#TenThingsYouMayNotKnow – About #JohnW.Howell

/ Marcia Meara

Good Morning, Everyone! Today I’d like you to help me welcome a great friend and supporter of writers everywhere, #StoryEmpire member John W. Howell. I think you’ll really enjoy John’s post today, so let’s get things rolling!

Thank you, Marcia, for having me on your #TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAboutMe feature. When we initially talked about doing this, I explained to Marcia that the first item on the list would be the fact that I have evolved into a close imitation of Howard Hughes. You may recall in his later years; he became a recluse. Marcia being the kind and generous person she is, thought that would be an excellent beginning to the list. So, with that encouragement, here are the #TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAboutMe. You will note the Howard Hughes one is not there because you already know that one.

Ten Things You May Not Know About Me
by John W. Howell

1) Detroit, Michigan, is where I grew up in an area that was a melting pot of cultures. This upbringing gave me the experience to conclude that we are all made up of the same hopes, dreams, and expectations.

2) My father died when I was ten years old. He was an exceptional human being, and his example of making the most out of your talent has inspired me throughout my life.

3) I was raised by my mother and sister. My mother had to go to work, but my sister was six years older than me, so she filled in when my mom needed to be elsewhere. I feel blessed that I carried away from our home an appreciation for the female perspective.

4) My mom paid for the first year of college, and then the rest was up to me. I appreciated the help and embraced the idea that I would work and learn. I held several part-time and summer jobs and managed to get through.

5) My first working position out of college was for Procter and Gamble. My responsibilities were to represent the company brands in an assigned territory. In addition, I had the pleasure of introducing products still on the shelves today.

6) I changed companies after three years when it became clear a promotion was not in the works. After twenty years, I took over as the company head. It looks like I made the right choice.

7) I retired once at 51 years old and went into consulting. After five years, I went to work at one of my clients and spent fifteen years working on some exciting new products.

8) I retired a second time when I was 70 1/2. I enjoyed what I was doing, but it became time to go. 

9) My first book was published when I was 71 by a traditional publisher. After waiting for over 18 months for the second to be published, it became clear that I needed to go out independently. I self-published the following five books.

10) I’m looking forward to my 81st birthday. I still blog six days a week and am getting ready to publish my seventh book. Once that is done, I will be publishing a Top Ten Things Not to Do handbook, which will take some of my best posts and put them in a collection.

BLURB:

James Wainwright picks up a hitchhiker and discovers two things 1. The woman he picks up is his childhood sweetheart, only Seventeen years older. 2. He is no longer of this world.

James began a road trip alone in his 1956 Oldsmobile. He stops for a hitchhiker only to discover she is his childhood sweetheart, Sam, who disappeared seventeen years before. James learns from Sam falling asleep miles back caused him to perish in a one-car accident. He also comes to understand that Sam was taken and murdered all those years ago, and now she has come back to help him find his eternal home.

The pair visit various times and places and are witness to a number of historical events. The rules dictate that they do no harm to the time continuum. Trying to be careful, they inadvertently come to the attention of Lucifer who would love to have their souls as his subjects. They also find a threat to human survival and desperately need to put in place the fix necessary to save mankind.

The question becomes, will James find his eternal home in grace or lose the battle with Satan for his immortal soul and the future of human life with it? If you like time-travel, adventure, mystery, justice, and the supernatural, this story is for you.

You can download the Kindle version of Eternal Road  The Final Stop HERE
You can purchase the print version of Eternal Road The Final Stop HERE

Author John W. Howell

Award winning author John W. Howell began his writing as a full-time occupation after an extensive business career. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories.  His first book, My GRL, introduces the exciting adventures of the book’s central character, John J. Cannon. The second Cannon novel, His Revenge, continues the adventure, while the final book in the trilogy, Our Justice, was launched in September 2016. Circumstances of Childhood in October  2017.  The Contract in, 2018. Eternal Road – The final stop in 2020.  The sequel to Eternal Road should be available in September of 2022. All books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. John also writes a daily blog, Fiction Favorites, HERE.

John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

You can reach John on Social Media here:

Blog: Fiction Favorites
Amazon Author’s Page
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
BookBub
|Story Empire Blog

 

 

 

 

135 thoughts on “#TenThingsYouMayNotKnow – About #JohnW.Howell”

  7. Wonderful to learn more about one of my favourite authors and friends! I look forward to John’s little book of Ten Things Not to Do! That will be a chuckle-a-minute read for sure! Thanks for sharing, Marcia. Wishing you all the best, John. Hugs 💕🙂

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  8. John has certainly had an interesting life. I lost my father at a young age, too, (13) and know the impact that makes on a person—especially when you had a great dad who taught you so many inspiriting things. Given John is such a stand-up guy, his dad must have been very special.

    A wonderful “TopTen” list about one of my favorite author friends! Great job, Marcia and John! 🙂

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  9. HI Marcia, It is interesting to learn more about John. In some ways, my own life has been similar to his. I also lost my biological father young. I worked to pay my way through correspondence university. I had to pay for my first year and after that I had an academic scholarship. I also find parts of my work interesting and exciting. My mom is active like John is. She is 83 and still going strong.

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  10. Fascinating! I loved John’s first three points which go some way to explaining the humanity in his writing. His work ethic doesn’t surprise me either, nor his abilities in the workplace, when I consider all that he manages to cram into his day. It’s hugely encouraging to discover that he was first published at 71! So many thanks for these, Marcia – they’re brilliant! 😀 ❤

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    • I believe it is never too late as well, Joan. There are times when I wish I started earlier but life has a way of putting dreams on hold until the right time. In any case, the horse is out of the barn now. Thank you for the comment.

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    • So glad you enjoyed John’s post today, Joan, and I agree that it’s never too late to live our dreams. John is a perfect example of that, and it’s something I learned 9 years ago when I wrote my first book, too. We’re still here. We can definitely make some of our dreams come true!

      Thanks so much for stopping by today! 😊❤️

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  15. Reblogged this on Fiction Favorites and commented:
    I am at Marcia Meara’s today. She invited me over to talk about ten things you may not know about me. Most of you know Marcia from her outstanding books. I know Marcia as a friend and exceptional author. So come visit, and while there, check out her beautiful books. Thank you for having me today, Marcia.

    Liked by 2 people

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  19. This is a wonderful chat with John. He is honestly one of my favorite people in the writing community. A talented author and an interesting human being. Thank you for sharing this, Marcia.

    Congratulation to John. It’s an honor to know you, good sir!

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  20. A wonderful ten things, John. I learned so much about you that I didn’t know before. I can relate to your reason for going indie, that’s for sure. The lead times for traditional publishers are frustratingly long. Thanks, Marcia, for hosting our talented friend. ❤

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  21. Wonderful share, John. It’s always a gift to learn more about someone you’ve come to truly respect on all life matters. Thank you, Marcia, for this post. For me, John is a top-of-the-ladder writer and friend. 🤗

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  26. You have lived a productive life, John. I enjoyed learning about how you have done it! Lots of hard work, a commitment to quality, and just the right blend of humility, talent, and ambition. As they say down under: “Good on ya, mate.”

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  30. I love that no matter how long you’ve known someone, there’s always more to learn about them. These are some interesting things, John! You’ve lived such a productive & inspiring life. I’m so thankful to know you!! Marcia, thank you for bringing John over to chat today!

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  31. Well, reading this makes me even more convinced that John was cloned young. No one person crams in that much… and why is it, John that when I consider your output, it’s me who feels 81. 81? No, seriously that’s the most unlikely piece. I see you’ve been described as a second dad. More like a rather disreputable but delightful uncle, methinks. John, it’s been a delight to have met you and if this sounds like a eulogy that’ll teach you for saying you’re 81. No, sorry, does not compute.
    Oh and Marcia, thank you for bringing us the undiluted Howell. Delightful to read how he came to be keeping the Lone Star state on the straight and narrow. Best, Geoff

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    • It was an absolute pleasure to have John here today, Geoff, and I’m so glad to know that you enjoyed (or were astounded by) his post today. I think we all feel the same way. It gives us 78-year-old youngsters hope that our writing days don’t have to be over yet! 😁 Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a moment to say hello! 😊

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    • I guess I did bring a eulogistic air upon myself. Just goes to show what happens when you don’t keep your mouth shut. The good part is I have the constitution of a forty-year-old so the shock of the morning mirror is a daily challenge. Yes, I think the disreputable uncle description fits just fine. At least that’s what I have been led to believe by my nieces and nephews. I loved your comment and thank you.

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  33. John, I learned so many things about you that help explain how you became such a kind, generous fellow writer. Love this and am grateful you share bits of yourself with us!

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  36. Interesting to learn a bit more about you, John. So you almost escaped the corporate grasp early. I’m sure the second company was happy to have you come on board. I’m looking forward to your next book, and that collection. I hope you feature Tiny.

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  37. Wow, fab facts about John here today. Kudos to your accomplishments John. Love your tireless efforts to keep producing and in and out of retirement. My beloved hubby retired twice as well. Hard to keep a good man down. ❤

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  42. Great to learn more about you! I love that you retired TWICE. I hope there was a big celebration each time. You deserved it, I’m sure 🙂

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  43. Pingback: Smorgasbord Blogger Weekly – May 4th 2022 – #Spotlights Winona Kent with The Story Reading Ape, Marcia Meara with John W. Howell, Robbie Cheadle with Colleen Chesebro, #Poetry Elizabeth Gauffreau | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

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