Wednesday Story Day – AKA Hump Day

December 14, 2016December 12, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 55 Comments

Hump day

It is Wednesday Story day again and last week we left Lucas having an interesting discussion with Alice Weston one of the members of the Property Owners Association. I don’t know about you but I got some distinctive cougar vibes from Alice. Well, Lucas promised to get the form back to Place which he did that afternoon. I think we can join Lucas at the Widow Murphy’s house where he has started to paint.
“Hey there, boy.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I talked to Alice Weston a few minutes ago and she and the property owner board members are meeting this morning.”
“Thank you, sir. She told me that yesterday.”
“Well if she told you that why are you painting. I don’t think this project has been approved.”
“Well sir, Mrs. Weston told me she didn’t think it would be a problem.’
“I know son, but we have rules. You can’t start on the house until the approval is official. Where is Mrs. Murphy?”
“Oh, she went to the store a few minutes ago.”
“Funny there is only one main street in this neighborhood and I didn’t pass her.”
“Well, maybe it was longer. I may have lost track of time.”
“You’re not a drinker are you son?”
“No, sir. When I’m busy I just lose track.”
“Yeah, I’m the same way. My name’s Gibson and I’m the sheriff here.”
“Oh, Mr. Gibson. So nice to meet you.”
“I also live down the street so I keep an eye on the rules. You understand?”
“I sure do sir. I certainly don’t want to break any.”
“Well then, I would get off that ladder and wait for your approval. When’s Mrs. Murphy getting back?”
“I couldn’t say, sir. It’s not my nature to pry. I didn’t ask and she didn’t tell me.”
“Okay, son. Tell her I was by and would like to talk to her. Nothing urgent. It’ about the police fundraiser’s all.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll give her the message.”
“No more painting until Mrs. Weston comes by with the approval.”
“Yes, sir.”

The Story Behind Naked Alliances with Guest Author S. K. Nicholls

December 13, 2016December 12, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 23 Comments

I am very pleased to welcome an old friend to Fiction Favorites. She has a new detective novel and I invited her to come and tell you about it. So Susan Nicholls the post is yours.

Thanks, John.

The people at the Parliament House, a gay resort complex in Orlando, Florida, highly influenced the writing in Naked Alliances. The complex has seven bars with different themes, a full service restaurant, hotel suites, a pool, and the Footlight Theater. My husband and I attend the comedy shows and performances at the theater. My characters, both the private investigator and his sidekick, an exotic dancer, were developed based on personalities we had met at the complex. The community service by the Parliament House after the Pulse Shooting was highly commendable.

I had been writing deep, philosophical, dark novels with bittersweet endings and was falling into a funk. My husband, who reads two or three crime novels weekly, and had turned me onto some amusing Florida regional crime fiction authors, challenged me to write something lighter. Naked Alliances is a crime thriller with a humorous edge that falls on the spectrum somewhere between the work of Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard. If you enjoy Tim Dorsey, Tim Baker, and Randy Wayne White, and other Regional FL authors, you may enjoy this book. If you like mysteries/thrillers and/or P.I. stories, you may enjoy Naked Alliances

My family owns and operates one of the oldest and largest nudist resorts in the country, Cypress Cove, so it was a given that a fictional nudist resort would need to be worked into the settings of the Naked Eye Series, a collection of private investigator stories. No chance of having someone carry a concealed weapon there! Having lived at the resort for six years, I developed a deep understanding of the lifestyle choice and how it is extremely different from the sex industry, yet harbors clandestine elements of intrigue and fascination.

Social issues are at the forefront of all of my writing. A former sexual assault nurse examiner (S.A.N.E.), I have a special interest in the subject matter of sex-trafficking, and have seen, up close and personal, the horrendous nature of the crime and its effects on the lives of the victims and their families.

Sex-trafficking is a heinous crime that occurs in all areas of the world, but frequently gets swept under the rug. There is somewhat of a misconception that it does not occur in our own communities, rural and urban, but it is a serious problem. I wanted to bring this crime to light in my story and interviewed many victims to obtain a realistic view of the nature of the crime. Yet, it was my desire to soften the harshness of the reality with a humorous approach.

The cold case in this dual plot thriller, actually came about as curiosity on how evidence collected at the scene of a crime can, after many years, point in an entirely different direction from that previously expected. A medical examiner in my area, Dr. Jan Garavaglia (Dr. G.) and forensics specialists I have come to know through social media, contributed to the resolution of the case.

My husband, Greg, a rocket scientist/mechanical engineer, has been super supportive throughout the process of writing Naked Alliances, as have many blogger and author friends, and my community at large.

Naked Alliances

NakedAlliances_JPEG

A riveting romp through Central Florida, Naked Alliances air-drops you into the seedier side of Orlando that the amusement park industry tries to keep under wraps.

When a young immigrant woman and an exotic dancer are fleeing men with guns and have no place to hide, Richard Noggin, P.I., can’t turn his back on them, even if helping them makes him a target.

Richard plans to impress an aspiring politician by taking on a big white-collar case with the potential of getting him off the streets and into air-conditioned offices. Instead, he’s handed a cold case and quickly finds himself sucked into a shadowy world of sex, secrets and…murder.

Marked for a bullet and stretched thin by his investigations, he reluctantly teams up with the unlikely, brassy custodian of the young woman on the run. With bodies piling up, they go undercover in a nudist resort, determined to catch the killer and bring down the mastermind of the Alliance before someone else dies.

From the dark corners of Orlando’s Little Saigon, to the sunny exposure of Leisure Lagoon, the Naked Eye juggles to keep his balls in the air.

SK Nicholls Susan Nicholls

S.K. Nicholls Author/The Naked Eye Series & Publisher/Brave Blue Heron Books

S.K. Nicholls’ family owns and operates one of the oldest and largest nudist resorts in the nation located in Central Florida, Cypress Cove. Her experience gives her a deep understanding of the lifestyle choice and how it is extremely different from the sex industry, yet harbors clandestine elements of intrigue and fascination. Social issues are at the forefront of her writing. A former sexual assault nurse examiner, she has a special interest in the subject matter of sex-trafficking. A native of Georgia, she lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband, Greg. When she’s not writing, she can be found tracking down Snorlaxes, wandering city parks with the homeless, or sipping margaritas on the bow of a boat. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Florida Writer’s Association and Writers of Central Florida…or Thereabouts.

Links:

WordPress Blog

Website

email: sknicholls(at)sknicholls.com

Facebook Author Page

Twitter Handle: @sknicholls1

Amazon Purchase Page

Tuesday Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #104 by Keith Channing

December 13, 2016December 12, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 41 Comments

Here is what is going on in Keith’s own words. “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; and either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithkreates@channing.fr 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 – but 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 #104

“Hello, Triple-A? Yes, I have a problem. I’m broken down in front of Nehru park for children. I think I need a tow truck.”

“My car? No, it’s not a car. It’s a Vespa. A Vespa. V-E-S-P-A.”

“Sure like a motor scooter. Anyway, I can’t get it to start.”

“What do you mean how do I know it won’t start?. It won’t start.”

“Process? I put the key in the slot that is for the key. I turn the key. I touch the starter button and nothing happens.”

“I don’t know any other process. I need you to come and take it to a repair place.”

“How heavy is it? Now how would I know how heavy?”

“Pick it up? If I could pick it up, I could carry it to a repair place myself.”

“I’m not rude. I think you are silly.”

“Yes, Let me talk to a supervisor.”

“Hello, I need a tow to a repair place.”

“No, it’s not a car.”

“V-E-S-P-A.”

“That is what the other person asked. I don’t know how heavy. Please don’t ask me to pick it up.”

“I think you are rude. I hope I will be getting a survey because you folks are really going to get—”

“Hello. Hello?”

Top Ten Things Not to Do at Holiday Parties

December 12, 2016December 11, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 55 Comments

Holiday party

The inspiration for this list has been an adult life-long fascination with human interactions. There is no time like the holidays to go out and get an actual feeling of how people interrelate. I may have published some of these points under a different context, but it still bears repeating some of the advice again. I cannot swear I haven’t done any of these but don’t think so. Also a message to the Yale School of Psychology. This is all in fun and should not be used as part of the curriculum dealing with Holiday stress. With that disclaimer here we go.

10 At a holiday party, do not assume because the drinks are free you can have all you want. If you do, at best you will find the next morning that the drinks were not free after all. At worst, you might wake up in the guest room bathtub and have no idea how you got there. (Your host was very pleased when you locked the door to the only bathroom in the house. Too bad the pounding on the door didn’t give you a hint, Bunky.)

9 At a holiday party, do not think an informal atmosphere will lend itself to getting closer to your boss. If you do, At best, you will only say one stupid thing. At worst, you wake up at 3:00 am realizing you told your boss exactly what you thought of the latest project. (Now you also remember the hurt look on the boss’ face since it was a pet project. Maybe you can say you had a brain aneurysm huh Ferd?)

8 At a holiday party, do not double dip from the crab spread. If you do, at best no one will notice, and you’ll be safe. At worst, unfortunately, you chose the moment when the boss was doing a video panorama and are now a piece of history. (The playback at the office caused a noticeable groan from your co-workers and several grabbed their zinc inhaler. Why you had to sneeze right after the double dip is anybody’s guess.)

7 At a holiday party, do not think of arriving without a host gift. If you do, at best you might be able to sneak in unnoticed. At worst, the host had requested in the invitation to bring an unwrapped toy for a needy child. (That will teach you to ignore letters. You never sent an RSVP either did you, Buster?)

6 At a holiday party, do not think everyone wants to sing carols. If you do, at best you may be doing a solo. At worst, you will be so annoying that the host will ask his cousin Tiny with WWF champ to see you to the door. (Tiny’s method of seeing people to the door is very similar to his winning body slam in the ring. Don’t worry nothing’s broken. It’s all fake remember?)

5 At a holiday party, do not try to get away with bringing a cheap bottle of wine as a gift. If you do, at best no one will see you set it down.At worst, your host will thank you and suggest that you open it immediately to share with the guests. (Two-buck Chuck is so well-known Oscar that your face is now the color of the wine.)

4 At a holiday party, do not attempt to have controversial discussions with each conversation. If you do, at best you’ll end up talking to the dog. At worst, you’ll spark a debate that will ultimately engulf the entire room and eventually lead to the arrival of a SWAT team. (Well you did learn that politics is a hot subject didn’t you, Bucky?)

3 At a holiday party, do not think you have to entertain everyone with your jokes. If you do, at best you’ll find out quickly you are no Henny Youngman. At worst, most in attendance will enquire of the host about that strange person who is not funny. (The beautiful thing is your boss’ boss took down your name which should lead to some good stuff. Maybe at the next company huh, Milton?)

2 At a holiday party, do not suggest that everyone go out into the snow to see how beautiful the lights look. If you do, at best no one will follow you. At worst, your host will open the front door and promptly slam and lock it after you are gone. (It seemed like a good idea at the time didn’t it, Roscoe?. Now you need to call and get your shoes back.)

1 At a holiday party, do not ignore someone who asks for your keys. If you do, at best you will be breaking the law. At worst, you could be responsible for hurting yourself and more importantly an innocent victim. (Obviously, we all should remember not to drink and drive this holiday season.)

Views of the Neighborhood

December 11, 2016December 10, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 46 Comments

Yesterday the town held its annual Golf Cart Holiday parade to benefit the Port Aransas EMS Toy Roundup. I tried to get to the front of the line to snap photos as the parade wound its way through town. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get there so had to be satisfied with taking some shots of some of the entries after the finish. The idea for the parade is to dress up your golf cart (yes there is judging) and join in the fun. An unwrapped toy is the entry fee.

These carts do not look like your typical golf course variety. The suspension is built up and tires supersized so that maneuvering in the sand is not a problem.

Here are some of the entries.

The first is a riff on a boat

Golf cart parade

This one looks like it was painted for the holiday

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This one came with an elf

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Tons of presents ( and back side of the elf)

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Looks like this one hit a doll. You can see it on the windshield. (another Elf and Santa helper)

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Here is a cart that has all-weather side curtains. Must be from Minnesota.

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Here is a cute riff on Hula skirt. Cute little reindeer too!

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Now this Land Rover was a nice addition. Came all the way from Australia (kidding)

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The sign reads “Random Acts of Friends” which pretty well sums up the spirit of Port Aransas

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Now that is a strange golf cart. Yes, the police took part as well as the firefighters.

I hope you enjoyed the tour.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Bear/Bare

December 10, 2016December 9, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

SOCS

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This week’s prompt is “bear/bare. Linda Hill says we can use them any way we want. One or both. Wow, the possibilities are endless. Oh yes. In case you want to join this happy crew here is the link to Linda’s blog. Go and read for yourself how easy it is to join in and begin to lose your mind like the rest of us.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Dec. 10/16

“So which is it?”

“How do I know? Do I look like a constitutional scholar?”

“Now that you mention it. No.”

“Thanks. How do you get me into these goofy things anyway?”

“Hey, I’m just asking the questions. You’re the one wanting to answer them.”

“I suppose you have a point. What was the question again?”

“The constitution gives the population the right to do things with their arms. I’m wondering what people are allowed to do?”

“Oh, now I get it. You’ve wandered near that Hill person and she has given you some words. So what are the words?”

“You don’t have to be so cold. That’s not why I was asking.’

“What are the words.’

“Bear/Bare.”

“Like bunny/bunny?”

“No one is B-E-A-R and the other is B-A-R-E.”

“Okay, I get it. You want to make something up about the constitution. The right to bear arms.”

“Well, sorta. I also wanted to be humorous.”

“You humorous. That’s a laugh.”

“See it’s working.”

“Okay, what kind of humorous?”

“I wanted to say something about if people don’t want to wear long sleeve shirts they don’t have to according to the constitution.”

“The right to bare arms. Right?”

“Yeah, Right. How about it. Funny?”

“No. I think funnier would be a question around growing hair on our arms.”

“I don’t get it.”

“No surprise there. Here let me point it out. The right to B-E-A-R arms. Gggggrrrrrrowwwelllll.”

“Not funny.”

“No not funny like your face, but funny.”

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

Photo by Gwen Plano

Oh yes, I almost forgot. His Revenge is on sale for $0.99 in the US and £0.99 in the UK. and featured on E-Reader News today

US Amazon

UK Amazon

A Little Personal – His Revenge now $0.99 in US and UK – #RRBC

December 8, 2016December 6, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 31 Comments

His revenge sale

Photo Courtesy of Gwen Plano

Yup, it is true. I’m running a sale on His Revenge. From Now until midnight Sunday, December 11th. Here are the links:

US Amazon

UK Amazon

Wednesday Story Day – AKA Hump Day

December 7, 2016December 5, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

Hump Day

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we accompanied a young man into the paint store to find out he is ordering paint for the Widow Murphy and she has not seen the color. The paint store employee was rightfully concerned, but the young man insisted on the unique color. Before leaving the store the employee asked if the color had been approved by the Property Owners Association. The young man indicated that it would be his next stop.
“Yes, can I help you?“
“I am painting the Widow Murphy’s house, and I need to get the color approved by the POA.”
“Oh most certainly. I can help you with that?”
“Here are the colors, Autumn Harvest and Phantom White. Those paint chips should give you an idea of the color.”
“Oh, my. These are beautiful colors. I’m surprised the Widow chose them. Her house is kind of musty gray. This Autumn Harvest will wake the place up nicely.”
“I agree. So we are approved?”
“Well, we need to have the homeowner fill out this form and sign it. When we get the form back, it will take about five days or so for the committee to give approval.”
“Whoa. That long? I had hoped to be able to finish the job in a week.”
“I’m sorry, but our rules are well-known to the owners. Didn’t Mrs. Murphy explain them to you?”
“No ma’am. She just told me to get the paint and to do the job.”
“It must have slipped her mind. Well here is what we can do. If you get Mrs. Murphy to fill out the form today, I think I can get the committee together tomorrow morning and get a decision by noon. I don’t believe this color will be a problem.”
“I’m not sure the widow is home, but I will do my best.”
“Oh, she never goes anywhere. I’m sure she’s there. Do you want me to call her?”
“No. I mean no thank you. I’ll just take the form and get her to fill it out. Thank you so much.”
“You are welcome, young man. Oh, I might mention there are a few houses in our neighborhood that need painting. If you do a good job for the widow, I’m sure there will be plenty more to keep you busy. Come back and see me when you’re finished and I can make some introductions for you.”
“That is very kind of you. I hope I can repay the kindness.”
“Don’t worry. A strong young man like yourself is always in demand. You take care now and stay in touch.”
“I’ll be back later with the form.”
“I’ll look forward to it. I’m sorry, but I didn’t get your name.”
“Lucas. Lucas Saveride.”
“Well, Lucas Saveride it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Alice. Alice Weston.”
“Nice meeting you too, Mrs. Weston.”
“Call me Alice, Lucas. Just call me Alice you cute thing you.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible Kreative Kue #103 by Keith Channing

December 6, 2016December 5, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

This is a photo prompt by Keith Channing. He will explain what is going on. “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; and either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithkreates@channing.fr 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 #103