frici.)

9 If you were with Edison in 1879, do not elbow Tiny the WWF champ out of the way for a better view. If you do, at best Tiny will ignore you. At worst, Tiny, who has an aversion to being touched will use his hips to body check you out the door. (You didn’t think a big guy could move that fast huh, Friduwulf? Too bad the door was closed when you went through it.)

8 If you were with Edison in 1879, do not touch anything before the demonstration. If you do, at best you’ll avoid the live wire. At worst, you will inadvertently disconnect the main lead. (The test was a failure, Frisco. Thanks to you we are all living with gas lamps today.)

7 If you were with Edison in 1879, do not tell him how to improve his speech. If you do, at best he will do the speech the way he wrote it. At worst he will take your suggestions. (Thanks to you, Fynbar, the electric light bulb was named by Edison as “the better mousetrap of gas lamps.”)

6 If you were with Edison in 1879, do not mention to bystanders that the British had toyed with incandescent bulbs since the 1830’s. If you do, at best Edison won’t hear you. At worst, you’ll be talking with a reporter from the Wall Street Journal. (Well now you’ve done it, Fernando. The headline reads “Edison steals British Idea.” Good luck with your future stock options.)

5 If you are with Edison in 1879, do not make jokes about the Edison Screw. If you do, at best you better hope he doesn’t hear you. At worst, the joke carries a big laugh, and now you are unemployed. (You had no way of knowing, Francisco, that the Edison Screw is the standard set up for light bulbs and sockets. The joke was pretty funny though.)

4 If you are with Edison in 1879, do not trip and let the only bulb fall to the floor. (If you do, at best the carpet will prevent a disaster. At worst, the lab floor is made of concrete. (Well, there goes the demonstration, Franklin. Future generations of those who do not have General Electric to work for salute you.)

3 If you are with Edison in 1879, do not suggest naming the company. If you do, at best Edison will choose his own name. At worst, he will call the company after a significant advantage of the bulb. (Somehow the Less Gas Light Company doesn’t sound too good when you say it out loud, Frankie. Let’s hope he comes to his senses.)

2 If you are with Edison in 1879, do not try to talk him out of his idea about motion pictures. If you do, at best he will avoid you on the subject. At worst, you will be successful, and he will abandon the idea. (So where are you going with that tub of buttered popcorn, Freddy?)

1 If you are with Edison in 1879, do not suggest that he read from the newspaper on the first recorded conversation. If you do, at best he will choose his own literature. At worst. He will listen to you and select the classifieds. (So now the first recorded voice puts everyone to sleep, Fletcher. Mary Had a Little Lamb is so much better.)

Views of the Neighborhood – Old Town Festival

Each year Port Aransas celebrates its roots with an Old Town Festival. This year due to the rain the popular parade had to be canceled. Also, the sand pumpkin carving contest was postponed  Other events went on as scheduled. Here is a photo review of the goings-on.

The sign points the way.

The first stop is The eighth annual Expression Session Surfing Contest. Here you seem some boards waiting for surfers.

The Texas Gulf Surfing Association is here.

A big tent with hot dogs and T-shirts and loud music.

A surfer coming in from the cold under the Horace Caldwell Pier. The Gulf  temperature is in the low 70’s

More contestants going out.

A shot of the surfers using the iPhone zoom.

Wading into the cold water.

Have to have a VW camper which doubles as a kissing booth.

Here is the kisser. A little too stiff for my taste. (a manikin)

Type A surfers.

Some young folks getting ready to surf.

An old folk pretty much done for the day.

There is also The Pawesome Doggie Surfing Contest but it had not begun yet. Here are a trio of spectators.

The next stop is the Port Aransas Hurricane Tree Recovery Campaign.

Native Texas tree plantings are free.

Some of the varieties.

More.

All you do is sign in and pick out which trees you would like.

Here is a shot of the Museum where a special surfing exhibit is on display. The sign points to the community center where storytellers are relating Wild Sea Stories which are tales of Port Aransas’ past.

Here is a shot of the community center where the stories are being told and a lunch is being served.

Farley Boat Works

Here is a photo of the Farley Boat Works which was the location for the Barn Dance Saturday night. In addition to a band, there was red or white clams linguine served.

All in all the rain did not put a damper of the Festival.

 

.

Atonement in Bloom Book Launch Party Bus

Atonement Blog Party Bus Loaded

All aboard! Beep-beep, yeah! The party bus is here. (Click here for theme music Magic Bus!) Our first stop is in Connecticut to pick up Dan Antion, who has a handy guided tour of Atonement, TN. Dan agreed to be a relief bus driver too, since bus-driver-Lilith the calico, sometimes has to take a break to give Deme or Honeybell a head bath.

Where “atonement” begins

It’s best if you read the first book first. So, for the launch of “Bloom,” Atonement, Tennessee is on sale for 99¢ (e-book). Click Atonement book covers for purchase links.

Residents of my fictional town might be of any race and from any ancestry. So author and translator Olga Núñez Miret translated the debut novel to Spanish! For that language I changed the title to Expiación y Magia!

Cover Expiación y Magia ― Una Fantasía Urbana
Atonement, Tennessee in Spanish

Speaking of the otherworldly pigs, I should mention the order of the Atonement stories. Your first visit to the town is Atonement, Tennessee. It’s an urban fantasy — set in our present-day, real world but with magical elements. Aside from the heroine and her neighbor-friends (or as Diana Peach likes to call them, the gall palls (Diana’s review here), you’ll meet the grumpy sheriff, Robin Warden.

Includes the prequel

The first “snort” in The Glowing Pigs, Snort Stories of Atonement, Tennessee is about a very young Deputy Robin. (Review by Dr. Phuong Callaway here.) That particular story is tied to the novel I’m launching today, Atonement in Bloom.

Long awaited sequel to Atonement, Tennessee

Here’s the blurb!

The quaint town was stranger than Ralda Lawton could have imagined. The local population included supernatural beings of the fae variety. Although only she and a few others knew about that.

In a past life, Ralda ― Esmeralda had been involved in something with those supernaturals and it had carried into her present life. In Atonement, Tennessee, that almost got her killed. Now she has new problems, and new supes to complicate matters.

Atonement in Bloom continues the misadventures of Ralda, her friends, and neighbors in the small (but far from peaceful) town of Atonement, Tennessee. Her old house and cemetery are still there, along with Lilith the cat, quirky townsfolk, and assorted supernaturals.

Now Lilith the calico sniffs out a strange beast.

Fae foolery backfires. A friend is abducted.

On a cold December day, Atonement, Tennessee comes into bloom.

The Unfolding Of An Orange Rose Bud

I don’t know why the party bus is stopping. Oh! It’s a delivery of flowers in honor of the book launch from Kirt Tisdale of The Wall Gallery! Wow… beautiful blue roses. Thank you, Kirt. The blue rose of the impossible is an important element of Atonement in Bloom.

We’re back on the road, and Dyanna at Ravenhawk’s Magazine has plenty of music for our road-trip. Lilith, slow down. I see Melissa from Today You Will Write at that bus stop up ahead.

Hang on to your seat-belt. Lilith just took a sharp curve and we are magically in Kentucky. Deme wanted to check out Teri Polen’s October horror and suspense book fest, Bad Moon Rising! You’ll find 31 authors and their books there!

Welcome to Atonement, TN! Everybody in town is taking part in the fun. Annie’s Antiques is hosting an exhibit of Art by Rob Goldstein.

My Blue Heaven

What’s that on the next table? It looks like an Aladin’s lamp. And a puff of colorful smoke! Oh, it’s the Lamp Magician. Welcome, Magician. I’m glad you could join the party bus!

My stomach is growling. Thank goodness Carol Taylor and Gerlinde de Broekert have catered the book fair. There are delicious foods at every booth! However, Deme and Honeybell love to read, so they ran straight to the Atonement, TN Book Fair. They’re in hog heaven with so many great books!

Heartfelt thanks to everyone for supporting this Bloomin’ Party Bus. Click the author names for more info.

(If anyone wants to share a link to a review of your book, or anything about yourself, please leave a comment with the link.)

D. Wallace Peach

Image result for legacy of souls d wallace peach

Chris Graham (for Agnes Mae Graham)

My Vibrating Vertabrae cover

Olga Núñez Miret For this book see here.

Angelic Business 1. Pink Matters Now available as an audio book too

D.L. Finn

Image result for dl finn the button

Jan Sikes

Image result for jan sikes flowers in stone

Mary J McCoy-Dressel

Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance author, Book Three Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Blog Post Cover Reveal

Sally Cronin

Jacquie Biggar has a sheriff too…

jacquiebiggar_thesheriffmeetshismatch_800px

Valentina Cirasola will help you tour Atonement, TN in style.

The Road To Top Of The World: Short Stories In The Land Of Puglia

Barb Taub will keep you laughing the entire way.

Resa will help you find the right thing to wear. She’s a costume designer. She would have enjoyed helping Ralda, Bethany, and Lacey search through the antique clothes in Sunhold’s closets (scene in “Bloom”).

Staci Troilo

Tortured Soul

Mae Clair

Book cover for End of Day, mystery/suspense novel by Mae Clair shows old dilapidated church with bell tower and a cemetery in the background overgrown with weeds

John W. Howell

Annette Rochelle Aben

Image result for booku Annette Rochelle Aben

Robbie Cheadle

Image result for robbie cheadle while the bombs fell

Chuck Jackson

Image result for chuck jackson what did i do

Vashti Quiroz-Vega

Teri Polen

Image result for teri polen sarah

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Can”

 

 

Stream of ConsciousnessIt is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is “can.” Linda Hill says we can use it any way we want. If you would like to join this happy band of psychotics visit Linda’s blog and see how easy it is to do. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2018/10/19/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-20-18/ 

Can by John W. Howell © 2018

“I know I can.”

“Can what.”

“Can do anything I put my mind on.”

“You can?”

“I can.”

“Show me you can.”

“Think of a word any word, and I can tell you what it is.”

“You can do that? How is it possible.”

“I can conger up spirits from the other side.”

“Who can do what?’

“They can read your mind.”

“I can just imagine what they are going to find when they do that.”

“So can you think of a word?”

“Yes, I can. I have it.”

“I can almost see it.”

“You can do better than that I hope.”

“I can see the word starts with ‘c.”‘

“Wow, you can see that? You are right.”

“I can also see that the second letter is an ‘a.”‘

“Perfect. I believe you can see the word.”

“The third letter is an ‘n.’ The word is can.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. But ‘can’ is not the word.”

“Wait a minute. You said the first three letters were ‘c-a-n.’ That spells can.”

“It does spell ‘can,’ but my word was ‘cantaloupe.’

“Well, maybe I only got part of the message. I can try again. ”

“Now you are being a pain in the can.”

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

Twiggy and Lucy
“It’s okay kid. Friday is here. Go nuts.”

 

Another Friday and another week is in the history books.

This week brought a pleasant surprise for Gwen Plano and me. The Contract was selected as a finalist in the Independent Author Network’s 2018 Book of the Year Awards.

The Contract

Gwen and I are very pleased since the finalist designation was in three categories: Thriller/Suspense,  Paranormal/Supernatural, and Romance.

Speaking of Gwen. She is currently transitioning to a new blog and would appreciate a visit and follow. Her new address is http://gwenmplano.com

Today’s JohnKu talks about awards. I hope you have a super weekend.

Awards by John W. Howell © 2108

When someone else says,

Your work has good quality . . .

It means quite a bit.

Thank you to everyone who has read and to those who have reviewed The Contract. We do appreciate you.

Thursday – A Little Personnel – Rainy Morning

Lucy, Bailey, Twiggy

“Hey, Twiggy I got your donut and rope thingy out. You want to play?”

“I was hoping we could go outside and ruckus.”

“It is cold and rainy out there.”

“Yeah, I see it out the window. It looks like it might last all day.”

“That’s why I wondered if you wanted to play inside.”

“I suppose if it is the only way to have fun. I don’t like the rain.”

“Hey, Dad. Any suggestions?”

“Sure go get Bailey and have a game of keep away.”

“Leave me out of this Pops. Those two play too rough.”

“Bailey you are such a spoiled sport.”

“Who says so?”

“I do. You never want to play with us.”

“Boss give Bailey a direct order to play with us.”

“Aw, Lucy. You know I can’t do that. Bailey is her own person.”

“Come on Bailey. Play with us.”

“Psst. Lucy. It’s raining, right? It’s cold, right? Hop up here and get warm.”

“I guess if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”

“That’s the spirit. Come on up.”

“Hey, Dad look at these two. A couple of couch potatoes.”

Yeah, I see that, Twiggy. Well, at least they are comfortable.”

Lucy, Bailey, Twiggy

“What’s that noise?”

“Might be thunder.”

“You two have a great idea after all.”

“Always works Twigster. Always works.”

“Hey, Dad. Can we get room service up here?”

“When pigs fly, Twiggy. When pigs fly.””

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

 

“Its gotta be Friday Somewhere”

It is Wednesday Story Day again. Last week we all stood around while the anchor was boiling in the descaling solution. We learned that Louis the tech had met Sandusky ten years ago. I think we all jumped to the conclusion that Louis may know a lot about what happened back then. Let’s get back since I see Larry doing his best Colombo imitation of subtleness in his questions.

 

“So did you kill Sandusky?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Sandusky was killed ten years ago, and someone who knew a lot about conduction and pulverizing things was responsible. Sound like anyone you know?”

“Hold on detective. I said I met Sandusky. I don’t know anything about his death. I read about it in the paper like everyone else.”

“Funny you should remember his name right away.”

“I could never forget Sandusky.”

“Why’s that?”

“He gave me fifty thousand dollars that’s why.”

“Okay now, this is getting good. Why did he do that?”

“He wanted me to perfect a process he was working on.”

“What process?”

“Removing organs from people without having to cut them open.”

“You have got to be kidding me.”

“No detective I’m serious.”

“What was he going to do with the process.”

“Well, that’s the funny part.”

“Go on.”

“He said it was going to be a medical breakthrough on transplants. His process removes the organ with no cutting.”

“How does the transplanted organ get in the body?”

“I asked him the same question.”

“And?”

“He told me it was top-secret. If he told me he would have to kill me.”

“He was serious then?”

“Let’s just say I didn’t detect that he was joking. You ever meet Sandusky?”

“No, not while he was alive.”

“He had the coldest eyes I’ve ever seen. Gave you the chills.”

“But you took the fifty thousand.”

“Was a no-brainer. I already had the process developed. I even think he knew that.”

“So, you told him how to do it?”

“Yup. Even signed away my rights.”

“You practice on a body?”

“Yeah, several.”

“OMG.”

“They were research cadavers. I borrowed them from the University. You can check with the Dean. It was all on the up and up.”

“So, tell me. Did the process include pulverizing the organ?”

“That is how it worked. The organ exploded inside.”

“We need to go downtown and have a little more discussion.”

“Fine by me. I have nothing to hide. Your anchor is done, and I would have told you what I know without the subterfuge.”

“Hear that Andrew?”

“Yeah, I heard. But do I believe it?”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #196 by Keith Channing

In Keith’s words. “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

The photo.

Kreative Kue #196

“So tell me. Is it going to be okay?”
“How long has this been going on?”
“No more than a couple of hours.”
“Well, that is a blessing. I’m glad you called me right away.”
“We didn’t know what else to do.”
“I think you did the right thing. Most people wait too long and then it is too late.”
“It’s not too late I hope?”
“Just a few more moments and I can give you a better idea of what we are facing.”
“I’m sorry for being so anxious, but we wouldn’t know what we’d do if we didn’t have Betsey.”
“Betsey that’s what you named it?”
“Her.”
“Excuse me?”
“Betsey is a girl.”
“Oh my gosh. I never would have guessed that the way it looks.”
“Her.”
“Yeah, I get it. Her. Hold on. I think I have found the problem.”
“Thank heavens. Can you solve it?”
“Yes, I think so. I have the instrument in my bag. Humm. Let me see. Oh, yes, here it is.”
“What do you have to do?”
“I’ll need you to help.”
“Anything. Just tell me what to do.”
“I’m going to make a slight cut here. After that, I need to use this to go in and remove the blockage. I want you to hold this instrument and when I tell you, place it in my hand. Can you do that?”
“Yes. I’m good.”
“Okay, so here we go. First the cut. Yes, that looks good. Hand me the instrument.”
“Here you go.”
“Ah. I’ve got the blockage. Hand me that cloth.”
“What is that thing?”
“Looks like a chunk of charred wood.”
“Charred wood? How is that possible?”
“You’re right. It’s a petrified piece of brisket. How often do you clean this thing?”
“Every time I use her.”
“Well, you better be more careful. You almost lost it.”
“Her.”
“Whatever. If you want to keep it in top condition, you better do a better job of cleaning. You’ll save my fee too.”
“We have a lot of hamburgers to grill. Is she up to it?”
“Yes. I sealed the cut. She is good to go.”
“You know they don’t make grills like this anymore.”
“Yeah, I know. Here’s my bill.”
“This bill is more than my doctor charges.”
“I know. I used to be a doctor.”