Author/Publisher Howard Johnson has released several new books in the last year. They are described in this blog post along with his previous books. Other books published by Senesis Word are also described. This blog will provide some background on the writer and info about his writing and publishing services. Howard also offers lectures on writing, self-publishing, and a number of other subjects in several venues. Contact him for information.
— Memoirs from the Lakeside II —
Memoirs from the Lakeside II, has just been released. This new edition has a greatly expanded number of significant quotes that are now distributed throughout the book in what were white spaces at the ends of chapters or stories.
Memoirs from the Lakeside II is a combination anthology and collection of quotes, quips, poems, essays, letters, and memoirs. Many of my contributions were written as early as 1960. Some of the quotes of others writers and thinkers are from earlier times, dating as far back as before the Common Era.
Over many years I have collected a wide variety of sayings, letters, poems, essays and memoirs. All of the memoirs and essays are my own work along with many of the sayings and other writings. In any case, the sources and authors are acknowledged except for those marked, unknown or anonymous. Many of the memoirs are from my childhood and youth years around Lake Tippecanoe in Northern Indiana.
Because of the variety from one liners to complete stories, Memoirs from the Lakeside II an ideal read for a few minutes or for a relaxed hour. the memoirs recall memorable happenings from a very full life. I have had a blast for a life with many contacts with wonderful and fascinating people—friends, relatives, and those sharing but a single moment. Many of these haunting experiences are shared within the pages of this book.
Parts of the memoirs are very personal revelations. Most are fond memories of treasured experiences, often with loved ones. Some are memories that carry some unpleasantness, but that is just the way life happens.
Memoirs from the Lakeside II is actually a greatly expanded version of the original Words from the Lakeside, and Memoirs from the Lakeside, containing quotes, essays, letters and memoirs. It’s content is identical with Words from the Lakeside II, only the cover and title are different. That was not planned, but simply happened out of the blue. There are many additional memoirs and short quotes that were not included in the original Lakeside books.
Excerpt, Dedication:
This book is a lot of who I am, what I think, what I believe, what I imagine, what I dream of, why and whom I love . . . in short, it is a collection of bits and pieces of my life—of me. It is a testimonial to all those beautiful human beings who, through love and some blunt trauma, helped me become the person I am. Therefore, I dedicate this book with great love and affection to all of my family, friends, and others, whose actions helped create, guide, inspire, stimulate, and mold my life into the person I am today. My passionate desire to please and never to displease them has guided me in positive directions throughout my lifetime. The family members, lovers, friends, mentors, and teachers who have left this earth are remembered fondly, appreciated greatly, and sorely missed. I am powerfully blessed to have known all of these incredible people, family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.
I have decided to list in this dedication as many of those people as I can without creating an entire new book. They are remembered in roughly chronological order. Many of these important people have roles in stories and essays in this book. I have been blessed with a close, loving relationship with members of my family, unique to each one. Those described as special were not loved any more than others. There was something different, maybe magic, about the two of us together. It defies definition. There were those, other than family, with which I felt a special connection as well. In this book, there is a description of a conversation with one of my grandparents that clearly illustrates my meaning. Those that are not listed are no less loved or appreciated. If I listed all of them, there would be no pages left for the burgeoning content already in place.
There is much more to the full dedication. See the book to read the rest.
To read a more extensive excerpt, goto www.MemLS.blogspot.com
Blue Shift is my first book, a SciFi novel published in 2002. I received several rave reviews in newspapers, but sales were meager. That was mostly because of my inability to follow through on my publisher’s marketing plan. My wife, Barbara’s deteriorating health kept me from attending the speaking engagements and book publicity my publisher had arranged. The few book signings I did manage to have were quite successful. All told more than 400 books were sold, a very small number in the real world.
The story takes us from the big island of Hawaii to a Mohawk Indian reservation in upstate New York and back. The characters are mostly from the two very different groups of native Americans found there, Hawaiians and Mohawks. Using the new Gemini telescope on the island of Hawaii, astronomer Angus Thomas, a Mohawk Indian and popular pro football player, discovers a wayward star that threatens to destroy all life when it races past the Earth in about thirty years. Discovery of this inescapable menace unleashes snowballinig events that batter the former all-pro running back, his beautiful Hawaiian assistant, Lani Namahoe, their families and friends. This determined group of people battle ignorance, internal enemies and government agents as they deal with the discovery of this irresistible, unavoidable menace that man is absolutely powerless to change or escape. Then they face the awesome responsibility of publicly announcing the probable end of life on Earth while struggling against forces that want to prevent them from doing so. Love, adventure, and intrigue heighten the anticipation of the growing threat of annihilation.
The book is still available from most popular book sources and from my website. An ebook form for the Kindle is available, with other formats coming in the near future. Also coming in the future will be the second and third books in the Blue Shift trilogy. Blue Shift II deals with the significant people and events during the twenty eight years between the conclusion of first Blue Shift and the near approach of the ghost star. Blue Shift III deals with the last two years as the star approaches and what happens as it passes through the solar system, the final conclusion of the trilogy. I hope to finish and publish Blue Shift II in 2014, and Blue Shift III in 2015.
Here’s a review from the Times Union Newspaper:
by Teresa Smith - Times-Union staff writer
“Blue Shift” appeals to the space lover
I’ve always been a science fiction fan. In the last few years, the genre has departed from scientifically supported scenarios to life on other planets, advanced space travel and strange aliens.”Blue Shift", Book I of a Trilogy, is a satisfying return to the basics.
The setting, characters and situation are exotic enough. The main setting is Hawaii - the Gemini Observatory on the island of Hilo. The main characters are of Mohawk or Hawaiian ancestry and their cultures are explored. The situation concerns the possible destruction of the Earth. That’s the fiction.
The science is based on present-day astronomy - stuff a college student who took three semesters of astronomy 20 years ago, like me, can understand. Readers without the benefit of a couple of science classes will be able to grasp the situation, too, because author Howard Johnson describes the scientific concepts behind “blue shifts” so well. We are not talking about warp drives and interdimensional shifts here. We’re talking modern-day observatories and methods.
In “Blue Shift” a former, extremely popular, NFL running back is the main hero in a novel packed with good guys and gals. Angus Thomas has returned to his first career choice - astronomy. He discovers a star traveling at 90 percent of the speed of light and calculates it will reach the Earth’s solar system in 30 years by calculating the shift into the blue end of the spectrum. (A red shift means a star is moving away from Earth.) He figures the star hurtling through space threatens to destroy all life on the planet.
Astronomers, those late-night workers, tend to keep their discoveries to themselves until their work can be published. Thomas must confirm his conclusions, too, and does so with the help of his beautiful Hawaiian assistant, Mililani “Lani” Namahoe. Thomas and Lani, their family members and colleagues team up to prepare a series of press releases designed to ease the news to the public in a responsible way.
The enemies include a chauvinistic British astronomer who steals Thomas’s rersearch and OSI agents who want to control the information about the star. It’s full of people with character - intelligent, responsible individuals who hold their families precious.
At first, the dialogue is disconcerting because it’s so, well, good. The characters’ conversations are presented in perfect grammar. Their thoughts are complete; they compliment the contributions of others by acknowledging what they say. After a while we want everyone to speak and just plain get along like the “Blue Shift” characters. They follow through on their plans, think on their feet and strive over adversity.
Their circle includes a highly ethical journalist (imagine that!), loyal friends, efficient co-workers and supportive family members. It takes a while, after one gets used to the superb dialogue, to realize a couple of things are missing from the book - obscenities and the obligatory paragraphs retelling sexual encounters. We know how angry the characters are without any foul language. We know how much the characters are attracted to each other without one function described. The effect is powerful.
So if you’d like to try a little science fiction, not only is Johnson’s book highly recommended, it will leave you hungry for the second installment.
STARRING has just been released and is now available in paperback through most book outlets, and as an ebook for the Kindle. It was originally titled, Short Stories, Mostly SciFi. A fellow writer and member of the Science Fiction Novelists group, D. Keith Howington suggested the title, Starring after seeing a copy of the cover of my book with the title, Short Stories, Mostly SciFi. Keith very graciously suggested this title and told me I could use it if I wanted to. Once I placed it on the cover, I immediately loved it and so I took him up on his offer. I will be sending him a copy from the very first printing of the final version.
From the text on the back of the book:
This collection of mostly SciFi stories was recently released by the author. Howard Johnson says, “Hard science fiction is basically all fictional writing that uses extrapolation of real science—or actual science and technology expanded by the writer’s vision—as far into the future, or past, as his or her creative imagination can take us. It is based on what we can imagine technology of the future to be. Jules Verne was a pioneer in this type of fiction. Look at all the things he imagined that have actually come to pass.
“Several of these stories deal with not only our own advanced technology, but with that of alien species from other worlds, other galaxies, even other universes. Yet all stories deal with mostly very human foibles, problems, interactions with others, sometimes even alien intelligent species. Many of the settings are on other planets where things like the atmosphere, gravity, the native flora and fauna, can be quite different from here on our small planet. While many of the writers of science fiction are scientists, enjoyable SciFi stories should be written so those not based in the sciences can understand and enjoy the action. Much of what we use every day would have been far out science fiction 50, 30, or even 20 years ago, the iphone for example.
"When I was quite young, I was an avid reader of science fiction. The writing of Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson whetted my appetite for later writers like Heinlein and Asimov. I was also fascinated by the sciences, primarily astronomy, and the possibility of space travel. I knew man would some day go to the moon, but I never dreamed then that it would be in my lifetime.”
To read an excerpt, goto www.StarringSciFi.blogspot.com
— The Crystal Feather — The Crystal Feather is my second hard science fiction novel and is very different from the first one, Blue Shift. In 2008 an early manuscript of The Crystal Feather, was submitted in the FWA Lighthouse novel contest. The first several chapters and a synopsis were the submission requirements. I was surprised when The Crystal Feather, entry came in first among a number of submissions. It took me three years to finish the novel which is now published and available in both print and ebook versions.
The story: Dr. Draxel Syl has a wild, off-Earth adventure with a drop-dead gorgeous lady named Leura Clauson. Reeling from this experience, he wanders about trying to learn what really happened, who Leura actually is, and what these strange happenings are about. This leads to his learning of and interacting with other humanoids from universes in other dimensions, actually other, parallel universes. In the process, he is abducted and transferred by “portal” to another part of our galaxy by a Segwah star ship captain. The Segwah are a humanoid species closely related to Humans, but from a different universe in a different dimension of space-time. The Scentar, another humanoid species, are from yet another universe in another dimension. The Scentar and Segwah have been at war with each other for millennia, invading each other’s universes and killing each other.
Drax, a principal gravity scientist of the Eegis project in Pasadena has inadvertently created a slowly growing rift or tear in the space-time fabric between the Human and Scentar universes. This tear, caused by one of his research projects at Eegis, could cause the two universes to fold into each other, annihilating both. While the Segwah are virtually identical to Earth’s Neanderthals, the Scentar are quite the opposite, slender and physically very beautiful by human standards. Both Scentar and Segwah have cultures very different from each other and from Humans as well. The Scentar are quite different in another way. There are twice as many females as males because each female birth is identical twins, while male births are always single. This makes their culture and morality based on two female twins bonding with a single male, a very unusual family structure and related sexual morality.
To read an excerpt, goto www.CryFthr.blogspot.com
Energy, Convenient solutions, How Americans can Solve the Energy Crisis in Ten Years, is a non fiction book about energy. It is the culmination of ten years of my research into all manner of energy creation and use in a field where I have had considerable experience.
In the book I say, “We can replace all fossil fuels with renewable fuels and alternative energy sources within ten years and with relatively minor disruptions to present manufacturing and distribution systems. Energy, Convenient solutions describes most of the existing and proposed energy systems, all within current technology and capabilities. Some of these proposed systems are quite unusual and recently announced. It provides many unique and workable, long-term answers to growing concerns about energy, the economy, and dwindling supplies of petroleum. Adopting these new systems would improve our balance of trade, our economy, our job opportunities, and our technological presence while eliminating the CO2 problem, regardless of its importance. We no longer have the luxury of time. The growing economic/political menace is here, now, real, and dangerous. If we don’t act immediately, the consequences could be catastrophic.”
Publication of the book was followed by publication of numerous articles in trade publications in many fields related to energy. Numerous book reviews, most quite positive have been written and published since publication early in the fall of 2010. Most of the negative reviews focused on the comments made about politics, Islam, and the lack of a single definitive answer. Obviously these reviewers failed to recognize the power that politics and politicians have over energy decisions, even though most are poorly informed on the subject. Anyone who doesn’t see the danger oil-rich nations can pose, and the financial drain this causes the western world are wearing blinders. As long as petroleum remains our primary energy source, these factors must be considered. The answer is not a single system, or technology, but a combination of many, some effective in one field, others in different fields and industries. The one-size-fits-all solution so adored by politicians and the media, is completely impractical. The obvious difficulties and expensive collapse of many companies developing radical new technologies is just one of the lessons we must learn.
Since Energy, Convenient Soloutions was released, I have given several well-attended lectures on energy to very diverse groups. One was to a group of mostly university professors on the MV Explorer, the semester-at-sea ship, during a voyage up the Amazon to Manaus. Numerous good questions were asked during the Q&A session that followed the lecture. This session was spirited, informative, and went well past the allotted time. Many of those who attended the lecture stopped me afterwards on the ship asking even more very good questions.
One editor of this book describes it as,
"The definitive book on energy for the 21st century."
Here’s a review from the Tucson Citizen Newspaper:
This book is written for anyone with any kind of interest in energy, power plants, vehicles---virtually any use of energy. While it covers some very technical subjects, it does so in ways that even laymen can understand. Author Howard Johnson has a knack of writing about very technical subjects in ways that most intelligent people can understand. The book covers all common and a number of rather uncommon energy systems. These systems include power generation, transportation, and use of all types of energy. It describes those from the past, a number of those from the present as well as some showing future promise.
The clear conclusion is that the future of energy might not look very much different from the present with most of the same systems and fuels and a few new ones, but with a very different mix. For example, we currently use coal-fired power plants for half of our electricity. That will probably drop to a much smaller percentage while several new technologies will move to the fore. We currently have a wide ranging mix of energy systems including more than a dozen power generation systems, a growing number of different vehicle power systems and fuels, and a well established investment in infrastructure. These massive systems will provide an inertial brake on rapid changes and will require a great deal of effort to modify.
The author describes what can realistically be done to bring about the evolutionary changes that will wean us from petroleum dependency. This alone could result in tremendous internal growth in energy and transportation industries. This would bring about an amazing growth in our economy and provide countless high amd medium level jobs for Americans. It would even satisfy the global warming crowd without any additional taxes.
The author describes a number of internal forces including established industries and politically active groups, that will oppose and interfere with these changes and will work against them. These activities do not bode well for these beneficial changes, changes that must be dealt with. Finally there are many reference to additional information about many of the new developments described in the book. The best answers to our energy problems could undoubtedly be found from combinations of technologies described in the book.
—Climate Change and Much Worse Dangers—A thought provoking and realistic look at what could be one of the biggest scams ever pulled off on the public world-wide. The physics and thermodynamics of the so called “greenhouse” gasses do not confirm the postulate that man’s addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere is warming the planet dangerously. In fact, they soundly refute it. The planet may well be warming, but other factors are far more likely to be the actual cause than increased CO2 in the atmosphere.
For example: one report used as confirmation of global warming by the supporters of AGW was the greatly diminished snows on Mt Kilimanjaro in recent years. The AGW supporters wrongly blamed that on CO2 caused global warming. The truth is, man has caused this obvious change, but it had nothing to do with CO2. Loggers have almost completely deforested the lower slopes of the mountain. Those forests once fed millions of tons of water into the air which flowed up the sides of the mountain and fell as snow near the top. With the forests gone the water no longer flows up the mountain so little or no snow falls. Deforestation of the slopes, a human activity, is the actual cause of the lack of snow on the summit.
Increasing numbers of scientists, particularly those well versed in the physical gas laws and how gas molecules absorb and radiate energy, are now speaking out about the grossly exaggerated claims of the IPCC and other promoters of anthropogenic global warming (AGW). It is becoming increasingly clear that not only is increasing carbon dioxide not detrimental to life on earth, but that ir is highly beneficial. Learn of the fantastic agricultural benefits of increased CO2 worldwide.
The book also outlines a recent theory linking global temperatures with the frequency of nearby super novas. Radiation from these explosions of giant stars link directly with global temperatures for the last 500 million years. There are a substantial number of detailed color graphics that demonstrate the correlation convincingly. The AGW people would kill to have such powerful confirmation of the physics they ignore. The theory is less than twenty years old, about where the theory of plate tectonics was when most scientists ridiculed that theory.
The book also describes other real and growing dangers man is perpetrating on our planet and its life. These dangers are very real, measurable, evidenced by many concrete happenings, and are increasing on a daily basis. These very real menaces are infinitely worse for humanity than the worst possible global warming scenarios, and there is no redeeming benefit like greatly increased crop growth.
BOOKS PUBLISHED FOR OTHER WRITERS
Speak, Memory is an anthology of memoirs written by a group called the River House Writers. It will be released around the end of October. Within its pages are bits and pieces of the lives of this group of about two dozen writers, of which I am a member. They have met each Wednesday morning for the last four years at the River House of the St Augustine Council on Aging. Under the guidance of journalist, Peter Guinta they practice the art and craft of writing.
After members read their memoir, short story or other offering, the group offers comments and suggestions. The process can be exhilarating, funny, or emotional. Come read this intimate look into our lives as we share our realities.
What is Life is an illustrated primer on biology for grade school students.
The author, Peggy Ciula, has taught high school and college biology for thirty years. She created this book to solve a problem she saw all to often. Many new students in her classes had little inkling of what biology and life actually are. She is trying to change that.
The book has full color illustrations created by the students in her biology class. It is aimed at ages 8 to 10. Many of these young people have little understanding of what life actually is—what makes it different from inanimate things. It is a book of basic biology.
Pass, Passed, Past is a novella, the first literary effort by artist, Jean Light Willis
In a small town on the coast of North Carolina four ladies’ bridge game is delayed as they cope with growing older. Will the hippie Stella find her long lost son? What is Penny hiding behind her socialite exterior? Can Lillian achieve fulfillment? How can Gert avoid being homeless? Is it too late for romance?
A native Virginian, Jean holds a BFA in Art Education from Richmond Professional Institute. After thirty years as a public school art teacher she opened an art gallery in St. Augustine featuring her plein air paintings and pen and ink illustrations as well as sculpture and weaving. With the love and support of her four extraordinary children she has turned to writing. An historical
novel and a play are in the works.
—Two New booklets by Isabel Garner—
Listen to Your Granny! You Know She's Never Wrong is a booklet of old-fashioned sage advice for young people. These are things about life that all children from six to sixteen would do well to read. Many adults could gain from reading them as well.
Isabel’s great sense of humor and reality makes these folksy words of wisdom and instructions entertaining as well as valuable. They may be from the past, but are just as valuable today, if only the young would listen to them. That's the rub, getting them to listen.
Christmas Poems for Everyone is a delightful collection of original Christmas poems that are witty and pleasing. Isabel has a clear, clever, and pleasing tone in all of her writing. Her picturesque, down-home language makes her writing appeal to a wide range of readers.
BOOKS USED WITH HOWARD JOHNSON'S LECTURES
Genesis 2012 is one example of a number of booklets of 50 to 100 pages on a number of subjects. This one, Genesis 2012, is a version of the Bible book, Genesis, rewritten to bring it closer into agreement with modern science than the original. It was created when the author heard a churchman comment on the similarities of the creation story in Genesis and the "Big Bang" theory of the creation of the universe. It is the companion booklet to his lecture,
Science and Religion, a Reconciliation
The Theory of Relativity and A Completely new Concept of Our Universe is a thought provoking set of radical new ideas about the speed of light, the effects of gravity, and how the universe works. It is sure to receive much criticism because of its source and author. Read it and think about it. It is a great mental exercise if nothing else.
NEW BOOK PROJECTS BY HOWARD JOHNSON NOW UNDERWAY
Days of the High Morning Moon is a crime thriller that takes place in and around Lake Tippecanoe in northern Indiana. The protagonist is a retired Chicago homicide detective named Ragan Yoder. Ragan lends a professional hand to the local police when they are working on a homicide. The characters run from rather unusual and amoral teens to rich playboys to hardened criminals who murder as a matter of necessity. As this is written, it is a bit more than half completed. It should be finished and published in 2015, hopefully.
Blue Shift II has been renamed Double Jeopardy and this is the new cover. It too is past half finished and should be published next year. A slightly altered cast of characters find new problems with the path of the Ghost. Then a new threat to the earth suddenly appears. Most of the book deals with the time starting near the end of Blue Shift and for the next few years. It then jumps to five years before the Ghost is due to pass. A new generation of characters is now dealing with the problem along with their parents generation.
Connections in St Augustine is a new thriller, mystery that combines three separate and different stories and casts of characters that only and finally come together in the last chapter.
The three protagonists are Bruce McKibben, a child prodigy who becomes very wealthy from the profits of his Internet and computer security company, BMK Security Systems. Carol Mitchell, a beautiful young lady who owns a travel bureau and ends up with a very secret side to her life. Calder Voss is an ex U. S. Army Ranger who has become a talented engineer specializing in geothermal power plants. Separately they battle the same group of evil plotters who are determined to take down America.
Originally titled, Monkey Kings, Monkey People, this is a collection of political essays and commentary that is sure to raise the hackles of a lot of people. As an individual who has little respect for any political party and trusts no politician or political activist of any kind, I am sure to offend almost everyone sooner or later.
I use the term Feudals as a label to be applied to all collectivists who seek to impose their demands on the common people by subterfuge and deception. They are the governmentalists who populate the halls of political power., everywhere on the globe. The term also applies to the millions of bureaucrats who suck the financial lifeblood out of what could be a free and prosperous nation but for their paper shuffling and thievery.
,
Copyright © 2014 by Howard Johnson.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
This was produced in the United States of America.
For those of you who don’t know and might be interested, here’s some information about my publishing company:
Senesis Word
Publishing Services for Unpublished Writers
104 Leeward Court - St. Augustine, FL 32084 - 904-687-1865
Cell phone: 574-265-3386 - email: senesisword@yahoo.com
A note from Howard Johnson, of Senesis Word:
During any book event, I will talk about my books, describe them and provide excerpts. I will also describe my writing and how it has become my passion. I will describe the services of Senesis Word, the publishing company I started to help other fledgling writers. There are a number of personal commentaries that follow. The first one is a personal description of what has become my calling. This is followed by a description of my publishing company and then descriptions of my books including mini books of excerpts and links to excerpts on the Internet. These excerpts provide readers access to the flavor of my various writings.
Should you have interest in the services of Senesis Word, ask for, a copy of the flyer describing them.
Many excerpts and small booklets are available on the Internet free or in print for a few bucks to be applied to any future purchase of the full book. Click http://hojobooks.blogspot.com to view excerpts of all of my books. Click http://hjwrite.blogspot.com where there are links to copies of all of these little books. If you would like a printed copy of any of these booklets, they are available for purchase.
In the next few pages, I will try to explain what has become my passion and my joy.
— My Last Hurrah —
I will try to explain what has become my passion and my last HURRAH so to speak. It has taken me more than ten years to reach where I am with this passion and it is my hope that I will continue to grow from my experiences. I also hope you will take the time to read the pages that follow this short note.
Why I write
I am a story teller, both fiction and memoirs: fabricated and remembered. My writing dreams are bigger than I could possibly be. That alone should help keep me young at heart and always thirsting for another day, even at my age. Some time back I told everyone on my email list that I discovered I was a writer, but I didn't say why. Each story, thought, idea, or memory that I put into words brings forth from the depths of my mind and imagination, more stories, more thoughts, more ideas, and more memories. I am deliciously excited by writing these things. It has become my great passion, somewhat like this little phrase I wrote several years ago. Those in their youth who can, dream. Those in their prime who can, do. Those in their old age who can, write. For many years I was an avid reader, devouring all kinds of literature. Once I started writing, my reading time gave way to mostly writing time. Writing is so much more rewarding. Certainly I would like my words to be read, but my main pleasure lies in the writing. I would write even if I knew no one would ever read my words.
Why you should write:
Each of us has stories to tell, stories that should be told that others would love to read, especially family members. We all know how to write. We write letters, emails, we tell people jokes and little stories about our experiences. Not all of us can be writers. That’s just a simple fact. However, many of you could write about things you would like to pass on to your children and grandchildren, things about you that you would like for them to know. My grandfather, George Dickinson told me many stories of his life growing up and as a young man. My father and mother did the same. I remember but a tiny portion of those stories. I would love to be able to read all of them, but they didn’t write them down. Some of theses stories are imbedded in my memoirs. I do not want to deny my grandchildren access to the stories of happenings in my life so I have written and collected many memoirs. These are the little stories I would tell people about things that happened, significant things, things my progeny might like to know about before they were born or while they were very young. Not all of these are pleasant or happy stories for there are dark times in all of our lives. Still, time helps lessen the memories of trauma, physical and emotional. I therefore urge you to write. Write the stories of your life. Tell your as yet unborn descendants about your life so they will know you.
I remember just a few stories my parents told about my dad’s parents and about my sisters before I was born. To me my paternal grandparents are virtually unknown other than those few stories and a few photos. How wonderful it would have been if they had written about their childhoods and lives. I would then at least have known something of my ancestry. As it is they are merely names and faces frozen at an advanced age. How did they meet? What about their parents? A hundred years from now, who will know anything about those ancestors just a few generations back? If you write about your life, your descendents will be able to learn at least some part of who you were, what you did, and how you lived your life. Think about it. What a gift that would be for your family.
I found that as I write one story or memoir, others come to mind, stories I would probably not have remembered had I not been writing the current one. I immediately make a note of their subject so I won’t forget. Then, when writing that story, others too come to mind in a never-ending progression. I would wager that should you start writing stories of your experiences, you too will remember other stories and so grow a collection. This kind of writing is something you can do occasionally when you have the time or schedule regular times to write. Either system will work because these stories are in your memory. You can go back to them a day, a month, or a year later and they will still be there.
Should you make the decision to write, I would be pleased to offer help and instruction, mainly so you won’t have to make the mistakes I have already made. Writing memoirs can be an exciting and rewarding experience and provide your family with valuable and permanent information.
So think about writing. If there is a story or memory in you, give it the wings of the written word. Who knows how many others you may touch.—Howard Johnson, 2011While at it, think on this well-said quote:
"There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still have to prove our worth anew each day: we have to prove that we are as good today as we were yesterday. But when we have a valid alibi for not achieving anything we are fixed, so to speak, for life. Moreover, when we have an alibi for not writing a book, painting a picture, and so on, we have an alibi for not writing the greatest book and not painting the greatest picture. Small wonder that the effort expended and the punishment endured in obtaining a good alibi often exceed the effort and grief requisite for the attainment of a most marked achievement."
—Eric Hoffer
— My publishing company, Senesis Word —
Struggling with several kinds of publishing companies, agents and others for ten years taught me a great deal about this rapidly changing business. Actually, I have just scratched the surface. After two very expensive lessons, I dug in and learned a lot about what makes for a successful publishing of a book. Marketing a book is an entirely different subject. If you are not an established author or a celebrity or politician of some note, making a living writing is difficult, and for the inexperienced, virtually impossible. Having been engaged in this struggle, I decided to offer my services to others starting on the path I have already trod. As a result I started my publishing company, Senesis Word, to provide development assistance to the many unpublished and unheralded writers struggling to have their words published, if only for friends and family.
My website, www.ho2jo.com, can provide much information about the services offered. The costs for these services are surprisingly low and depend on just how much the writer asks me to do. An estimate of the costs associated with any project will be provided free of charge.
As an active member of the Florida Writers Association and several other groups of writers, I know many really good writers who have never made a penny from their work. I also know a very few who have at least made some money. Still, the all say, “Don’t give up your day job until . . . .” There are, of course, those lucky, and usually hard working, writers who have cracked the best sellers lists after being noticed for any number of unfathomable reasons. Knowing someone already successful “in the business” can give you a leg up. Even then, there are a number of very necessary steps one must take to turn one’s idea onto a finished book, and that’s before a single copy is sold. Should you have any interest, I can and would love to provide you with invaluable information, books and reports on writing for both newbies and experienced writers.
I have become a prolific writer and work hard to make my writing clear, interesting and compelling. The seven books I have finished are available. Those in progress are described in this piece. I have numerous writing projects in stages from just started to half finished, and many more in the idea stage. Most, but not all of my fiction is hard science fiction. Hard science fiction is fiction in which the science behind the story is relatively accurate, possible—usually extrapolated from our current science—science pushed into the future—sometimes, far into the future. It is quite different from fantasy. There is no magic or suspension of the basic laws of physics, math, or chemistry. Sometimes fact catches up with fiction as new and real technologies replace previously fictional ones. From Jules Verne to Arthur C, Clark, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Azimov, SciFi imaginings have become practical realities.
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Bio: My life has been a blast. I spent many of my growing up summers up in and around Tippecanoe Lake in Indiana where I developed a love of water and the outdoor life. I lived most of the last 40 years on the lake. I remain a part of a large, active, loving family which is my pride and joy. I am an avid fisherman, sailor, and water enthusiast. At 86, I have given up many activities including: competitive water skiing, sailing, and sports car racing. Now I write rather than do. I love music and sang in many choruses and musicals since I was eight. My pride and joy is my family. With five fantastic and beautiful daughters and a son who is equally fantastic, an even dozen terrific grandchildren and several greats, I am supremely blessed. I have spent the last eight years and as many more of the golden years as we can manage, with my marvelous and very dear lady, Daphne, who has an equally numerous and delightful family
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Professionally, I graduated from Purdue University as a chemical engineer in 1949. I spent a varied career, ending doing consulting work for many major companies, NASA, the US Navy and Air Force. After retiring from engineering work in 1999 I started writing and soon was pursuing writing full-time.
I live in St. Augustine, FL with Daphne Fox and Charlie, our friendly, furry, four legged child. We spend time traveling, often in our motor home. Life has been unbelievably good to me.
HOWARD JOHNSON, engineer, scientist, environmentalist, amateur cosmologist, and some times controversial writer says, “Having made and corrected most all the mistakes a writer can make, I am uniquely qualified to pass what I have learned on to my clients. I started Senesis Word to help writers negotiate the self publishing morass with their work. With seven of my own books published, several for clients, and others under way, I have the experience to do what you may find difficult or impossible—to turn your rough manuscript into a professionally finished book.”
Born a Hoosier, Howard lived many years on Lake Tippecanoe in Indiana. He now lives in St Augustine, Florida with Daphne Fox and their little lhasa apso, Charlie. They travel frequently, often in their motor home.
Mr. Johnson also gives lectures on a variety of subjects. Many of his lectures include books or booklets on the subject. Popular subjects include, energy, climate change, writing, science & religion, among others. Contact him for particulars and lecture titles.
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