Friday – JohnKu – AKA TGIF

September 25, 2015September 21, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

Friday is here again, and only one day left until the weekend. I am so glad football season is finally in full swing. Our house has several teams we follow. In the pros we are Pittsburgh Steelers fans. My wife was born and raised there and I was born in Detroit. If you want to call me a traitor to the Lions I accept. If you think I’ve turned my back on the Cowboys, you’re right. Say I am disloyal to the Texans. Damn straight. I like my wife and the Steelers.

In college ball my wife went to West Virginia University and I to Michigan State. We like both. I also went to Notre Dame so we like them too. (we have a very hard time when Notre Dame plays WVU and MSU). Our daughters went to Baylor University and Indiana University so we are fans of both unless they play WVU and MSU and then we have major problems)

In any case we are very glad the mayhem has begun. Today’s JohnKu talks about football.

Waiting all summer,

The spectacle called football. . .

Over in a flash.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

September 18, 2015September 10, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 19 Comments

Friday is here in a heartbeat. Always good to have a holiday on a Monday since it makes the week seem so fast. (Unless Tuesday was one of those painful “please shoot me” days). I didn’t get a lot done this week since I’m trying to work on formatting my book. It’s almost like making a new recipe. I have the instructions in one hand and am slowly trying to execute with the other. One handed typing is the worst especially when you are trying to make things all pretty. Oh well, it will take time and I certainly have some to spare right now. Today’s JohnKu talks about doing the job right.

The job needs doing,

Bring all the effort and skill. . .

It’s worth doing right.

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

September 4, 2015September 1, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 30 Comments

Friday again. It has been an interesting week pretty much filled with catch-up work for me. I’m getting ready to publish the sequel to My GRL and have decided to self-publish this time around. As most of you self-published authors know there is a lot to do before the book is ready. I am waiting for the final editor proofread and will then do the formatting. I have done some formatting so I think I can handle this part of the exercise. I plan to do a paperback and a Kindle edition so I will need to get the proper formats for each. My GRL was published by Martin Sisters Publishing, and they did all the work, so this is all new to me. Hopefully, I won’t blow a gasket in getting it done.

With the launch of My GRL, I had no control over price, timing, cover, or the internal appearance. This time will be different. I have control over all of these things. One thing I wished I could have done with My GRL was to get it into the hands of reviewers before publication. After the formatting is complete, I plan on putting it into the hands of those reviewers who will graciously agree to review and then publish the book with a more organized launch. I’m not sure it will make any difference, but it can’t hurt. This week’s JohnKU is about timing. Hope you like it.

Starting a project,

Time spent planning the outcome. . .

Finishes it well.

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

August 28, 2015August 26, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 27 Comments

Friday again. Boy what a week in the financial market. It was one for the record books and not at all enjoyable. I now realize why I don’t like to go to Las Vegas and put my hard-earned money down and watch it being swept away. It sucks when money disappears. (Okay, okay it’s on paper and not real money) I hope everyone who is determined to continue the carnage in the stock market has a nice weekend. Maybe then they will come to work Monday with the idea of buying instead of selling. I for one decided to sit this whole mess out. I don’t need to sell stocks and so maybe when the time comes when I do the market will return to normal. Either that or maybe I can take up collecting aluminum cans. Heaven knows there are enough left on the beach. This week’s JohnKu talks about concern around money. Hope you like it.

As the worry stops,

And life becomes easier. . .

The Dow interrupts.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

August 14, 2015August 13, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 22 Comments

Friday YAY. Yes, I’m glad it is here. I spent most of the week working on the various cover submissions for the second book in the John Cannon Trilogy titled His Revenge. It is a daunting task in that I had four designers competing for the business. They came up with over 60 designs, and I must say all the artists were good. I will withhold final judgment on the service until I have the finished product. So far I have been pleased with the results. As a reminder, you can still vote for the cover that you think works by going to this link. http://99designs.com/book-cover-design/vote-uyatn3

I will say one designer took me to a final design and then had to change it because he was not authorized to use the graphic he presented. That was not forgivable as far as I’m concerned. Total time waste. The design was great and in the final four, and then it disappeared and he substituted another. This week’s JohnKu is about honesty. I hope you like it.

Believing the words,

Based on the integrity. . .

At last finding none.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

August 7, 2015August 6, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 27 Comments

Friday is finally here. I don’t know about you, but it seemed to be a pretty long week. I was full of productivity this week. I got my manuscript for His Revenge off to the editor. I will be holding my breath until the surgical procedure is finished. I also launched a cover design contest and so far the covers look amazing. My last beta readers checked in and between being too busy and having computer troubles I learned a lesson about reliability. In spite of some participation disappointments, the beta results were very good, and I’ll run with what I have. The beta reader situation gave rise to this week’s JohnKu. It is about expectation and I hope you enjoy it.

Reaching out for help,

The expectation runs high. . .

Trumped by agenda.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

July 31, 2015July 27, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 25 Comments

Looks like we made it to Friday. I think we should take a moment and give ourselves a pat on the back. Ready, set pat, pat, pat. There how good does that feel? We should remember that we still have an eight hour or so day away from the magic of Friday night (weekend eve).

This week has been a long one. I was busy all weekend with a conference and it just seems like work after a while. (Duh. You are a writer attending a writer’s conference). It seems nice to have a weekend home and I’m looking forward to it. This week’s JohnKu reflects on home. I hope you like it.

Great to get away,

To meet erudite authors. . .

Home is comforting.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

July 17, 2015July 11, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 30 Comments

Friday once again and only eight more hours (give or take a few) till quitting time. I’m so lucky this week I have my daughter and grandkids visiting. Two of the three grandchildren brought a guest and youngest is visiting from Austin, so we have nine of us kicking around the house. It is so nice to have a bunch around. The noise the talk the laughter are all music to the ears. Makes one take stock in what is considered important. Yes, peace and quiet is essential but so is the happy bedlam of the family. This week’s JohnKu ( A termed coined by Words4jp) talks about family. Hope you like it.

Underfoot and loud,

All around and in the way. . .

Until sad silence.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

July 10, 2015July 8, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

Friday is here again. This week seemed long since most of us had a short week last week. Not sure how many had Monday off but, for the most part, last Friday was the holiday, so we had to pay the piper this week. We are in the middle of the summer months and can feel the temperature rising. Of course, we grumble when it’s cold, so it seems prudent to grumble about the heat. We have the same privilege now on the fact that the rain has subsided. We can now complain about how dry it is becoming. Today’s JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) discusses the fickle nature of the human condition.

Content in our life,

Having everything the same. . .

Until there’s a change.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

June 26, 2015June 25, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 31 Comments

Friday is here, and I don’t know about you but when anyone mentions Friday it makes me smile. Friday carries with it some anticipation of the beauty of Saturday. You know the beauty of relaxation, rest, recharge, time with family, not having to answer to anyone. Friday has the personality of a liberator. The day itself must be completed before freedom can be assured. Knowing Friday has arrived makes the certainty of liberation a little more probable. Of course, there is always the potential for having to work Saturday yet the mention of Friday conger feelings of looking forward to what follows. This week’s JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) talks about weekend freedom. I hope you like it.

Freedom by John W. Howell

Still walking uphill,

Monday to Thursday until . . .

Friday sets us free.