P.J. Howell's Blog

QUARTERLY UPDATE: A long time coming…

Yes, I think my blog misses me. And I also miss my blog. It’s been a long time since I shared regular quarterly updates, and I was surprised when I checked to discover the last actual quarterly update was in December of 2021. Now, I’ll show myself some grace since I barely blogged in 2022 and I didn’t blog one bit in 2023. The main reason for that is because I was offered and decided to accept a job in December 2021 (there’s this little thing called…retirement), so that I went back to doing my b...

10 projects to focus on while you wait for spring

Who is ready for spring? Let’s see a show of hands… The months of January and February in the Pacific Northwest are by far my least favorite. If these months had a color, I’d consider them to be beige, because other than the highlight of the New Year, there’s just not that much to them. And yet, even though I consider them bland months, January and February can pack a wallop when it comes to winter storms. While the months surrounding the fall and winter holidays were mild, the past two months h...

Beat the Chill with a New Mystery!

It’s very cold right now in the PNW and when it stays this cold for any extended time, I just want to curl up under a blanket with a book. Besides wanting to snuggle up and read, I also begin to think about upcoming vacations and new areas I might want to visit and explore. Does this sound like you? Snuggling with a book is easy; taking little effort or money. Vacations, on the other hand, take planning and saving, and a whole lot of steps in between. But I’ve got you covered on both counts. If ...

What I learned from a year without blogging

Are you there Blog? It’s me…P.J. For the first time, ever, I took over a year off from blogging. A little more than a year, actually. I began my blog in December 2011, when I pushed down my fears and decided to share with all who cared that I had completed the draft of my first novel. Pushing against my introverted self, I continued to share about my writing and publishing journey on Blogger and I used the title and subtitle, “Awakened by Dreams to Write: the Journey of a writer who found the co...

Free eBook for you!

Tomorrow is 11/11 and if you aren’t aware, I have a short story titled 11:11 Anna’s Awakening. If you’ve ever seen the same number over and over, you might be interested in this short story. If you haven’t had that experience, you still might be interested in meeting Anna, a woman who is grieving the loss of a child, trying to figure out her marriage with such a huge loss between them, and who begins receiving what she determines is some sort of message. But a message about what? And who is the ...

A ghostly treat for you!

Looking for a fun, short, spooky read? Look no further! If you enjoy ghost stories, then 1313 Psyho Path will be a ghostly treat for you. And to top it off, rather than a trick, I’m offering you a treat and you can get your copy of the eBook for FREE! If you’re looking for a spooky story you can read through in one sitting, that’ll add to the holiday flavor that is Halloween, then don’t waste another minute. You can enjoy this short story about a group of teens, a spooky old house, and ghosts wh...

New release in a new series!

If you follow my blog, you know I’ve been quiet on this forum for more than a few months, but it doesn’t mean I’ve been slacking. 🙂 I’ve just had to prioritize my tasks due to a hectic schedule since the first of the year. However, I’m happy that with this post I get to share that I have a new release, in a new series! If you aren’t part of my newsletter group, you may be surprised to hear I’m even writing a new series…and for those who enjoy the Jorja Matthews Mystery Series, don’t worry…I stil...

Last Quarterly Update & Year End Review

It’s hard to believe, but this will be my last post for 2021. As much as I couldn’t wait to say goodbye to 2020, I have to say I’m definitely ready to say goodbye to 2021. This past year had its ups and downs, like any other year, both personally and professionally, but it also felt like an extension of 2020. I’m ready to push further away from the reach of 2020, and into a New Year where a blank slate allows us to believe in the promise of good things to come. As for 2021, I can’t say I’m endin...

The P.I. Post: Forgiving the Unforgiveable

Welcome to the next installment in my P.I. Post series. In these posts, which you’ll find on the blog in between the Nonfiction Nuggets series, I’ll be sharing details on P.I. topics, unique stories and interesting case reviews. I don’t intend to share specific details about cases, but some posts might offer information on subject matters that might be difficult for sensitive readers. So please take care as you read each post.   The next topic in the P.I. Post is about a case involving murder an...

Character Coffee Chat with Courtney Greene

Readers immerse themselves in books they enjoy, especially when they can relate to the characters as if they are real people. Friends you can turn to, family you spend special moments with and even those characters you love to hate. Character Coffee Chats offer a little extra time with some of the characters readers have enjoyed meeting or getting to know in the Jorja Matthew mystery series. For those who haven’t yet read the series, be warned some coffee chats might offer spoilers. For those wh...