Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

September 20, 2017September 19, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 43 Comments

Hump Day

Wednesday Story Day again and last week we had a revolution that Lucas says he killed his sister. He admitted this to his lawyer, and some of you wondered if he Lucas was confused and though the lawyer a priest. It seems the lawyer is committed to client privilege where the priest might be tempted to obey secular law. So let’s go back and see the reaction of the lawyer.

“Whoa, Lucas. Don’t say any more. Let me ask you a couple of questions.”
“Yeah, okay. You are going to keep my confidence right?”
“Yes, there is no issue there. I just need to get some facts before I advise you on what we are going to do. So let’s start at the beginning. What caused you to hit your sister?”
“She was all coked up and came at me with a knife.”
“A knife? Why was she coming at you with a knife?”
“She was very upset. She came into my house and was yelling something about me killing our parents.”
“Go slower Lucas. Your parents are dead?”
“Yeah, some low life came into our house and killed them. That’s when my sister showed up and was banging on my door.”
“You let her in?”
“She’s my sister uh she was my sister. Of course, I would let her in.”
“Then what happened.”
“As I said, she came at me with a knife and that’s when I hit her.”
“Before she came at you did she say anything?”
“Mmm yes, she asked me if I knew anyone who would kill our parents?”
“What did you say?”
“I told her the only people who I knew who would kill our parents were the scumbag drug dealer friends she hung around with.”
“Then she came at you?”
“No. She looked at me like maybe I was right.”
“What caused her to come at you?”
“I asked her how much money she thought she was going to get from the will?”
“That did it?”
“What did it is when I told her our parents were fed up with her and she was not sharing in the proceeds of the will. I told her the only way she would get anything is if I were dead.”
“So she came at you with the knife?”
“I might have said something else, but yes that was when she came at me.”
“What else?”
“I called her a loser.”
“I see.”

Tuesday Anything Possible – Path of the Traitors by Charles E. Yallowitz

September 19, 2017September 17, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 10 Comments

On the eve of destiny, the fate of the champions is in the hands of those they once called Enemy.

Hated and distrusted, Queen Trinity must leave the shadows and reach for redemption.

With their final battle on the horizon, the champions are faced with a long-lost piece of the prophecy. Unable to search for the crests that are rumored to be the key to survival, they must turn to a band of their former enemies for help. Sinister desires and hopes for redemption collide as Queen Trinity of the Chaos Elves leads the hunt and struggles to keep her companions on the path of heroism. Monsters, traps, mysteries, and their own pasts will rise up to stand in the way of these people who have spent their entire lives committing sins. Throughout it all, another old enemy is lurking in the shadows and determined to claim her own delicious prize.

By the end of their journey, those who survive will learn that being a hero is more than simply stepping into the light.

Dive into the adventure on Amazon for $2.99!
Find it on Goodreads!

Excerpt: The Aura Syphon

A gurgling causes the two women to pause and look into the pit where the shadows are swirling among the jagged stones. Two black tentacles lance out of the ground and wrap around Yola’s waist, the ooze-dripping projections turning silver at the taste of her magic. Attracted to the stronger energy, the aura syphon yanks the immortal into its slime-covered maw and becomes a metallic beast. With its armored skin, the camouflaged predator is now visible and resembles a sea anemone with the body of a beetle. The jagged rocks are fused to the animal’s exoskeleton and there are six jointed legs that help it scurry out of the pit. Standing over Trinity, the creature opens a faint crease on its body to reveal a bulbous eye with a star-shaped pupil. It pauses to shove a few tentacles into its mouth and hit Yola with pulses of electricity to stop her from struggling. It changes from silver to gold when she attempts to break free, her efforts being quickly drained by the monster.

“Let the crazy woman go before you get killed,” Trinity whispers to the aura syphon. She creates a fireball in the hopes of getting its mouth open, but her spell is ignored. “No reason to have a snack when you have an eternal meal in your belly. Maybe we can have a trade. Can’t believe I’m trying to bargain with this thing. Well, I gave you a chance, so I’m going to blow you up before things get worse. Hope you heard that Yola and are bracing yourself.”

The beast gurgles before releasing a blast of sticky strands that lock Trinity in place. Instead of going after the trapped chaos elf, the creature turns its attention to the helpless army. Having had its fill of magic, the aura syphon is ready to gorge on fresh meat and opens a second mouth that is filled with knife-like teeth. Heading for Sir Harbiss, it is stopped when a chunk of earth erupts beneath it and flips it back into the pit. Unsure of where the attack came from, the aura syphon leaps out and reveals several eye stalks that search for an unseen enemy. A cutting wind lops off half of the projections, but Yola’s potent energy revives them and protects the crystalline armor plates. When the spell comes back around, it bounces off the new defense and bursts against a hill. Blasts of fire strike the beast from behind, so it sprouts a fan-shaped tail of water that douses the flames.

Looking around, the aura syphon stops when it sees that Trinity is nowhere to be seen and there is a hole where she once stood. Spikes grow from the predator’s belly and it slams against the ground in the hopes of impaling the chaos elf. The hiss of escaping gas is heard an instant before an explosion sends the shrieking animal into the sky. Careening towards a solitary cloud that is very low to the ground, the beast catches the scent of an aura that revives the one currently in its gut. Passing through the cloud, it finds its legs caught in a net that runs down to where Trinity is hiding behind a hill. With enhanced strength, the channeler slams the aura syphon into the ground and delivers a leaping stomp to its soft upper body. Instead of ejecting Yola, the creature opens its skin to swallow the chaos elf’s leg up the knee.

“Fine. Backup plan it is,” Trinity mutters, synching her aura to that of the imprisoned immortal.

Releasing as much magic as she can without killing herself, the channeler creates a power surge within the aura syphon. Unable to absorb or redirect so much energy at once, the predator tries to reject the grinning chaos elf. Plunging her fingers into its flesh, Trinity refuses to be thrown off and continues her assault. Blisters appear on the hard exoskeleton and the metallic color flakes off to reveal the natural black of the tentacles. Without warning, the gold returns and the animal explodes with enough force to collapse the ground. Before she can escape, the channeler falls into the pit and is buried beneath the icy dirt.

Need to catch Legends of Windemere from the beginning? Then click on the picture below! First book, ‘Beginning of a Hero’ is free!

Ready for the newest adventure in Windemere? Find out if Queen Trinity earns redemption or will return to the Baron’s side!

About the Author:

Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After his wife decided that she was tired of hearing the same stories repeatedly, she convinced him that it would make more sense to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house under orders to shut up and get to work, Charles brings you Legends of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you, and his wife is happy he finally has someone else to play with.

Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com
Twitter: @cyallowitz
Facebook: Charles Yallowitz
Website: www.charleseyallowitz.com

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #140 by Keith Channing

September 19, 2017September 18, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

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 keith@channing.info before 6 pm 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 – pingbacks don’t often work.

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 #140

“There are people out there.”

“So what. Just get your costume on.”

“They will see me before I’m ready.”

“Who cares? Once you get that jug on your head, no one will know it’s you.”

“Why is that curtain so darned small?”

“We are not a big budget show. Now put on the jug.”

“I never liked this jug.”

“You don’t have to like it. It is part of the character.”

“Why are we doing this play anyway?”

“We need to raise money for the order.”

“And who chose this particular play anyway?”

“You know very well it was selected by the master’s wife after her visit to America.”

“Yeah, that’s what scares me.”

“Now, now. Let us not say evil words about the master’s wife.”

“I’m not even thinking evil words about the master’s wife.”

“Good. Put on the jug.”

“I’ve never seen the characters in this play before. You say this is an American classic.”

“I’m told it is.”

“What is the name of the play in America?”

“It’s called Archie and friends.”

“Oh, so my name is Jughead, and that’s the reason for the jug.”

“That is what I’ve been told. Seems strange though doesn’t it?”

Top Ten Things Not to Do If Your Internet and Cell Service are Down

September 18, 2017September 17, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 89 Comments

Top Ten Things Not to Do

The inspiration for this list came from living without the internet and very spotty cell service for the last two weeks. It took me a while to get used to the fact that I could not do what has become everyday activities with my devices.

10 If your internet and cell service are down, do not try to send emails. If you do, at best you’ll never get an answer. At worst, you will convince yourself that you have been cut off from the word and will start filling bottles with notes. (Forget the fact that the biggest body of water is the dog dish, Barnaby.)

9 If your internet and cell service are down, do not look for “likes” on that last selfie. If you do, at best you’ll think no one saw it. At worst, you’ll think no one actually liked your selfie and could spiral into a black hole of self-doubt. (Your raging FOMO is about to overtake you huh, Barlow?)

8 If your internet and cell service are down, do not think you can poach off your neighbor. If you do, at best they will have a secure connection. At worst, your neighbor’s brother-in-law, Tiny, the WWF champ, who just returned from survival school will notice you crouched in the bushes close to the house. (That scream you are hearing was taught to Tiny to throw off the enemy he is about to pounce upon. Guess who, Bartek?)

7 If your internet and cell service are down, do not think you can sneak into a coffee-house and use theirs without buying anything. If you do, at best the manager is sixteen years old and afraid of you. At worst, the manager is a retired Marine who has just been told by a twenty-year-old District Manager that they will be fired if they allow poaching of the WiFi. (Looks like you made it out of there unscathed. Too bad about that flying laptop. The landing was not pretty right, Bastian?)

6 If your internet and cell service are down, do not try to meet your book publish deadline in spite of the difficulties. If you do, at best you will be forced to set a new deadline. At worst, you will end up bald and with a bad case of PPSD. (That’s Post Publish Stress Disorder.)

5 If your internet and cell service are down, do not try to stream a movie that you have wanted to watch. If you do, at best you’ll have to watch an old Harry Potter DVD. At worst, you’ll refuse to believe that the “LOADING” sign is a lie.(So after watching the LOADING sign for two hours maybe it’s time to call it a night, Bub.)

4 If your internet and cell service are down, do not keep picking up your phone after every little noise. If you do, at best you’ll be continually reminded that it’s gone. At worst, you might develop a tick which will require long-term therapy. (Try explaining to the doctor that your illness is cell phone related, Berkley.)

3 If your internet and cell service are down, do not put your life on hold until they return. If you do, at best you’ll miss out on trying new things. At worst, your family will begin to wonder if they need to orchestrate an intervention. (Sitting in a chair all day will not bring the internet and cell service back faster, Bixby.)

2 If your internet and cell service are down, do not lay out sheets in the backyard spelling the words, “Help, I Have No Internet.” If you do, at best a passing helicopter will drop some supplies in your yard. At worst, the Channel Six news team will hover above you and broadcast a story about the shallowest individual on the planet. (You could have guessed the story would go viral right, Bojan?)

1 If your internet and cell service are down, do not think anyone will miss you on your social media accounts. If you do, at best your feeling of isolation will drive you to books. At worst, you take to standing at the traffic light with a sign that says, “Will work for Tweets.” (Notice how many drivers look away when you get near, Benny?)

Views of the Neighborhood – Harvey Update

September 17, 2017September 16, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

I started out to capture the after photos of some of the places that I have featured on my blog. As you’ll recall, almost all of the photos shown were colorful and full of fun. After taking a number of the after shots, I simply stopped. Seeing these places as they appear now doesn’t capture the spirit of our town. The photos depict loss and sadness and are difficult to view. These are places of business and people’s homes and as such very personal spaces. I do not feel comfortable with an invasion of those private moments of challenge that a photo would represent.

Sadness is not what is left of Port Aransas. We still have the spirit to rebuild. I’m going to wait until the new, colorful, and fun Port A emerges. I’ll tell that story when available.

In the meantime, I will focus on the best we have to offer.

The Poly Anna

Here is a shot of the shrimp boat Polly Anna. The owners John and Molly rode out the storm and were able to bring her back home. She flies her flag proudly.

Texas Flag

Over the destruction in the marina flies the symbol of the spirit of our town and state. The flag stands for hope and the promise each of us must make not to give up.

Thank you for reading.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Vol”

September 16, 2017September 15, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 51 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is “Vol.” Yup, that’s right. Linda Hill says to find a word with “vol” in it and construct the post. She also advises the group to have fun. If you would like to participate in the fun go to Linda’s blog and find out how. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2017/09/15/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-1617/

“So what did she say?”

“Find a word with vol in it and write the post.”

“That’s it?”

“Oh, and she said to have fun with it.”

“Ha. Easy for her to say. You and I are here on the line and she sits in that Ivory Tower handing out prompts like they are free.”

“They are.”

“Are what?”

“Free.”

“What do you mean. We have to put our very heart into this crap. We sweat bullets over these damn words. How can you say they are free?”

“You finished?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Okay then, Let’s put our thinking caps on and come up with a word that has vol in it.”

“I hate that.”

“What?”

“The phrase thinking cap. I don’t have a cap. It is my brain that does all the thinking.”

“Did you get your coffee this morning?”

“Had five cups. Why?”

“You seem a little wound up is all.”

“Fine. Volume, Volvo, convoluted, volleyball, benevolent, voluptuous, devolution, malevolent, and voluminous. Just to name a few.”

That’s great. On which do you want to base a post?”

“None of them.”

“None of them? Why not?”

“They have all been done before. Let’s do something original.”

“Okay like what?”

“Well there is a village in Iran named Vol. We could do a story on it.”

“Ho hum.”

“There is Vol Dooley a former sheriff Louisiana. We could do his story.”

“Ugh.”

“How about the computer command Vol?”

“Wait a minute. You went on-line and looked this stuff up, right?”

“Well, yeah. So what?”

“So what? Do you know how frivolous this makes you look?”

“I think I’m a revolutionist.”

“I think you show the voluminousness of the empty space where your brian should be.”

“I’m thinking you border on the revolting.”

“Says the man with the vole sized brain.”

“You better vol.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“It’s French for flight and you should take the hint.”

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

September 15, 2017September 14, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 37 Comments

TGIF

Another Friday has rolled around. I hope you are ready for the weekend. Maybe I should say I hope the weekend is coming at a good time.

I have been waiting for my proof of Circumstances of Childhood that shipped on September 4th. I found out UPS is having service issues and sent it back to Amazon. It will be reshipped to arrive by the 18th. Once I the proof is in my hand it takes me several hours to review The setup. If there are any changes, then Amazon takes 24 hours to check to make sure the book is printable. The second proof takes five days to reach me.

So, now I have to do the math to see if I can make an October 1 launch for the print version. I can certainly do Kindle. Let’s see. The proof reaches me on the 18th. I submit changes on the 18th. Amazon takes until the 19th to verify the changes can work. I order the second proof which arrives on the 25th. Assuming no changes, I can hit publish and make it. YAY. I cannot have any further delays though. Today’s John Ku talks about best-laid plans.

Best Laid Plans By John W. Howell

The well thought out plans,

Always finish perfectly. . .

Unless they go wrong.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Morning with Stella

September 14, 2017September 13, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 73 Comments

Stella

“Okay, John. I know you are getting your coffee but I wonder if we could chat.”

“Of course, Stella. What would you like to chat about?

“Well, it’s a little personal.”

“Go ahead. I can keep a secret.”

“It’s about those two canines.”

“What a shock Stella. What about them?”

Lucy and Bailey

“Haven’t you noticed how they lay around.”

“To be honest I think all three of you lay around.”

“But sometimes it can be disgusting.”

Bailey

“I can see what you mean. How about some nice half and half?”

“I would like that but you have to stand guard.”

“Stand guard. Why?”

Stella, Lucy. Bailey

“Why? Just look at these monsters.”

“Aw you poor thing. I’ll Call them. Lucy and Bailey.”

Stella, Lucy, Bailey

“Not now Boss. We are on the hunt for some half and half leavings.”

“You girls are making Stella nervous.”

“Give me a break, Boss. You ever check out those claws? That is one serious fighten’ machine. If anybody should be nervous it’s us.”

“Okay girls go get the leavings.”

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

September 13, 2017September 12, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 47 Comments

Hump Day

It is Wednesday Story Day again. Last week we left as Seth Gibson huffed out the door after Jason McDonnell the lawyer, hired by Harriet Murphy, laid down the rules of engagement with his client Lucas. So, let’s get back to Antion Illinois and see what the lawyer and Lucas are discussing.

“Lucas now that we are alone I need to give you some advice that should be followed to the letter.”
“Y-yes sir.”
“You need not sir me, Lucas since in effect I work for you. Speaking of that I need you to declare that you want me as your lawyer.”
“But why do I need a lawyer?”
“Did you see that big hulk that just left. He is trying to build a murder case on you, and it isn’t even in his jurisdiction. I don’t know what you did to make him launch his vendetta, but he sure has one going.”
“I haven’t done anything to get the sheriff on my back.”
“All The more reason for having someone look after your interests. Now, do you want me to represent you or not?”
“I guess so.”
“Not good enough. You need to tell me I’m hired to be your attorney.”
“Okay, you are hired to be my attorney.”
“Good. Give me a dollar.”
“A dollar?”
“Yup. I need a retainer.”
“Uh. Look in the drawer there and see if my wallet is in there.”
“Okay, here it is.”
“Pull out what you need and then put it back please.”
“Alright. I have my retainer. Now going forward anything you and I discuss is privileged information and not to be shared with anyone. Also, no one has the right to ask you about our conversations, and certainly no one has the right to question you without me being present. Understand?”
“I-I think so. Does it mean whatever I say to you no one else will ever know.”
“Not unless you tell them.”
“Oh, thank God. I need to tell you something.”
“Is it about the sheriff?”
“No, it’s about my sister.”
“Your sister. What about your sister.?”
“I killed her.”
“What do you mean you killed her?”
“What does killed mean? I hit her, and she died.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #139 By Keith Channing

September 12, 2017September 11, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 27 Comments

In Keith’s words. “Using this photo 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 keith@channing.info 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 – pingbacks don’t often work.

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 #138