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Interview with John W. Howell by John J. Cannon…

About John J. Cannon:

John J. Cannon finished his undergraduate work at Stanford University and earned a law degree from Harvard. John became a litigation attorney who has been practicing for over ten years. A vacation lead him to discover the desire to try his hand at becoming a charter boat captain. He bought a boat he named My GRL and enrolled in a course to secure his papers. John was awarded the highest civilian award for service to the United States for his work in preventing an attack on America.  He is married and has one child and now lives on Mustang island where he operates the Our Justice charter company.

Thank you, Sue.  I don’t often take time out to do interviews but the charter season must take some seasonal time off so it is wonderful to be with you today. My guest is John W. Howell the creator of the John J. Cannon Trilogy and I have been waiting a long time to be able to ask this guy some questions. Hello John.

JWH “Hi John. I join you in thanking Sue for the opportunity to guest on her blog.”

JJC “Let’s get started since I have a number of questions about your character development process. My first question is where did I come from? I mean you are my creator so where did you get the idea for my character?”

JWH “Well, John. You’ll be pleased to know I have been thinking of you for a number of years. My first thought of your character came when I was in an airplane and one of the two engines blew up. I know this sounds a little ridiculous but I was looking at the pilot at the time and marveled at how cool he was under such stress. Right then and there I wanted to be that kind of guy. In fact, his coolness dispelled all my fear. Obviously, we landed safely but that moment stuck with me.

JJC “So you are saying I was born under stress?”

JWH “That is an excellent way to put it. Other experiences began to build a tableau of your personality.”

JJC “Now you have me intrigued. Like what?”

JWH “Have you notice you are a little OCD.? Like the time, you were checking your seatbelt when trying to get away from the guys trying to kill you.”

JJC “I comment on that kind of thing all the time. Where did that come from anyway?”

JWH “Guess who is a little OCD?”

JJC “So you infected me with one of your quirks?”

JWH “Yeah, why not. It made me closer to you. It allowed you to develop on your own throughout the story.”

JJC  “Oh come on now. You write every word. Don’t tell me you are saying I have something to do with how things come out?”

JWH “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Think of the time you wanted to get a big gun and shoot someone.”

JJC “I remember that you wouldn’t write it.”

JWH “Not then. But what happened after you shot that other guy.”

JJC “I recall I got sick.”

JWH “Exactly. Don’t you see you had a hand in all that drama. If I had just written you becoming a testosterone driven hero you would have not lived up to the role. You convinced me you were a brains over brawn kind of guy.”

JJC “I never thought of it that way before. Tell me why you had me get involved with two of the women in the story. That sure caused a bit of a row.”

JWH “I hate to answer a question with a question but you tell me. Didn’t you feel something for each of them?”

JJC “Well, yes. But you set me up.”

JWH “I hate to disagree but you were acting on your own true nature of being an effusive loving person.”

“JJC “Where do you writers come up with this stuff anyway?”

“JWH “Think about it, John. Who is more alive right now you or me?”

JJC “I can’t really say for sure.”

JWH “Exactly.  Writers tend to follow the action. You are really in the driver’s seat. If you didn’t want to be involved with those women you would have gone in a different direction.”

JJC “You know you sound totally nuts right now, don’t you?”

JWH “You have me laughing because right now I’m not the one asking the questions.”

JJC “Let me go in a different direction. You built into me the idea that sometimes it is better to outthink adversaries rather than a direct assault. What is your basis for that kind of behavior?”

JWH “I knew that your story was going to be at least three books long. I was a little worried about you having the stamina to overpower the forces of evil and still remain a character that the reader would believe is real.”

JJC “I think you’re are going to have to explain that a little more.

JWH “Okay. Let’s say you are this big hero and you do spectacular things to get out of trouble, don’t you think as the story moves along you will become less believable.”

JJC “Oh, I see. There is only so may miracles to go around.”

JWH “Exactly. Also, it is hard to think up situations where heroic activities are the solution. On the other hand, having a loved one held captive requires finesse to solve. You can imagine if you burst in there, guns a blazing the captive is going to die. Again, brains over brawn will be the standard of the day.”

JJC “You know I have to say this conversation has made me appreciate you a little more.”
JWH “Instead of sitting around with the others complaining about how things could have gone.”

JJC “Sounds like you’ve been eavesdropping.”

JWH “Hard not to do when you rattle around in my brain.”

JJC “Good point. Well, I see we are just about out of time. I want to say it had been good to sit and talk with you John. We should have done it sooner.”

JWH “I’ve enjoyed it too, John. By the way I’m available anytime you want to do this again.”

JJC “Our thanks to Sue and good day.”

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About John W. Howell

John 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, launched in September 2016.  All books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

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

Books by John W Howell

Click the titles or images to go to Amazon

My GRL

John J. Cannon, a successful San Francisco lawyer, takes a leave of absence from the firm and buys a boat he names My GRL. John is unaware his boat has been targeted by a terrorist group to be used to destroy a symbol of America’s greatness. John’s first inkling of trouble is when he wakes up in the hospital and learns he was found unconscious next to the body of the young woman who sold him the boat in the first place. John now is the only one standing between the terrorists and the success of their mission.

“…actually sucked me into the story. I thought what main character John Cannon thought, I felt what he felt. Howell is to be commended for his ability to immerse the reader into his story world through his protagonist.” extract of Amazon review.

His Revenge

America loves John Cannon, its newest hero, and the President wants to present him with the highest civilian medal for bravery for saving the Annapolis midshipman from a terrorist plot to destroy them. While in Washington for the award ceremony, John unwillingly becomes an accomplice in another plan by the same group to attack the credibility of the US President and the stability of the worldwide oil market. There is no way out as John either becomes a traitor to America or causes thousands of innocent people to die if he refuses.
The second John J Cannon Thriller moves from a barrier Island off the coast of Texas to Washington DC, then to Northern California, and finally to Ecuador. John is on the receiving end of an offer he cannot, refuse. His avowed enemy Matt Jacobs now wants John to help him shake the reputation of the US in the world political arena. If John refuses, Matt plans to murder innocent Americans including John’s latest relationship. John’s only way out is to pretend to go along with the plan and hope for a miracle.

“Packed with action from the start, the novel also uses cat-and-mouse cleverness (…) I found the tension of the mental maneuvers and head games to be the most riveting” Mae Clair, Amazon review.

Our Justice

The terrorist leader and financier Matt Jacobs figured out a plan to eliminate the President. He is relying on John Cannon’s stature as a hero to help him carry it off. John finds himself walking the fine line of pretending to help Matt while trying to figure out a countermeasure to the plan.
The third book in the John J. Cannon Trilogy brings together two strong wills for a showdown. The question to be answered is who will feel the satisfaction that the achievement of justice delivers? John, Matt or neither?

“This book is for those who like pure adrenaline rush thrillers.” C.S. Boyack, Amazon review.

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