Tag: TGIF

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 32 Comments

Happy Friday

Another busy week has flown. I was pleased to see my manuscript for the next John Cannon thriller in my inbox this week. I say pleased but also with a little tension since the ball is now in my court to start the formatting. My past life has complicated things and found me again. I have accepted an offer I could not refuse. Therefore I will be balancing my writing life and the life of a member of organized commerce. The assignment is a short one so hopefully, I can do justice to both.

One item that could suffer is my daily involvement in my blogging efforts. I still believe I will be able to carry the load, but want to ask forgiveness in advance if I miss a comment or two on your excellent work. I will be posting each day unless there is a conflict of priorities. With all that said, today’s JohnKu discusses the bitter and sweet aspects of life.

Life’s Gifts by John W. Howell ©2016

Opportunity,

Arrives from out of the blue…

Happy smiles with tears.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 40 Comments

TGIF

 

Friday is here once again and with it the promise to lay those burdens down for a bit of rest. This week was marked with a whole bunch of nothing. All I managed to accomplish was seven blog posts and staying ahead of the e-mail and Twitter feeds. I did not pen (er type)  a word on any WIP nor did I edit a single line. This has to be the first time in over four years that I have not added a thing to a piece of work.

I have been involved in another project doing  organized commerce kind of work so I know I have an excuse. I feel like I have ignored one of my kids or something. I have been waiting around for the editor to return Our Justice so I can begin formatting it for publication, so I think I have given myself an excuse for avoiding my other projects. I gotta stop that behavior now. *Slap* “Thanks, I needed that.”

Today’s JohnKu talks about excuses. I hope you enjoy it.

Excuses by John W. Howell © 2016

Tough project ahead,

Hard to begin the first step. . .

Need excuses fast.

Friday – JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 35 Comments

Chill out its Friday

 

Well, we have had another busy week. The rain finally stopped falling, and we have a good old Texas High sitting over the state. That means high humidity and temperatures in the 100’s for a heat index. Near the Gulf, the temperature is about ten degrees cooler, yet the index is still uncomfortable due to the humidity which is usually not as high.

I spent the week pretty much promoting the sale of His Revenge. I spent a little money on advertising the promotion and can honestly say it did not pay off. I learned a lesson so I won’t be repeating it again with the organization I picked. Of course, the problem with the KDP promotions you only get one shot every quarter and if you blow the awareness program, it is a definite miss not recoverable soon. Also, I was all over Twitter and can honestly say that effort doesn’t track to sales.  At least I can’t quantify sales as a result of Twitter activities.

Today’s JohnKu talks about trial and error as the most naive learning model

Learning by John W. Howell © 2106

Try this and then that,

There must be a solution. . .

If you keep trying.

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 34 Comments

His Revenge

 

Another big week has gone. I  finished my run through of the editor’s work on Our Justice (The third book of the John J. Cannon Trilogy) and was pleased to get it back onto her desk for the last brush up. She did some great work, and I am very happy.

Also, I have the second book, His Revenge on special from now until Monday, June 13th. The sale is in the US and UK market. The price is a paltry 0.99 in dollars and pounds. The links:

US http://goo.gl/1NuXIK

UK http://goo.gl/GIsEnV

Today’s JohnKu talks about a sale. Hope you like it.

Sale by John W. Howell © 2016

Bargains are very fun,

We hunt quality for cheap. . .

At whose final cost.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

 

TGIFFriday is here again.Woo Woo. This week saw the arrival of two things. 1. My manuscript for the final book in the John J. Cannon Trilogy

1. My manuscript for the final book in the John J. Cannon Trilogy Our Justice came back from the editor. The final edit is now in process and once I’m finished it will go back for one more  review and then off to formatting. I say that like I have a department that does the formatting work. No, I have learned to do it myself. So after the final review, I will be sweating over a hot keyboard doing the print and e-book versions.

2. My cover for Our Justice is also finished. I got the final version from the talented graphic designer and I am very pleased. The cover shows John Cannon as I have always pictured him. I will be having a cover reveal when I get a little closer to the date of publication. I am shooting for July so it is not too far away.

Today’s JohnKu talks about seeing your hard work finally coming to a conclusion . I hope you like it.

Result by John W. Howell © 2106

The effort was hard,

The results took longer. . .

Glorious final.

Friday JohnKu – AKA- TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

happyfriday

Friday has to one of the best days of the week. I know when I get up on Friday, I feel like it is special somehow. Just knowing Saturday is just eight hours and change away puts a smile on my face. It wasn’t always that way. I remember when I was held prisoner by organized commerce, Fridays were always unique in that major and sometimes traumatic events took place on a Friday.

There were always staff meetings on Friday and they were usually good times spent with colleagues trying as best as possible to explain misses in the goal, budget, or quota. It became a game of verbal dodgeball played with all the rules of a cage death match. The song “Only the Strong Survive” continually played in your head. By five o’clock all the combatants have been vanquished and the boss can now enjoy the weekend.

Fridays are the days when those who are being made available to the industry are informed of their new mobile status. What makes the occasion so festive is the presence of security and the collection of personal effects to be placed in a cardboard box for the walk of shame. These occasions always reminded me of the tale of Lady Godiva who although naked no one in the village looked except a guy named Tom. In a similar manner, no one looks at the person moving slowly to the exit.

Fridays are the days when new managers have meetings to explain to the population the rules of conduct going forward. These meetings take on the air of capitulation almost like foreign troops occupying a town. There are the usual subjects which raise their hands and ask questions only to noticed by the new overload. There are also those whose conduct serves to let the new overlord know they are fully co-operative and totally on board with the new changes. These are the ones who could be labeled collaborators when the next regime liberates the group. The offshoot of this kind of meeting is clandestine plans of resistance formulated in a secret bar by the loyal few who plan the overthrow.

I guess Friday should be simply the end of the work week. Today’s JohnKu talks about Friday.

Friday by John W. Howell © 2106

It’s only a day,

Although it seems so special. . .

We still love it, though.

Friday JohnKU – AKA TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 34 Comments

 

Happy Friday

This week was quite unusual. On Sunday night and half of Monday, we had monsoon rains. Our total accumulation for the twelve-hour period was over five inches. The quantity of rain caused a lot of flooding in Corpus Christi. We were lucky when the ponds overflowed their banks, only about six inches of water rose into the street.  None in the house. Of course, the repair that I had done for a leak in the garage will need to be redone. Still leaks. The contractor was very responsive and will redo the repair next week. Beyond that, the week was pretty standard. The pace was fast and the time went like the wind.

Today’s JohnKu talks about the unexpected. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Unexpected by John W. Howell © 2016

Things that are not planned,

Come in without a welcome…

Leave a mess behind.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 38 Comments

Ah Friday

Another Friday and I have to say this week was quick. (I guess I always say that in one way or another) I spent some time with the youngest daughter helping hang some things (shelves, curtain rod, etc.) in her new apartment. It is always nice having some one on one time. She took me to a great place for dinner, and we had a chance to chat a little which is something I always enjoy. She is so adult that it is scary. The rest of the time was spent running around to various doctor appointments which is the life of a senior citizen.

I did mail the manuscript for Our Justice (The third of the John Cannon Trilogy) to the editor, and she is working on it now.

My JohnKu talks about feeling good about accomplishments. I hope you enjoy it.

Feeling Good By John W. Howell © 2016

Coming to the end,

Of a challenging project. . .

Think how accomplished.

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 38 Comments

sayfridaycancelled

Another Friday to celebrate. Woo Woo. My celebration is for a week well spent doing catch-up on my “work around the house” chore list. I have often commented that living by the Gulf is like being on a boat. There are a number of things that have to be constantly maintained. Little stuff like door locks, door bells, lamps, fixtures, vinyl fence, and even siding.

Since I have finished book three of the John J. Cannon trilogy and am just waiting to send to the editor, I have a little free time each day. Having time will be a temporary situation since my next book is calling for an edit. Yes, the first draft is done, but I’m sure it is a big mess and will need more work.

So, I got out the power sprayer and went to work spraying everything that would tolerate water. That included the whole exterior of the house and all the vinyl railings and fence. I must say the house looks better not covered in salt and sand.

I also put lubricant in all the locks and managed to change out some vent covers which had deteriorated as a result of the sun.  In addition, I reconditioned the doorbell (which is an annual affair)

All in all a productive time. I expect my wife will be shocked upon her return from Austin where she has been helping youngest daughter move. Today’s JohnKu talks about doing some things you don’t want to do.

The List by John W. Howell © 2016

Your daily conscience,

On the refrigerator…

For what seems like months.

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 39 Comments

Another week is history. It was a pretty productive one. I made some progress on my WIP. I had to figure out an ending that would make more sense to more people. I have to admit I was a little too esoteric on the ending, and it raised some questions as to feasibility in the minds of some beta readers. One of the great things about beta readers is they tend to tell it like it is, and when something makes vague sense to them, it is time to change things up a bit. So I spent the week going back over the ending a few times and hopefully it will work better for everyone. I can say I’m pleased with  it, so I think a number of good things came out as a result of the beta reader’s comments. Today’s John Ku talks about advice. Have a great weekend.

Advice by John W. Howell ©2016

We all get advice,

Well-meaning friends give the best…

Not to be ignored.