Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

February 22, 2019February 21, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 96 Comments

“It is Friday Lucy.”
“Yup Little Potato it is.”
“Let’s party.”
“Okay. You get the water bowl, and I’ll get the kibble.”

Here’s Friday. Seems like it was just Friday yesterday. Well, that’s how it goes when busy. What came to my mind this week other than the crappy weather was the subject of newsletters. I guess we all know that one way to boost book sales is to have regular contact with a core fan base. Hence the birth of the newsletter.

The newsletter is supposed to give the subscriber an inside track on giveaways, new launch news, and importantly (to most pushing newsletters) a closer and intimate relationship with your favorite author.

I keep hearing how some authors have amassed thousands of followers on their newsletter. In fact, they have such a good system in gaining followers they are willing to sell you the secret for oh, $250 bucks. Now that $250 also gets you an inside track to Hollywood, an agent, and publishers. Still not convinced? Try it free for 30 days. If you don’t increase your subscriptions and land a Hollywood deal, you can get your money back.

Okay so maybe I exaggerate. I have about 1100 newsletter followers and guess what? During the time I sent entertaining, erudite newsletters I don’t think one of them purchased a book. I could give away books until the cows come home yet I see no reviews. So what am I doing wrong? I guess plenty. I stopped communicating regularly since it was a lot of hard work for very little return.

Much like Amazon advertising, I am in the dark on how to have an energetic newsletter program. I do know that if I signed up for every newsletter offered, I would get over 350 in a month. Can you imagine? Most are about 1200 words. That would be like reading an extra five books a month. No wonder my letter doesn’t get traction. I’ll bet my average subscriber gets quite a few each day and can only skim them at best. I gotta think this through. Today’s JohnKu talks about beating on reader’s doors to get them to buy our books.

Sitting quite content,

The reader’s door gets pounded . . .

An author needs sales.

Also, I am happy to say that The Contract by Gwen Plano and I has been selected as a semifinalist in the Global Thriller Book Awards for 2018. We are among thirteen semi-finalists. This is a juried award and not one that can be decided by reader votes.

Here is the list.

Richard Garis – Magenta is Missing
Randall Krzak – Dangerous Alliance
Timothy S. Johnston – The War Beneath
R. Barber Anderson – The Sunken Forest
John W. Howell & Gwen M. Plano – The Contract Between Heaven and Earth
E.M. Kelly – Addiction & Pestilence
Rachael Sparks – Resistant
Michael Pronko – The Moving Blade
Randall Krzak – The Kurdish Connection
Lawrence Verigin – Beyond Control
Harvey A. Schwartz – Never Again
Elena Mikalsen – All the Silent Voices
Paul McHugh – The Blind Pool

We will find out in April if we have been selected as the first place winner

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

February 15, 2019February 14, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 78 Comments

Another week has gone by the wayside. Is it me or does time fly? I guess it could be a combination of both. I have had one of those weeks where I had to sit back and try to figure out what I accomplished. It was kind of strange to receive a notice from Grammarly on Tuesday that since 2015 they have checked 4,570,914 words with 17,000 last week alone. I guess this would indicate I’m doing something. Wouldn’t it? *crickets*

Not to belabor the fact that time is flying by I decided to let this week’s JohnKu speak for how I feel. I hope you have a great weekend.

You look up one day,

And you notice time has passed . . .

Invested wisely?

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

February 1, 2019January 31, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

“Hey, Lucy. It’s Friday. Let’s kick out”
“You must be the smallest horse on the planet Little Potato.”

Another Friday has rolled around. The winter vortex is in full force. I’ve been getting reports from the North on terrifying stories about getting stranded in the cold. Reminds us all to take warm outerwear whenever we venture out. It is way too easy to be caught in the elements and then be made to suffer the effects of the cold.

Here in South Texas, we don’t have the kind of cold that is capable of taking life. We start to complain at 70 degrees and whine at 40 but don’t have to worry about a life-threatening situation. I hope everyone stays safe and remembers to toss in some heavy outdoor wear even if you are only going to the store.

Today’s JohnKu discusses the cold. I hope you all have a beautiful weekend.

Cold by John W. Howell © 2109

You can be taken,

Without even noticing . . .

How bitter the Temp.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

January 25, 2019January 25, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 48 Comments

“Lucy. It’s Friday.”
“I’m ready Little One.”

Ah, another Friday which is another word for par-teee. Always nice to see the eve of the weekend. I hope your week was a good one. Gwen Plano and I received our manuscript back from the editor and were both impressed with the quality of work. She did a marvelous job taking our text and helping the story. Of course, Gwen and I tried to write a book all while having surgeries. I would not recommend that profile to anyone.

As we say, all is well that ends well and we are now hopeful of having a book that folks will enjoy reading. We decided to go with a mystery story rather than a thriller.

The title is The Predator a world domination fight to the finish.

Here is a preliminary blurb:

After the death of Brad and Sarah, it is apparent that a force is behind a plot to take over the leadership of the world. The murder of the two becomes only one small piece of a sinister plan to eliminate world leaders and take control.

Governments are infiltrated with the perpetrator’s allies and minions so no one can be trusted.

A small band of Brad and Sarah’s admirer’s vow to stop the evil expansion and eliminate the leader. The group comes under attack, and the question becomes will they survive and stop The Predator before the word is lost?

Today’s JohnKu talks about trying to do too much. I hope you have a great weekend.

When your body talks,

It is telling you to stop . . .

Take time to listen.

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

January 18, 2019January 17, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 40 Comments

“Hey, Dad. It’s Friday. How about a toss?”

Friday has come again. YAY. It looks like everyone is going to share in the cold front moving from the Northwest. Temps are going down and snow possibilities going up. This always reminds us that winter is still with us. Somehow we seem to forget that little fact. Sure, there is a lovely day here and there. Just enough to make us believe we will have an early spring. My advice is to not fall for it. Only assume it will be cold until April and your mind will rest easier. Like a free lunch, there is no such thing as an early Spring.

Today’s JohnKu talks about Winter. By the way, the term JohnKu was coined a few years ago by Kimberly at https://words4jp.com/ She is a poet, and when I started doing my version of a Haiku, she suggested delicately that maybe what I was doing was a JohnKu more than a classic Haiku. Ever since then I have been grateful for the suggestion. Kimberly is now back to blogging and certainly worth a visit.

A Robin arrives,

Our heart soars thinking its Spring . . .

Twelve degrees tonight.

Have a great weekend.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

January 11, 2019January 10, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

Lucy and Twiggy — “So it’s Friday, right?”
“Yes, Little Potato. It is.”
“YAY”
“I second that.”

Another Friday which signals another weekend. (YAY) This last week saw the manuscript delivered to the editor. The title is The Predator a world domination fight to the finish. It is a sequel to The Contract, and in it, Gwen and I hope to answer some questions raised in the first book. It looks like we will be ready to publish in June, God willing and the creek don’t rise. We are currently working on a blurb and the cover. We’ll give you some more info when we have something to share.

That is all the exciting news from here. I have begun my next book which will be a solo effort. I want to give you the last three lines since that is where I always start. Here they are,

“I don’t think any of that matters anymore, my son. Now that you know the truth.”

“But how could you keep this kind of secret from me.”

“To see you grow and prosper was worth any deception. Now come on. We have much to discuss.”

Today’s JohnKu talks about the doors that close and those that open. I hope you have a great weekend.

They say doors that close,

Lead to others opening . . .

Don’t leave your big foot.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

January 4, 2019January 3, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 70 Comments

Well, it is Friday, and like most holiday weeks it came up fast. Always seems strange to have a new year. I keep putting 2108 on things that require a date. I should be squared away sometime in July.

In moving around WP lately, I’m wondering if all of you who have ad-supported blogs realize what is being advertised. This photo is one I have wondered about.

To each his own I guess.

Since we are starting a new year, this week’s JohnKu talks to expectations.

The New Year by John W. Howell © ~~2018~~ 2019

A new beginning,

Time for new expectations . . .

Fresh chance for success.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

December 28, 2018December 27, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

“Is it really Friday?”
“Looks like UPS to me.”

Friday already. Seems like this week was an eternity. It was a great Christmas touched with sadness. Makes one believe that sadness is in the world just to make sure we all know happiness when we have it. I think I’ll cling to that thought. I’ll visit it a little more in the JohnKu

On the writing front, Gwen and I have completed all the editing in our capability and now we need professional help. Our manuscript is ready to send to the editor.

This is the last Friday of 2018. I have to say this year could have been better. I don’t think I will be sad to see 2019 offer a new opportunity. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Why sadness exists?

For no other reason than . . .

To frame happiness.

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

December 21, 2018December 20, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

“This is what Friday’s are meant to be.”

Friday again. It is the last Friday before Christmas. I hope you have all your shopping done. I know I do. (Thank heavens)

This week has been busy. I finally got some help from Grammarly. Guess what they came up with? Uninstall the existing program and reinstall a new one. Can you say DUH? I mean if that was the solution why give me a trial and error week? I should have just done that myself. (Gotta stop again. After all, it is the Holidays and I have a working program.)

Bailey is beginning to be picky about her food. We just got in a supply of the food she loved and she now doesn’t like it. We have gone to chicken which she thinks is fine for now. If and when she is no longer interested in food, we know she is telling us the time is near. We will keep offering her choices in order not to make the mistake of thinking she is asking for some relief. As long as she is eating we know she is interested in being with us. Sadly the end result is known and it is hard to imagine we will have to let her go. Bailey came to us nine years ago on Christmas.

As her stewards, we need to keep her interests as primary. Today’s John Ku tries to avoid the obvious and talks about the best Christmas gifts.

The best Christmas gifts,

Are not measured by how much. . .

But rather by love.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

December 14, 2018December 13, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 61 Comments

“You say it’s Friday. How do I know you are telling the truth?”

Another Friday is here. I had hoped to report that Gwen and my MS is in the hands of the editor. It is still with me. I wanted to run it one more time through Grammarly but I can’t sign on. I have been in a loop with their customer care for two days. They have no live reps so you have to go back and forth with a robot. So far the care sucks. I’m still here with no on-line Grammarly even though I pay a Premium for it. Ugh, spit. I have to wonder what causes services that you use constantly, all of a sudden refuse to let you in. I think I’ll stop here since I could go into a full on rant. Y’all don’t need that now.

Bailey has had a good week. She is still eating well and in good spirits. She is interested in her surroundings and does wag her nubby tail on occasion. We can only hope she continues.

Today’s John Ku talks about customer satisfaction. (I just can’t leave it alone) I hope you have a great weekend.

Your issue not fixed,

Some genius thinks a survey . . .

Will solve the problem.

Also:

The Contract Kindle version is $0.99 Today.

Here is the Trailer.