If you’d like to be included in this slot, please get in touch: estherchilton@gmail.com. Poems can be up to 60 lines and prose 2000 words. If you’d like to add a short bio and photo, then great. All I ask is that there’s nothing offensive.
Please welcome the very talented John W. Howell as my Guest Writer this week. John entertains us all week with his wonderful blog and he’s also written many compelling books. I’ll now move out the way and let him take over. Take it away, John:
I am pleased to be with Esther today. She sent out an invitation to join her on her blog, and I knocked over ten people at the Apple store rushing to an unoccupied computer to answer the invite. Rather than pitch a new book or hump my blog, I decided to write an original story in honor of the occasion. The prompt for the story came from randomly opening a book titled Detour on the Eternal Road (full disclosure … It’s my latest.) It opened to page 85. I closed my eyes and pointed at the page. My finger landed closest to the word “shock.” So that is the prompt today.
Shock by John W. Howell © 2025
“What a shock to see you here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t expect to see you here, and I am very surprised.”
“Why? I come here every day.”
“Yeah, but I’m not usually here when you visit.”
“Seems odd that I should feel responsible for your shock. Maybe you should come when you normally do.”
“You are right. You see, today was unusual.”
“How so?”
“Well, it started with the kids whining about whatever kids whine about.”
“I know what that’s like.”
“Then their mother decided she needed to go out.”
“Uh-huh. A little bit of self-time, I suppose.”
“So, you’ve been there.”
“Yup, like right now, she is out hunting.”
“Hunting?”
“Yeah, that’s what female lions do.”
“I guess I’m glad she is somewhere else.”
“I might mention that Springbok is her favorite meal.”
“So now you know why seeing you was such a shock.”
“You don’t have to worry about me. She does all the prey work.”
“Where is she now?”
“Let’s just say you should be moving along.”
“Good talk.”
“See ya around.”
–
Thank you, Esther, for having me today.
Bio
John is an award-winning author who, after an extensive business career, began writing full time in 2012. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. He has written eight fiction books available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
John lives in Lakeway, Texas, with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.
Contact Information
Blog Fiction Favorites, http://johnwhowell.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/john.howell.98229241
Twitter –https://www.twitter.com/HowellWave
Goodreads –https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751796.John_W_Howell
Amazon Author’s page –https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-w-howell
BlueSky – @johnhowellauthor.bsky.social
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Esther Chilton 
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