Life in progress


Announcing the Launch of Circumstances of Childhood by John W. Howell

Sounds like a really great book! Congratulations on the new release, John!

John W. Howell's avatarFiction Favorites

Circumstances of Childhood.

By John W. Howell

Click for Amazon Kindle

Shipping on October 1st. Priced at $0.99 for the introduction.

This is a different story for John. It is in the Family Life genre and tells the story of brotherly love, riches to rags, redemption and a little paranormal thrown in. Normally John writes thrillers but this time he has stepped into a different place. This book was written with love for the story and the hope it will be an enjoyable read.

Here is the blurb:

When a former pro football star and broadcaster, now a Wall Street maven is accused of insider trading, will he be able to prove his innocence and expose those who are guilty?

Greg and his boyhood pal dreamed of big success in professional football and then later in business. Greg was the only one to live the dream. Now the founder of an…

View original post 754 more words


41 Comments

#SoCS – Due/Dewy/Doodoo

Due-dates. I’ve always been bad with them. When I was in school, I always waited until the last minute to complete a project, and even now, when I have something to write I often do it at the very last minute. So it makes sense that I’d set myself up for a career in which I have nothing but due dates, right? Ha!

Strangely enough, where my editing business is concerned I seem to have overcome that awful habit. But only as long as I stay off the Internet, which is, of course, my downfall. Nope, I must get up every dewy morning (and mornings that aren’t so dewy) and start work before I even connect. And I love it. I really do.

The date that’s been on my mind most these days is tomorrow, and it has nothing to do with my editing business. Tomorrow, I’m having my very first book signing! I’ll be signing copies of my novel The Magician’s Curse and giving away bookmarks. And where else than in the biggest book store in Kingston: Chapters! Kingston, where my story takes place! If my audience there can love what I’ve done with the setting, I’ll know I’ve done well.

I so want to edit that last sentence. How ironic is it that I came up with a prompt rule that prohibits me from doing what I do for a living? Ugh, there I go again. I’m in serious doodoo here.

I’d like to end this post by saying a huge thank you to Dan Antion for taking over for me this weekend. My stress levels over the upcoming event are already through the roof–I don’t think I could have coped without him. But he couldn’t, of course, let me get away without giving me at least one challenge: points. I need his points!

And if you’re in the Kingston area, (and a lot of book lovers are this weekend, since the Kingston WritersFest is on) you need to come and see me at Chapters on October 1st, 2017 between 1pm and 3pm. Do it! Whatever you do!

This post was brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday and the wonderful Dan Antion! Go visit him! And then come back and check out the prompt rules and join in! Click here: https://lindaghill.com/2017/09/29/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-september-30-17/


2 Comments

29. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Friday, September 29th, 6:00pm
Drommen (and Hillary)

 

Drommen sits alone by the window. Hillary approaches.

Hillary: Hi! Mind if I sit?

Drommen: (smiling) No, not at all. Jessica, right?

Hillary: Right. And your name was …

Drommen: Barry.

Hillary: Riiiight, now I remember … So, what happened to your face?

Drommen: Oh, just a little accident.

Hillary: A little accident?

Drommen: Yeah. I ran into a baseball bat.

Hillary: Wow. You must have some pretty fierce enemies.

Drommen: (shakes his head) Nah. A couple of guys on the bus decided they didn’t like me.

Hillary: I’m surprised you came back.

Drommen: (laughs) I’m never afraid to come on the bus.

 

Next stop: Saturday, September 30th, 8:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


2 Comments

28. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language, adult theme.

Thursday, September 28th, 8:00am
Robert and Donald

 

Robert: So let me get this straight. You went to a psychiatrist to get a cure for gay…

Donald: (looks around to make sure no one is within earshot) Not a cure. I just wanted to know if I am.

Robert: Right. And then from the psychiatrist’s office you went home and fucked your wife.

Donald: But you forgot about the woman I met on the bus before the appointment.

Robert: The … catalyst … you called her?

Donald: Yes. She told me I might be (whispers) bisexual.

Robert: Uh huh. So to prove that, you came over to my place after you did your wife and propositioned me?

Donald: I went to the bar in between.

Robert: And got drunk.

Donald: Right.

Robert: So you’re an inhibited gay.

Donald: (raises eyebrows) I’m a what?

Robert: Well, if you have to let your inhibitions go in order to get on your knees and …

Donald: SHHHH!!!!!

Robert smiles.

Donald: We’re still not talking about this.

Robert: We weren’t doing much talking that night either.

Donald: I mean at work.

Robert: (rubs hands together) Yep!

Donald: (frowns) What do you mean “yep”?

Robert: (smiles) I think it’s time for a raise, boss.

 

 

Next stop: Friday, September 29th, 6:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


5 Comments

27. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Wednesday, September 27th, 10:00am
Deborah, Tilden and Prescott

 

Tilden: Mommy?

Deborah: Yes. sweetie?

Tilden: Why don’t you just feed Prescott?

Deborah: I’ll wait ’til we get home.

Tilden: But he’s hungry now.

Deborah: I can’t feed him now.

Tilden: Why not?

Deborah: Because we’re in a public place.

Tilden: So?

Deborah: So, people don’t want to see me feed your brother.

Tilden: But you said it’s natural.

Deborah: That’s right.

Tilden: So what’s wrong with it?

Deborah: I don’t know, sweetie.

Five minutes goes by with Prescott crying.

Tilden: Mommy?

Deborah: Yes, Tilden?

Tilden: Prescott is really hungry, and he’s getting on my nerve.

Deborah: We’re almost home.

Tilden: Just whip it out and feed him.

Deborah: TILDEN!

Tilden: That’s what Daddy says!

Deborah: That’s when we’re at home.

Tilden: Can’t I even say it in public?

 

Next stop: Thursday, September 28th, 8:00am

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


45 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday – Works for Them!

You might remember my post from a few weeks ago when I asked if anyone knew what this might be:

Turns out it was a bag of water with a coin inside for discouraging bugs to come in the door.

So I decided to try it in my kitchen full of fruit flies:

They love it!

Turns out it works for them. 🙄

____________________________________________________________________________

If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, like Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our very cool badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

#1linerWeds badge by Dan Antion


Leave a comment

26. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Tuesday, September 26th, 1:00pm
Drommen (and Bella)

 

Drommen sits at the window. Bella takes the seat beside him.

Bella: Hey!

Drommen: Oh, hello.

Bella: I wanted to thank you again for walking us home the other night.

Drommen: You’re welcome. I haven’t seen your strange friend on the bus since.

Bella: I haven’t seen him either, thank God. There are some real weirdos in this town.

Drommen: I suppose there are.

Bella: So, you take the bus a lot?

Drommen: Every day.

Bella: Would you like to go for a coffee sometime? My treat.

Drommen: Thank you, but I’m afraid you might find out I’m another one of those weirdos in town.

Bella frowns, confused.

Drommen: But when you’re a little older, I’d be pleased to have you join me for a bus ride. (smiles) My treat.

 

Next stop: Wednesday, September 27th, 10:00am

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


2 Comments

25. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Monday, September 25th, 5:00pm
Candice (and Phil)

 

Phil: (approaches Candice, who is sitting at the window) Mind if I sit here?

Candice: Go right ahead.

Phil: I’m sorry, I’m not very good at bus etiquette. I don’t take the bus.

Candice: Oh.

Phil: My car broke down.

Candice: That’s too bad.

Phil: I work in an office downtown, and I usually drive.

Candice: I see.

Phil: My car has been in the shop for a week now.

Candice: You must really miss it.

Phil: I do. They think it’s something to do with the alternator, but I think it’s a computer problem.

Candice: (nods) Ahh.

Phil: I work on computers all day so I know a thing or two about computers.

Candice: I see.

Phil: So what do you do for a living?

Candice: I’m a dominatrix.

Phil stares, mouth hanging open.

Candice: I work in a dungeon where I tie up men and occasionally women, and I torture them for money.

Phil, frozen, continues to stare.

Candice: I take it you’ve never tried it?

Phil takes out his cell phone and dials a number. Candice watches him.

Phil: (into the phone) Yeah, Discount Car Rental? Do you have any cars available? … Now. … Where? (holds the phone away from his ear and speaks to Candice, enunciating as though talking to a deaf person) What’s. The. Next. Stop?

 

Next stop: Tuesday, September 26th, 1:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


2 Comments

24. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Sunday, September 24th, 10:00am
Madigan and Barb

 

Madigan: (looking out the window) So what makes you think Ken’s fooling around on you?

Barb: He’s just acting really weird lately.

Madigan: (regards Barb) Weird like what?

Barb: I don’t know. It’s just one of those things a wife notices. You wouldn’t understand.

Madigan: What does that mean?

Barb: Well, you know. You and Tom were never really happy.

Madigan: That doesn’t mean I wasn’t a wife to him.

Barb: Come on, Maddie. He never even loved you. How can you say you knew him at all and that you’d notice little things that a real wife does, when you couldn’t even comprehend that? And anyway, you weren’t even married.

Madigan: (turns to the window) Marriage is just a piece of paper.

Barb: You wouldn’t know though, would you? You’ve never been married. Ken loved me enough to put a ring on my finger and tell the whole world that he wanted to spend his life with me. Nobody’s ever done that for you.

Madigan: (looks sharply at Barb) And yet you think he’s fooling around on you!

Barb: (checks her fingernails) Eeh, it’s probably just my imagination.

Madigan: (stares out the window and mumbles) Don’t count on it.

 

Next stop: Monday, September 25th, 5:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


40 Comments

Giving

I’ve been thinking for quite some time about making my book, The Magician’s Curse, available for free for a limited time. It hasn’t sold a copy in over a month (mostly because I haven’t been advertising it), so I thought it would be a good way to jump-start some interest, and gain a few fans who will want to buy the next book.

However.

Sitting up here in Ontario, Canada, safe from hurricanes, mudslides, earthquakes, fires, and volcanoes, I feel blessed. Yet my heart bleeds for those who are suffering and have been for far too long. I want to give. I want to do more than just sit here and feel bad about it all. But I have no money to give; I have no time to give.

With much deep thought and consideration, I’ve come up with a hopeful solution. From now until the end of October, all proceeds from my books — The Magician’s Curse and All Good Stories — will go to charity. There are so many people in need that it’s hard to choose, but my hope is to be able to give at least $100 to a few different causes. At this moment, I’d like to give to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, and the people of Antigua and Barbuda. I pray there won’t but by the end of October, there may be more.

Here are my books with their blurbs:

As best friends, Xavier and Jupiter have always been supportive of each other’s romantic relationships. But when Jupiter meets Bob online, Xavier can’t help but feel he needs to come to her rescue. There’s just something about Bob. In the process of preventing Bob from wooing Jupiter away, Xavier realizes he’s been in love with her all along. Can he keep her safe and win her heart? And will he ever get to read her manuscript?

Join Xavier, Jupiter, and a quirky cast of characters in this fun romantic comedy novelette with a twist you won’t see coming.

Find All Good Stories for 99¢ on
Amazon.com (U.S.A.)
Amazon.ca (Canada)
Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom)
Amazon.com.au (Australia)
and on Amazon, in English, almost everywhere else in the world, as well as
Kobo Worldwide

When Herman Anderson leaves home to make a better life for herself, she doesn’t expect to meet a tall, dark stranger with whom she’ll fall hopelessly in love.

Charming and mysterious, Stephen Dagmar is a stage magician seeking an assistant. The moment he sets eyes on Herman, he knows she’s the one. He brings her home to his Victorian mansion where they embark upon an extravagant romance. Yet a shadow hangs over their love. Will the curse on his family end Stephen and Herman’s happily ever after, before it really begins?

Amidst lace and leather, innocence and debauchery, The Magician’s Curse begins the Gothic tale of The Great Dagmaru. Magic and romance await.

Find The Magician’s Curse for $2.99 on Kindle and Kobo:
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Amazon UK
Amazon Australia
and Amazon where ever else you are in the world, as well as
Kobo Worldwide.

And in paperback for $16.99US on Amazon:

USA and Canada
UK
Denmark
France
Spain
Italy

Please buy my books. If you don’t enjoy reading romance, buy one as a gift for someone who does. It will give you a chance to donate a little extra to some worthwhile causes, and have something to read in return.

If there is a region in particular out of the above mentioned that you’d like your money to go to, email me at linda@lindaghill.com. I’ll write a post on November 1st to let everyone know how much money has been raised and how it will be split. I will also post the receipts for the donations. I have screenshots of my sales as of yesterday ($0) for the last month. I’ll post these with updates weekly.

I encourage you to share this post and keep sharing it. Tell your friends, post on social media, get the word out, and help me raise money for those who desperately need it.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.