About

Presently, I write a weekly column for the Sonoma Index-Tribune and a monthly column for SONOMA Magazine. I also contribute to the North Bay Bohemian and am a frequent guest-host of The Drive on KSRO 1350 AM. I blog about culture, creativity, writing, arts and media. I also write books and make little movies. My latest book is I Heart Sonoma: How to Live & Drink in Wine Country. I live in Northern California with my wife and son.

I began my media career as paperboy, delivering the same newspaper that would eventually hire me for my first writing gig as arts editor of the Petaluma Argus-Courier. I would later write regularly for the San Francisco Chronicle, L.A. Downtown News, Sonoma Valley Sun and Fine Life Magazine for which I was editor. Recent bylines have also appeared in Tasting Panel Magazine, Bigger Law Firm Magazine and Shea Magazine. I’m also a contributor to the Future Journalism Project.

My videos have been distributed internationally on such outlets as Showtime Next, MTV2, MTV Italia, HBO Cesk Republika, BiteTV, IFC and Canal+. Clients have included Annie’s Homegrown, Sutter Home, Morton’s Steakhouse, RCA and the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau, for whom I served as the official “Lifestyle Ambassador,” writing and hosting an award-winning series of videos. Additional listings can be found at the Internet Movie Database.

I currently work as a writer-producer with FMRL, a Berkeley-based publisher and creative agency.

Here’s a mostly accurate Wikipedia listing.

Awards

In 2007, Howell placed first in the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies’ national “Altweekly Awards” for Food Writing/Criticism.

In late 2008, “Inside Sonoma” won the bureau first place in the California Tourism Industry Association’s YouTube video contest. Howell also won the first place “Colby Award” for client Coldwell Banker’s worldwide video contest in 2007.

First place in the National Newspaper Association 2011 Better Newspaper Contest for “Best Humorous Column.”

In 2012, won a Gold Adrian Award from Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) for achievements in marketing and public relations on behalf of their client the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau with collaborator Raymond Scott Daigle.