>> Lewis Howard: Hello,
my name is Lewis Howard.
I'm the author of
Adventures of Alex series.
Part One would be
The Creepy Tree.
Part Two would be
The Lemonade Wars.
Part Three would be
The Mystery Cake.
And I have a fourth
one coming out dealing
with a kid with autism.
It's called the Rattle Bag Kid.
That's in the works as of
right now as the fourth book.
I'm currently from Virginia.
I joined the military in '96.
I got out in '99.
I did my Reserve time till 2002.
I moved out to Tacoma,
Washington with my family.
They moved back to Virginia,
then moved back to Washington.
I raised my kids and traveling
all across the United States.
I came here by means
of transferring jobs.
I went from Corrections working
in a maximum security prison
for two, three years, becoming
a diesel mechanic for 18,
and then finally,
coming back home
to where it all started from.
Life goes in circles.
And I took a job at the
Arlington National Cemetery.
One day when I wanted to
earn a little extra income,
my son Corey came up and
I was like, "Hey, Corey,
you know, I got an idea.
I want to write a book."
And he's like, "Yeah, Dad.
That'd be cool."
And I was sitting there
scratching my head going,
"Mm, well, wait a minute.
I don't think he thinks that
I'm going to finish it."
So I finished my book,
taking a break every day
from being a diesel
mechanic for lunch.
Every day for 45 minutes, I
wrote, and I didn't eat lunch.
I'm humbled.
I was bullied as a kid, which
helped me write one of my books.
I would advise that any
kid that's being bullied
to get outside help
to include, you know,
your parents, a counselor.
Even if you have to talk to a
friend, a next door neighbor,
I would highly suggest that.
In the environment,
and into the place
where I can help
others, it's great.
I know my dad, my
parents were very happy
and humbled by what I was doing.
For me, that put a smile on
my face by just hearing that.
I know they're always
supportive but to hear that,
actually hear that,
heart's filled up.
Uniting Us is a good
organization.
I've never been or never
met so many veterans
with so many outlets
to their artistic ways.
As to showing others and
being there at a book signing,
to have your parents, your
co-workers and everyone show
up in the heart of you
publicly speaking is a very
humbling experience.
I will never forget that.
To have the experience of
talking to other peers who are
in the audience and making that
one-to-one connection with you
as describing characters
or what they kids might do,
great feeling.
Great organization.
Just say like your
heart is full of knowing
that other people just like
you, you're not by yourself,
and that's what I mean by that,
and it's definitely
a good feeling.