Huckle audiobook, Backstory - Jade, Book Annoucement, Book Suggestion, books, huckleberry rahr, jade alphas, Pebble Stone Chronicles, Xenagogue

It’s March, and We’re MAD!

Okay, not really. Actually, I’m rather happy to have survived February. It was rather mild, scarily so. I even went without a coat once. As someone living in Wisconsin, that is unheard of. The next day it was below freezing and there was snow, so that made more sense.

I just now … like a few minutes ago, listened to the first chapter sample of Pack Present, the last audiobook being made for the Jade Stone Chronicles. Andrea Kummer get’s better and better every time.

Over the last month, I wrote the first of the Pebble Stone Chronicles! I don’t know that I told you it was being written, but she’s getting her own trilogy.

I’ve updated the website. I realize it’s been awhile … too long. I spend more time writing the worrying about such trivialities. Pebble has her own pages, and I’ve given small blurbs to the books I feel comfortable summarizing. I don’t have covers yet. I’m still agonizing over how they should look. There are so many overhead bits and pieces to publishing a book!

Speaking of books, Veiled Phoenix … oh! I need to get the phoenix books up to the website! Always more to do!!! Anyway, Veiled Phoenix is with the editor. If I can get the cover made for that book, I may be able to get it published before the summer.

If you want more constant updates, I have been keeping my facebook page updated and revving with daily posts. Check it out! https://www.facebook.com/HuckleberryAuthor/

Anyway, if you want to be on the ARC team for Veiled Phoenix, a … you guessed it, a phoenix shifter book, with magic users, phoenixes, and a gender fluid main character, sign up here: https://forms.gle/rxayssoAQNNVvqzU8

An ARC means advanced read copy. I’ll send you the eBook and if you’re comfortable, you leave a review as close to the day the book publishes as you can.

Happy March Madness, my friends

Huckle

Huckle Backstory - Jade, Book Annoucement, book event, Book Store, Flash Fiction, huckleberry rahr, new books, publishing

It’s Blursday!

The last days of December always seem to blur. Is it Wednesday? Is it Sunday? Is it Chocolateday? Yeah, its a day of sugar…

On January 12th I’m going to be at Studio Moonfall in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It is an utterly amazing indie bookstore. You should come out and meet me! I’ll have my books, I’ll sign them, we’ll joke and laugh. It’ll be amazing!

I’ve been spending these last days of the year reading Veiled Phoenix, the first book in the phoenix shifter series. It’s been over a year since I wrote the book, and returning to the world has been such fun. Once I’m done cleaning up the first book, I’m going to move on to book two. Then I’m going to write book three.

If you want to be on the arc team for these books, get an early copy of the eBook so that when the book is published reviews can come out right away, fill out this form.

https://forms.gle/jY1mBJSYdNUF5cwb7

Now, earlier this week, I promised you a short story. Here it is. This takes place right after book 3: Alphas. It’s summer. Jade knows where she’s going to college, but she hasn’t left yet.

Happy New Year!

Huckle

Here you go: Paw Practice

Chapter 1 – Clean up

“Jade! I need your help.”

There were three more paragraphs of my chapter. Though Owen sounded desperate, I couldn’t imagine what he could need that couldn’t wait a couple minutes. “Can you hold on?”

“I am holding on.” Owen whined. “This load is awkward.”

Across the room from me, Sarah laughed. “I’ll get the door for him.” As she walked by, she dragged her hand across the side table, then tapped her fingers on an empty vase, knocking it over. The solid foot-and-a-half decorative piece crashed to the floor but didn’t break.

I leapt from the couch, my book tumbling to the floor. “What happened? Are you okay?”

She gazed at the blue and green pottery rolling on the floor. “I’m not sure why I did that, I just … I don’t know, felt an overwhelming need to.” She shrugged, her hand still hovering over the table. She made a fist and shook her head. “I’m going to go help Owen.”

Brows knit in confusion, I squatted down to pick up my book. The bookmark was on the table near where the vase had been. I slipped it into the book and dropped it onto a couch seat cushion. Then I reached for the gift I’d gotten my parents the year before for Christmas. I gave it a critical look, but decided my first assessment was right, there were no chips or dents. 

For the safety of the decorative piece, I put it up on a shelf on the other side of the living room. What the hell has gotten into Sarah? Why did she push the thing from the table?

A knock on the back door got my attention. As I headed that way, I didn’t see Sarah anywhere. She must’ve went to the restroom. I found my brother holding a pile of plates and bowls in a willy nilly stack, a desperate look on his face. 

With a sigh, I let him in. “Thanks, sis.”

I followed him into the kitchen. 

We’d had a big summer celebration the weekend before and it looked like he was cleaning up. Technically, it was his turn. 

The pack was officially celebrating the new alphas, though Bevin and José probably wouldn’t break away from the Wisconsin pack until after they graduated college. My parents had also announced my early graduation from high school and acceptance into college. Last week, I’d received my acceptance letter to Arcoíris University in California. Bevin and I decided to jump ship on cold weather and both attend, much to José’s chigrin. The University had a great STEM program and as long as I agreed to run track, they’d let me into a program where my first year’s classes counted towards college and any missing high school credits I needed. 

The weekend’s celebration had gone late, and with the nice weather the clean up had been postponed. I saw the dishes piled in the sink. “I’ll start filling the dishwasher.”

He smiled. “Awesome.” He zoomed off down the hallway. I saw him heading back towards the backyard carrying a full load of pillows and blankets. “Jade, can you help me with the door?”

My hands were filthy from the dishes. “Um … yeah. Give me a sec.”

From the living room Sarah once again spoke up. She must’ve returned to the recliner while I filled the dishwasher. “I got it.” As she came through the kitchen, she stared at a bottle of soda sitting on the counter. On her way past, she swiped at it and it flew across the room, crashing into the lower cupboards behind me. 

I narrowed my eyes at her and mumbled too low for her to hear, “First Owen and then you, what, are we under the star of cat?”

Without a pause, she was into the dining room, helping Owen out. She whistled as she retreated to the living room. 

Does she realize what she did? Why did she do it?

I finished putting the last of the dishes into the dishwashers, washed my hands and was drying them, when I heard Owen knocking again. I dashed to let him in. “Thanks, Jade. I think this is the last of the dishes.” He dropped them into the sink and zoomed off again. 

Technically, it wasn’t my job to do the cleaning. I’d done the lion’s share last time. I rubbed my temple as he came back with another load of cushions and blankets. “Can you get the door?”

I followed him. “In and out and in and out. You know, we don’t have a cat, you can leave the door open, not to mention, you aren’t a cat. You don’t have to be let in and out all day. How many is this, anyway?” 

He snorted and sauntered out the door. Scrunching up my face, I went to finish filling up the dishwasher. It was full well before the sink was empty. I added soap and turned the machine on. A knock on the back door told me Owen wanted to be let in again.

Is he training himself to be more like a cat? Does he think if he doesn’t, he’ll lose his panther? 

As the thought percolated, I slowly turned to gaze at the bottle of soda on the floor. Feeling defeated, and amused, I picked it up and placed it back on the counter, glad it’d been securely closed before Sarah’s cat instinct had taken over. 

At the back door, Owen wasn’t holding anything, the dork just wanted me to let him in. I cracked the door an inch. “What do you want?”

“To come in.” His wide infectious smile spread across his face. 

Groaning in exasperation, I opened the door to let him in. “Whatever.”

He dashed off. I heard his footfalls as he headed down the hall towards our separate bedrooms. 

Mumbling to myself about ridiculous brothers who thought being a panther would be fun, I set about cleaning the rest of the kitchen. 

A few moments later, I heard him running up to me. When he got back to the kitchen, it was obvious he’d just run the full length of the house and back. “You know, there’s a gym with a running track as well as a path outside. If you need to do the zoomies this intensely, why not get out that extra energy at the gym?”

His eyes widened. “Run with me, Jade.”

Chapter 2 – Movie Madness

Sarah perked up at the mention of a run. “Can I come too?”

Owen’s eyes practically glowed, but I slumped. “I just want to finish my book.”

They both towered over me after I plopped back down on the couch. Owen reached down to clasp my hands. “Jade, you can read all summer. We’re both here today, let’s run.”

He wasn’t wrong, they both had jobs this summer, so I should take advantage of them being around for the day.

Sarah stood next to him, smiling. “You have to. You’ll both be off to college soon. How many more runs can the three of us do together?” She clasped her hands together and widened her eyes. “Please!”

Grumbling, I let Owen pull me up. “Fine, whatever.”

We all changed and headed out to the bike path near the house. We each set our watches up to track the run and took off. I let Owen set the pace. I knew if I set it, I’d go faster than they could run.

Ahead of me, Owen’s head kept darting back and forth, watching birds fly above us. I sighed, wishing I’d just stayed home. 

“What is up with you today, Owen? Did you read a book on how to cat? Run or watch for birds, which is it?” I debated passing him.

He shot a look back at me. “What do you mean? I am running.”

Sarah shook her head. “Not very fast, check your watch.”

He did and I saw the shock travel down his body before he shook his head and picked up his pace. Finally! 

After running for twenty minutes Owen slowed to a stop. “Okay, Jade, how fast can you get home? Do you think you can do it in half the time?”

“With how slow we were running? Maybe. I don’t know. And since when are you asking these questions? I don’t need you to be my trainer, I have Dad for that.”

His smile grew. Does anyone smile as much as my brother? He’s so joyous. “Jade, sister mine, brainiac of the family…” His eyebrow went up.

“What?” He was becoming annoying. More annoying.

“Dad isn’t part of our new pack.”

“So?”

His eyes began to twinkle. “So, I ask again, can you make it back in half the time?”

My heart dropped. “Oh, no. No, no, no. Say it isn’t so.”

“Yep. I’ve changed my major. I’m learning more and more about personal training.” 

Sarah started to laugh. My traitorous best friend had to have known. They’d been dating long enough. I snapped my glare to her. “Why didn’t you warn me?”

She shook her head. “As you always say, not my story to tell.”

“Gah!” I poked Owen in the chest with every word. “You’re going to be worse than Dad, I know it! And I don’t know how fast I can get home. I haven’t pushed myself all summer. I was taking some down time after the Brooke ordeal. Isn’t having to deal with her enough?”

“Nope, now run. I expect you home and eating the chocolate chip brownie cookies I stored on my bed in ten minutes. I’ve texted Pebble to take them out of my room in twelve minutes from,” he pulled out his phone, “now.” 

“What? Really? She’s … now?” My heart dropped. I really didn’t think I could run that fast.

Sarah laughed. “Better run, Jade.”

With a snarl, I turned and ran.

***

After I’d gotten home, I’d showered. When I’d won my hard earned cookies, I’d shared two with my sister, though I wasn’t sure she deserved them, working in cahoots with Owen, but her bright smile always broke through my ire. 

Clean, I went to hide in the basement with the cookies and my book. Shortly thereafter, Bevin and José came over. I was lying on one of the mattresses we had on the floor from our last slumber party, hoarding the sweets. The boys sat on one of the couches.

“Chica, are you going to share?” José chuckled as I hugged my hard-earned cookies to myself. 

“No. And did you know that Owen was planning on taking over as pack trainer?”

Both his and Bevin’s faces broke out in smiles, and I knew the answer. The citrusy scent of amusement filled the room. 

I glowered at them. “Now you really don’t get my sweets.”

Bevin came over to sit next to me, rubbing my back, bringing the connection of pack. “What did you expect?”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know, but being bossed around by Owen is going to suck.” 

“Nah,” Bevin reached down and snagged a cookie. I was getting sugar belly, so I didn’t stop him. “He’s going to be brilliant, and you know it.”

“Whatever.”

Bevin snagged a few more cookies and handed a couple to José. The two were just too cute as a pair, it made my teeth ache as much as the sugar from my sweet prize.

My pillow felt lumpy and weird, so I started massaging it with both my hands, the action soothing something deep within me.

Footsteps on the stairs told me Owen and Sarah were coming down to join us. I ignored them, wanting to get the pillow just right so I could get back to reading. 

From above, Sarah scoffed. “Jade, are you kneading that pillow? And you called us cats!”

Huckle Backstory - Jade

First Run

“Are you sure you’re really ready for this?”

Pebble

Sitting at the table and eating breakfast, I watched as Dad walked in. I knew today was going to be a big day. There was a buzz in the air, a certain vibration I couldn’t explain. Most people didn’t feel the air-current telling them how things would go, but I had since I was five.

“Today is the day, I’m sure.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Like, you know know?”

“I know know.”

He grabbed some coffee and put a bagel in the toaster. “Was this a premonition?”

“No, just a feeling about today being a special day.”

He shook his head, then ruffled my hair. “Pebble, you’re a wonder.”

After eating our fill, we headed out to the backyard. For my change, I ducked behind a divider. Still a bit shy about getting naked before shifting, no one in the pack made me feel uncomfortable when I hid while I found my wolf. Being a werewolf had been my life for six years, ever since I had been attacked when I was five years old. I didn’t even remember the before-time, or my birth parents. 

All I could remember from before being adopted into the Stone family was the car ride, a man causing the car to stop, screaming, and me left on the side of the road. When I went back to the car, my parents were dead. I know I had already been bitten and turned by then because I remember my parent’s glee at having a cute baby wolf before we’d driven off from…gah, I couldn’t remember. 

They had done something and wanted to run to…somewhere. It was all hazy. There were snatches of cars, woods, and then the horrid foster care man who threw me in a cage. Then I met Jade and her family, and they adopted me. Saved me.

When I was little, I had been afraid of being a wolf, but now I was as much wolf as I was human. Being turned so young meant I had traits the others didn’t, like some of a wolf’s premonitions. 

My shifts to wolf were getting faster, but not less painful. Bones rearranged themselves, my face elongated, hair retreated, and coarser hair grew. The sounds made me whimper. Gods, the pain. When it was over I sat for a few seconds until the memory of the agony dissipated. I trotted around the corner to find my dad, in wolf form.

For the last six years I had refused to hunt. My wolf craved the hunt, but the girl I had been was afraid of killing the cute, furry animals. Well, today I was going to cross that bridge and become a real werewolf. 

Dad rubbed noses with me, a question of readiness. Rubbing back, we were off. We ran into the forest, sniffing. Searching the area, there was a family of birds flying above, one was young…was it learning to fly? As I continued through the woods there was a dead bird. When I sniffed it, Dad knocked it away. We didn’t eat that which we didn’t kill, not unless we were desperate. But that wasn’t what had bothered me about the bird on the ground…it looked like it had fallen from the sky. 

We quickly found a rabbit-trail and followed it. When we found the rabbit, I watched as Dad demonstrated how to stalk, attack, and take down the prey. 

My stomach turned a bit at the reality of what was happening, but I signaled my readiness. Dad came over and nudged me towards the carcass. Years of fear had me digging in my paws and shutting my eyes, then I shook, relinquishing my baby self. Slowly approaching, I lowered my snout and sniffed. The human recoiled but the wolf rejoiced. Trying to box away the human side, I opened my jaws and took a bite of the warm rabbit meat. Both amazed that it tasted good, and a bit revolted that I enjoyed it, I took a second bite. 

We continued into the forest. There were more trails. Dad nudged me down one, and then he sat on his haunches. The message was clear: Lesson done, it was time for me to apply it. Slowly and silently, I stalked down the trail, taking in all the scents. After six years, or a lifetime, of being a werewolf, moving in this form felt natural. Seeing a hole where the rabbit must live, I moved in, sniffing out the area. 

The wind shifted, bringing a new scent. Coyote. I froze, whipping around to retreat. My path was blocked. There wasn’t just one coyote, there was a whole family of them. I howled and they attacked. I fought. Dad had been training every wolf in his pack how to fight for years, and I wasn’t an exception.

Coming in low and lunging up, I tore out the throat of the first coyote. I heard his gurgle as the light left his amber eyes. A second coyote sank its teeth into my back leg and yanked, while a third dove for my belly. I rolled and the fiend missed my stomach but I couldn’t dislodge the one on my leg. As I moved, I kicked and bit, attacking anything I could, but there were three attackers, and I was small. 

There was a sound like a twig snapping, and then a searing pain radiated up from my leg, my left arm. There was a crashing noise. More coyotes? I fought harder. I bit into the stomach of the closest one, and as it bucked back from me I saw Dad tear out its throat, a fountain of blood showering the field. 

Snapping jaws flashed towards my throat, but I did a move my brother Owen taught me and twisted sharply to my left, rotated as a searing pain shot down my body, and lunged for his throat…her throat. Gods, I had to focus on survival. Bite, rip, blood, survive.

Collapsing, I couldn’t move anymore. Why couldn’t I move? 

Dad’s muzzle nudged mine. He sniffed my body, ruffling my fur gently. After a few minutes of grunts and the sounds of bones breaking and adjusting, he was kneeling next to me in human form. “Gods, Pebble, stay with me.”

Everything had gone dark. Was it night? No, my eyes were closed. I rolled my head toward him and opened my eyes. He let out a cry and carefully lifted me up, holding me securely to his chest. He loped back to the house, and barreled into the kitchen, gently placing me on the floor. “Sarah! Sarah! Get in here! Hazel!”

Both of them came. Sarah took one look at me and her eyes glazed with distance. After a minute, she shook her head. “I can’t get a hold of Jade, but I don’t care, I’m going to do it anyway.”

Hazel, Mom gazed back and forth between us. “It’s early in California, two hours behind us. Gods, I hope she’s asleep. Healing her with Jade’s ability will knock her out, but…she’d want this. I know my daughter.”

Sarah knelt beside me and held out her hands. She was my sister’s alpha and could tap into my sister’s healing ability. If this worked, I would survive. My sister would be knocked out for the day. Healing from a distance took all of her energy. Sarah was the only person who could do this Soul Sharing. Thank goodness she was here. 

A warm heat flowed through my body and I closed my eyes. Bones came together and muscles knitted. I could breathe again without pain. After a few minutes, Sarah slumped and I knew my premonition was coming to pass, and it wasn’t a good one. 

Huckle Backstory - Jade

Bevin’s Spring Break

“Bevin, are you ready for the meeting?”

That was an excellent question. Was I? I sat on my bed staring at all the clothes strewn around my floor. Mostly flannels, but a few gay pride shirts as well. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I gripped the side of my bed. The meeting started soon. I wanted this. It was just information. Why was I nervous?

José made his way across the room and sat down next to me. He gently placed his arm across my shoulder, and I closed my eyes, trying to take the comfort he offered. He was one of my best friends. I leaned into him, dropping my chin to my chest. “Why am I scared?” My voice came at so softly, I didn’t think he’d hear me.

His head came down on my shoulder as he squeezed me in a half hug. “I know, it’s something you’ve always wanted, but it’s also surgery. Something huge. Let’s go, jump in. It’ll be great. Afterwards I’ll get you ice cream.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his incentive. “I’m not Jade.”

He pulled me up. “So, no on ice cream?”

“Too late, it’s been offered.”

Once standing, José stared up at me, his dark eyes giving me comfort. Ever since I could remember, he’d been a rock in my life. We’d grown up together, but we’d only really become close when I’d entered high school. He introduced me to the GSA, gay, straight, alliance. He’d always supported me, though I think he never quite understood me. He got gay, he was working on trans. Despite that, he always supported me.

We headed out to the driveway. I smirked at him. “I’ll drive.”

“Sweetheart, you know I love you, but no, I want to survive today, I’ll drive.”

I didn’t know why none of my friends thought I could drive, it irked me, but, whatever. On the way to the meeting I got a text from Jade, who was in Florida with Sarah. I snorted. “They’re camping. They’re with that British family, hope they have fun.”

We got to the meeting. It was at a local Youth Outreach Center. I stared at the door and froze.

José grabbed my hand. “You’ve got this, Bev. It will be great.”

Slowly, I got out of the car and we headed in. The gatekeeper, the person at the desk was a young man with a nametag Joe (he/him). He pointed us in the right direction. There was a small room with a circle of chairs. A few were empty so we took two. At eleven the meeting started.

For the next hour the group of six transgender people spoke about their fears of surgery. Two had been through it, four of us hadn’t. They asked that José not remain, as he wasn’t transgender, and José agreed to go and wait by Joe. I was amazed at the information given and the freedom they felt in giving their stories. They agreed to set up another meeting in the summer, and we shared online contacts.

Oh my gods…this was all so real! This really could happen!

José took me out for ice cream. We each got a sundae and I told him about my fears. “I just want the surgery over with, but I still have over two years to wait. I don’t turn eighteen until next year, May eighth.”

José grabbed my hand. “You know, that’s barely a year and a half more. You’ve got this and we’re all here for you.”

Relaxing, we finished our dessert before he brought me home.

The next morning, I woke up with a series of texts from Jade. She’d been attacked and was in the emergency room. What the hell? I always though it was Owen who caused the family to end up there.

Huckle Backstory - Jade

Bevin…

            “Jade…um…Bevin…you two need to get to the basement!”

            Mom’s voice rang out from the main house. A snarl vibrated from her voice. I could tell she was close to shifting and wanted all the kids in the basement.

            Bevin was gazing at my photos up on my wall. “It isn’t that I don’t like these pictures, I just want them lost in new images…ones like I am now. Maybe we’ll have so many these will get lost and no one will ever notice these.”

            I stepped up to him, wrapping an arm around his waist. “I can take them down if you want.”

            A look of pain crossed his face. He scrunched his nose as he shook his head. “It’s our memories. We just need to make more, ‘k?”

            “Deal.”

            I knew Mom wouldn’t last much longer, so I grabbed his hand and dragged him to the basement. The hallway was dim and quiet. We got to the large living room kitchen area and there were a few people in the kitchen. Most were heading out through the attached dining room to the back yard where I heard a few howls. I saw José in front of us, heading towards the stairs to the basement.

            Halfway down he turned. His eyes narrowed as he looked at us. “Bevin? Right?” We’d grown up together, but we were all getting used to the new name.

            A smile blossomed on Bevin’s face as he nodded vigorously. José turned and slipped down the last few steps. When we got to the bottom of the stairs there were about a dozen kids milling about in small groups. A couple of high school aged kids were in charge.

Bevin and I were about to head to the games when Annie, the main kid in charge, came over. She stopped us and gave Bevin a questioning look. “I was told you two wanted to explain things to the group before you got lost in the fray.”

Bevin’s breath hitched and his shoulders curled in. Bracing himself, he slowly looked up into Annie’s eyes. “I’m Bevin and I want the group to all understand this.”

Annie searched his face, then gave a curt nod. “Got it, kiddo.” She rotated, taking in the room. “Okay, everyone. We’re going to play ‘pack meeting’, just like our parents.”

Estrella, José’s sister, full of confidence and sass, stopped playing with Heather, Bevin’s sister. “Will this take long? Pack meetings always take forever.” This word was said with all the drama of an eight-year-old.

Annie smiled indulgently. “No, hon, this won’t be that long of a meeting.”

The group scooted closer in together. I grabbed Bevin’s hand and checked out his expression. He stood statue still, but his eyes were wide, and I didn’t think he was actually breathing. I gave his had a few squeezes. He finally gave me a smile.

Annie looked over at us and smiled warmly. “Would you two like to have your say?”

Bevin froze. I rubbed his arm. He took in a ragged breath and nodded. “Okay, yeah. Hi.” He waved. “Um. I’d like for you to start calling me Bevin. It would be more…comfortable for me.”

Estrella shot up. “Why? That doesn’t make sense.”

José sighed and rolled his eyes. Being in seventh-grade he was almost a high schooler. He made his way over to his sister and whispered something into her ear.

As José made his way back towards Owen, my brother, Estrella made a sound of indignation, throwing her hands out to the side. “What was so hard about that? Your parents were wrong, again…aren’t they always? Bevin is a boy, duh! We all knew that already. Was all this really needed? Can we play now?”

Owen laughed. His butt hit the floor he was laughing so hard.

Everyone was gazing between Estrella and Annie. I shot a glance at Bevin. His jaw was practically on the floor in shock. I grabbed his hand and dragged him over to the games cabinet. “So, do you want to play Kingdomino or Bonanza?”