Friday, February 5, 2021

Latest on the Blog

Welcome! 

This is the original blogging site for P.J. Howell, where you can learn more about available books, reviews and events, HOWEVER, new blog posts are now shared on my new website, which you can visit here


In case you've missed them and haven't received the updates, here's a breakdown of what's new on the blog:

The P.I. Post

In these posts, I'll be sharing stories that are related to private investigators, as well as unique topics and interesting case reviews. The first P.I. Post for this series shares interesting details about how state prisons uses convicts and cold case cards to solve cold cases. I'll continue to share The P.I. Post about every other month, but you can read the first installment of The P.I. Post here.



Character Coffee Chats

For those who enjoy reading the Jorja Matthews mystery series, these coffee chats will be in the form of "interviews" with the characters in the series. The first chat is with my protagonist, Jorja Matthews, and each month I'll share a coffee chat with another character. With these chats you'll enjoy more time with the characters, learn additional details about a character's backstory and you might even learn new details about events as they are unfolding in the books at the time of the coffee chat. You can read the first coffee chat here.


Nonfiction Nuggets

There are many real-life cases or circumstances that are similar to what my characters go through and this is where I'll share some of those nuggets as I come across them. The first Nonfiction Nugget is about a medical condition I believe Jorja's bio-mom could have been diagnosed with due to her actions. I'll be sharing these posts about every other month in between The P.I. Post series, but you can read the first installment of the Nonfiction Nuggets here.


I'll also continue to share regular updates with regard to my writing, new releases and overall author-type musings, so head on over to the blog on the website to make sure you haven't missed anything!

                      

And you can always receive monthly updates and stay up-to-date with my posts by signing up for my newsletter. You can sign up here or click on the image below!

Thanks for visiting and have a great day!


Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Blog Posts Update


Are you caught up with my recent posts? In case you missed any from the past few months, which are all found on the blog page of my website, here's an idea of what I've shared:


My New Favorite Productivity Tool

I’ve developed ways to stay on task and overall they work well, but every so often something happens to cause me to question my time management skills. I enjoy using notebooks but recently I was feeling overwhelmed by the multiple notes I had compiled and I wasn’t doing a great job of keeping my to-do lists organized, until I decided to try this digital tool...













Continue reading here...



Quarterly Update: Creativity Takes the Wheel

With my new productivity tool, I was able to pinpoint where I’m less prolific than I wish to be, beyond the desire to publish more often. Then I was able to brainstorm how I can be more productive, but in a creative way. A light bulb went off and I came to realize the business side of being an author doesn’t have to be…all business. It can be fun and it can be creative. It should be creative, not only to keep the interest of followers, but myself as well. After all, if I’m not enjoying it, how can I expect others to?

Continue reading here...



My Top 10 List for a December to Remember

This year, the month of December was already memorable because it’s the last month of 2020. But my preference was to take that title away and make it a December to remember in spite of that fact.

I also refused to coast through December on auto-pilot just because I’m looking back at what was or looking ahead for what I hope will be...

Continue reading here...



Looking Back before Moving Forward



My last post of the year and how I’ll accept the bad, learn from any failings I can’t blame on 2020, and appreciate the good as we near the light at the end of this very long tunnel before heading into 2021 with a positive mindset...

Especially when I came up with new creative ideas for the blog on my website! 

Continue reading here...






I'll be sharing another new post the first week of 2021 with more detail about what types of new posts I'll be adding to the blog. You can follow my blog if you want to stay up-to-date with those posts, and you can also sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a post, as well as any news, updates, bonus material or release information.





Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Blog Posts Update

Are you caught up with my most recent news? 


In case you've missed my August blog posts on my website (which you can visit here), here's what I've shared:


MY 2020 READING HABITS AND BOOKS LIST

How has your reading been during the strangest year we've likely ever experienced? Here's what I've been reading, as well as my list of expected reads for the remainder of the year. Books are the best escape, especially during trying times! 





NEXT RELEASE COMING SOON!

In case you haven't heard, I finally completed a YA novel I've been working on for quite a few years. Here I share some thoughts, as well as the website I've dedicated to the YA novel. It's where I'll share news and updates, chapter samples and background relating to the story and my research while I was writing the book.  

Continue reading here...





YA NOVEL RELEASE WEEK!

No matter the genre, it's always exciting when I get to share that I've published another book. Here I share the news, as well as links on where the YA novel can be found for purchase.

Continue reading here...



I'll continue to update my blog feed on my website, but don't forget, you can also sign up for my newsletter for post updates and other news.


Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Blog posts update


Did you miss it on the blog?

Here's a round up of some of the posts I've shared on my new website and blog (which you can visits here) in case you've missed them:

BI-YEARLY CHECK-IN: WRITING VS. JOURNALING  

I've discovered the messiness of life and my muse don't co-exist all that well, so on those days when my creativity is hindered and I'm unable to write stories, it definitely helps to journal.

This is what I do to release the messiness on my mind so that my creativity agrees to come out and play.

Click here to read further...




PODCAST INTERVIEW...CHECK!


I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Vikki J. Carter as part of her Authors of the Pacific Northwest podcast.

If you've read the Jorja Matthews mystery series, you're aware the protagonist is a bookstore owner and also a private investigator. You may be aware of my background as a P.I. and my writing process, but if you're curious to hear more, you can listen to my author podcast interview because it's now available!

Click here to read further...





QUARTERLY CHECK-IN...AND A CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE

The first few months of 2020 made my head spin.

Here I discuss how I'm going to take the opportunity to appreciate slowing down, focus on what matters and discover what I can do to be better prepared when life gets busy again, so that I can continue to focus on what will benefit me the most, both personally and professionally.

Click here to read further...




MY #STAYHOME MONOTONY BUSTERS   


There's been so much uncertainty about how to manage a new routine when our lives changed so drastically so quickly.

Here's my take on how I tried to break away from the monotony. I shared this post with the idea that I'd only have to break the monotony for a month...having no idea that our days wouldn't return to normal in just 30 days! However, the ideas I share will continue to be useful now and for however long I'm going to need them during these challenging times.

Click here to read further...



I'll continue to update my blog feed on my website, which you can visit here, and remember you can always find the latest blog posts here.

Until next time...take care and happy reading!



Tuesday, September 24, 2019

NFReads author interview


Check out my author interview with NFReads!


Please introduce yourself and your books:
My name is Paula Howell but I write under my nickname, P.J. Howell. My current published titles include a mystery series, as well as a few short stories and a non-fiction. The Jorja Matthews mystery series is about a female private investigator. The reader tags along while Jorja works as a PI on legal cases and attempts to unravel mysteries surrounding her own family history.

What are the real-life stories behind your books?
I’ve worked in the legal field for 30 years, 15 of which were as a private investigator…

You can read the complete interview here.

NFReads is an online publication which began out of a love for learning new things and later morphed into a general interest website with a focus on stories behind creative works and people’s lives.

There are other author interviews on the website you can also review under the “writing and literature” section. The link can be found here.

I hope you take a moment to read the interview and if you know of anyone who might also enjoy it, don’t hesitate to pass the link on to them.

Take care and happy reading!

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Improving life, day by day, bit by simple bit


Price of Betrayal - the 5th novel in the series - find it here

FUN FACT: There are officially 100 more days left for the year. What will you do with the remaining days of 2019?


Last month I shared about the fact that I was challenging myself in an attempt to make better morning habits to start each day off right. I used The Morning Sidekick Journal to track my daily morning habits and after 66 days, I felt accomplished and ready to continue with my newly formed morning routine, even without the book as my daily guide.

While I was filling out the journal during the 66-day challenge, one of the daily questions was to list one way I could improve life by 1%.

Just one idea per day.

I was going to store the journal away but before doing that, I decided to add my list of ideas to my bullet journal, where it could be in one place and I could refer to it whenever I wanted. And because fall is said to be a good time for change, reflection and self-discovery, I thought I’d also share it here. I’ve tamed the list down to just 31 items, something for every day of the month.

Here’s my list of one way per day I believe I can improve life by 1%:
  1. Stick to a morning routine
  2. Be mindful and present in the moment
  3. Meditate, even if just for five minutes
  4. Use morning mantras
  5. Reach out to family and friends
  6. Craft/color/draw for the fun of it
  7. Drink more water
  8. Exercise regularly
  9. Walk in nature often
  10. Laugh every day
  11. Use positive affirmations
  12. Listen more, speak less
  13. Schedule in self care
  14. Do something out of your comfort zone
  15. Work on forming a nighttime routine
  16. Enjoy more sunrises
  17. Be open to change
  18. Forgive yourself
  19. Forgive others
  20. Eat veggies every day
  21. Spend less, save more
  22. Reduce screen time
  23. Stay positive
  24. Stay focused
  25. Journal and reflect on the day
  26. Don’t overstress
  27. Think before speaking
  28. Be open to possibilities
  29. Take advantage of every day
  30. Be grateful
  31. Continue to build on good habits

Sticking to just half my list will improve my life by a huge percentage and I had a difficult time paring it down to just 31 because so many of the ideas I had felt important! But you get the idea and I’m sure you’d have a number of things you might add that would resonate more personally for you.

If you’re using this season to reflect and make changes, working on a list of your own might not be a bad idea. When I was building my list, I didn’t think much of it until I went back through and combined all of the items together. What seemed like simple, daily tips morphed into a motivating roadmap that I can easily follow and build upon.

While I’m glad to say I’m focusing on many of the items on this list on a daily basis, there are a few that I knew would take some work before I’d be able to put them into practice. One such item is #14. How many of us really enjoy pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone? Not me. But it’s a necessity in order to grow as a person and a professional.

So I finally pushed myself and I tackled a project that I’ve been putting off for way too long and which completely took me out of my comfort zone. This particular project was to finally build an author website. Yes! I finally have a website. During the process I had to keep reminding myself about #17 (because I enjoy using Blogger and it’s been my “home base” for so long) and #26 (easier said than done!). It’s going to be a WIP as I work out any kinks and change things I might not like, but it’s up and running and soon I’ll also be sending out regular newsletters. This is another jump away from my comfort zone – I’m on a roll! J


If you want to check it out, view my website at www.pjhowellauthor.com and be sure to sign up if you want to receive my monthly newsletters via email. If you spot any issues with the website or signup process, please let me know. I think a website is a lot like a child and it might take a village to raise it properly.

So what will you do with the remaining 100 days of this year?

I know what I’ll be doing…writing, editing, playing with my new toy (the website), building my email list, having fun with newsletters, and preparing for a large speaking event. I believe those tasks will keep my days full and productive. Don’t you?

Let the 100-day countdown begin!


Sunday, September 8, 2019

Yearly Writers Conference…check. So, now what?


I look forward to this time of year, not only because I enjoy the arrival of fall (and wearing boots again J), but also because I look forward to a yearly writers conference not far from where I reside. The Southwest Washington Writers Conference is an easy drive and a great price for an all-day conference. In addition, all participants can appreciate the fact that money is donated to the Centralia College Scholarship Foundation to offer scholarships to students. It’s a win-win situation for all, in my book.

This year the conference had the addition of a master class for a half day before the actual event. The instructor we had the benefit of spending the afternoon with was New York Times bestselling author Hallie Ephron. I enjoy meeting authors who have been in the trenches and who are willing to share their experiences and expertise while they offer tips on the craft of writing from their perspective. I especially enjoy hearing from authors, like Hallie, who have been writing and publishing books for some time and who have experienced the change in times when it comes to the publishing world.

I’ll never assume to know it all when it comes to writing and I’m a total nerd when it comes to learning on a regular basis. I also thoroughly enjoy the inspiration I gain after attending a class or a workshop and this weekend was no exception. When it came to craft, I attended the master class and a workshop with Hallie while she shared tips on writing character-driven plots and character voice and point of view. The rest of the conference I focused on attending workshops related to marketing, my absolute favorite part of being an author. Um…not!

While I admit marketing isn’t my favorite part of being an author, it is an extremely important part, beyond writing the book in the first place. Marketing will forever be a WIP, especially when the online rules of engagement seem to change on a daily basis. During the conference, I enjoyed a workshop with one of my favorite speakers, Veronica Noize, where she discussed social media marketing. I’ve attended a couple of workshops over the past two years or so with Veronica and she is not only knowledgeable in her expertise, but also highly entertaining.

Beyond social media marketing, I sat in on a workshop on book launch tips offered by speculative fiction author Jill Williamson, as well as a workshop on email marketing tips offered by cozy mystery author Traci Hilton. And…now I have quite a few notes to review and websites to check out, forms to download, ideas to follow up on and some to-do’s to follow through with regarding my current WIP.
   
While I do enjoy attending conferences and workshops, and I leave feeling inspired, I’ll admit that I also feel a bit overwhelmed. There is so much to being an author beyond just writing the book and as much fun as it would be to only focus on writing, the book won’t promote itself. Attending workshops like these only confirm I still need to continue to do more when it comes to marketing. That fact can either put a sour taste in my mouth, or I can swallow the deed like a champ with a chaser of determination.

Case in point? Newsletters and email marketing. I’ve been working on the idea, I have a huge to-do list, and I’ve received so much advice I think it’s only paralyzed me when I think I’m finally ready to pull the trigger. However…I know that email marketing is the strongest and best way to keep in touch with readers and continue to gain sales. Should be a no-brainer, right? But it has been the one task that I keep putting off.

So, I’m taking responsibility for not yet having completed that task and I’m tossing it here on my blog so those who follow me can help keep me accountable. Go ahead…keep me on my toes and ask me every so often how I’m doing with that task. Tell me you’d like to join my list and receive regular newsletters from me, if I’d just get it up and running. J

Until next time…