Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 17, 2017March 16, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

TGIF Another week has flown by. Well, at least it seems that way. I am sitting on the lower patio writing this post and I have to say the weather is perfect. Beautiful sky and temperature in the 70’s. The pups are having their sun bath and all is right with the world. I decided to post a picture of them relaxing instead of the usual Friday TGIF meme. Speaking of Friday this week’s JohnKu is all about enjoying the time we have been given. I hope you have a great weekend.

Sunny day today,

Nary a cloud in the sky. . .

What is not to love.

Friday – AKA TGIF

March 3, 2017March 2, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 47 Comments

TGIF

Maybe it’s me but this week seemed to crawl by. I can’t put my finger on the reason, it just felt like a long week. Well, be that as it may, it is almost over for the work part. I was glad to get My GRL launched and am so grateful for all the support this week.

Now have to turn my attention to whipping Circumstances of Childhood into shape. I heard from my beta readers, and there are a few refinements that are needed. I can’t imagine publishing a book without giving it to folks to read. They always spot some anomalies that never occur to the writer. I am gratified no one said it sucked, so I have the courage to continue forward.

I hope your week was well spent and that you have a glorious weekend. This week’s JohnKu talks a little about how we need each other. I hope you enjoy it.

You are always there,

Supporting and cheering on. . .

I appreciate.

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

February 24, 2017February 23, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

TGIF

It has been a very busy week. My GRL is ready to launch. She is laying in the weeds over at Amazon waiting for the announcement on Tuesday. I’m so glad I finally prevailed over the gremlins. (There were many) I do want to thank all the folks who offered to help with the launch. You are all very special people. You will be seeing their posts after next Tuesday.

Today’s JohnKu talks about those who help others and is dedicated to the special group helping with the My GRL launch.

A hand extended,

With no thought of personal gain. . .

Deserves a reward.

Thank you all.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

February 17, 2017February 16, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 48 Comments

TGIF

Looks like we made it. Well, another eight hours will tell the tale. What’re eight hours anyway? We did forty-eight before today, so this will be a snap. (Unless you are hanging by a frayed rope over the Grand Canyon)

Interesting week. I had to get another proof for My GRL. It seemed when I went to print stage there was a setting which I had not double checked. It was in the style set up under “normal.” For some reason, the default .o5 indent reestablished itself even though aI had set it a zero. Well, this is all too boring so let me say that when the proof arrived, I was stunned. I had to go back and redo the setup. I didn’t want to take a chance again, so I created a new document. Long story short I’m waiting for the new proof. If it is still messed up I will go ahead and launch the kindle version and follow with the paper edition since the turn around time is too long to make the March 1 date.

I’m telling you all this so that you will not even think of launching a paper edition without getting a proof copy first. This would have been a major embarrassment, and at this stage of life, I can’t afford much more.

Today’s JohnKu talks about checking your work. I hope you have a great weekend.

Measure twice cut once,

Advice born out of error . . .

Why then the short rope?

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

February 10, 2017February 9, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

TGIF

And here it is, that beautiful day of the week that we look forward to starting Monday morning. Yes, it is Friday. Only about eight hours until we hit the freedom trail. I hope you will have a restful and re-energizing weekend.

This week was pretty busy. I was able to get my paper version of My GRL up on CreateSpace and am waiting for the proof copy which is due to arrive Tuesday. (In time for Valentine’s day.) Once the proof is approved, it is off to the races. The Kindle version is ready to publish as well, so the paper and Kindle will go up at the same time. I’m not sure how much promo I’ll be doing, but there will certainly be a post with the announcement.

This week’s JohnKu talks about looking forward to spring. Although we had temps in the 80’s this week, we are not quite there yet. Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter. I hope you enjoy it. (The JohnKu not the winter)

Snow, sleet, dead of night,

Not just for the postal folks. . .

Spring needs to hurry.

Friday JohnKu -AKA- TGIF

February 3, 2017February 2, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 41 Comments

TGIF

Friday is the day of the week that brings us all together in the worship of time off. This weekend is Super Bowl weekend and a time to gather and cheer for someone else’s team. This year the Pittsburgh Steelers (My team) lost the championship to the New England Patriots and Tom (squeeze that ball) Brady. So naturally, I am a one day fan of the Atlanta Falcons who won the right to meet the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

My wife and I love the commercials so even though our team is not playing we will be watching. We have been invited to a party and will also look at the game in between mouthfuls of forbidden foods. Oh, let me correct that statement. I will be eating mouthfuls of forbidden foods. (until caught that is to say) All in all, it should be a good time, and we are looking forward to the event. The idea of rooting for a team to lose (As I am with backing the Atlanta Falcons against the New England Patriots) is the subject of today’s John Ku. Hope you like it and have a terrific weekend.

Your team didn’t win,

Subvert the victorious . . .

Sport and politics.

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

January 13, 2017January 13, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 56 Comments

Funny Friday

Happy Friday the thirteenth. Well, here we are, almost finished with the first full week in a while. Seemed like a long one for sure. I hope you can make it the last eight hours or so. The weekend is right around the corner. One of my friends refers to Friday as Saturday Eve. I suppose that is a good way to look at it.

This week had its events. I received My GRL back from the editor with the final proof. I will be spending a little while doing the formats and then reporting to the cover artist the number of pages, the price, and providing the back cover endorsement. My publisher wants me to remind them when I’m going to launch the new edition of My GRL. I still plan on March 1st. I guess I will send them a note when I get closer.

I will be pricing My GRL at $2.99 for Kindle and $14.95 for the paper edition. That will be $3.00 off the current price off the Kindle and $2.00 off the paper.

I also kicked off a price discount for Our Justice. Today EReader News Today is featuring Our Justice at $0.99. You can go there or to Amazon. Today’s John Ku talks about writing and promotion. I hope you like it.

Scribble long hours,

Craft the best book you can do. . .

Sell it like tooth paste.

Friday John Ku – AKA TGIF

January 6, 2017January 5, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

TGIF

It looks like we survived the New Year’s celebrations and are close to the end of the work week. Since this was a short week we probably have a little energy left that we can invest in a terrific weekend. I know this week was quite stress-free for me. I managed to get my next book off to the beta readers and the edits to My GRL back to the editor. I think it as a good week. Sometimes working in a vacuum it is hard to say whether the week was good or not. This is why having a goal or two established for the week gives you a measure of your movement. Now that these two tasks are accomplished I can turn back to getting my next book finished. Knock wood the first draft should be done by the end of April. This week’s John Ku talks about goals. I hope you have a great weekend.

Once they are written,

It is hard to ignore them. . .

Goals are persistent.

Friday – JohnKu – AKA TGIF

December 16, 2016December 14, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 42 Comments

Friday

Another Friday and there are only two more left in the year. Hummm that makes them sound more precious than usual. The good news is there is at least one more before Christmas. That means at least seven more shopping days (well, actually there are eight) until you are out of luck on the brownie point department. I would call this “last-minute,” but know some people who wait until the 23rd or 24th. I’m way too obsessive for that kind of behavior. If I waited until the 23rd, there would be 22 (at least) sleepless nights worrying about whether the gift would be available, able to be located, or even still on the market. When I shop early, I know my options and can plan accordingly. I have back-ups to the back-ups since I take this gift giving stuff seriously. I live in a very small town, so on-line has been a boon. Residing in a larger city, I used to be able to go to the mall and find exactly what I had in mind. Now there is no mall, and my wife is not someone who would like fish-hook earrings. I have my shopping done, and only one gift is “late.” I got on the phone yesterday to track it down and was informed it would be delivered today. So all is good. I will spend time wrapping (laughable) the gifts and then sit back and enjoy the holiday. Of course, I will have to fret about the question on whether the gifts are acceptable or not. At least I didn’t have to settle on a late buying binge, and I’m to blame if the gifts are not right.

Today’s JohnKu talks about gift giving.

There’s only one chance,

To find that perfect present. . .

From the heart is best.

Friday JohnKU – AKA – TGIF

December 9, 2016December 8, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

Christmas Tree

Photo of our Christmas tree this year

Looks like we are going to make the week. I have spent some time doing my Holiday shopping via the keyboard. I don’t know why I have resisted this method of shopping. It is so easy to search and click. Also, many of the retailers are offering free shipping. For an old island dweller, whose closest gift store is a forty mile round trip this is a real boon to spending. Oh yeah, the downside of convenience is the escalation of the outlay. I guess I will worry about that in January. I also have a granddaughter in Germany this year and sending a gift is not very practical. A nice Amazon gift card delivered into her e-mail box solves the time and distance problem. Ahhhh modern technology. Today’s JohnKu celebrates the good side.

A keyboard is all,

That’s needed to shop the world. . .

Of course, money too.

His revenge sale