Happy Holidays! 🌈🥰📚❄️

Christmas morning I sat amongst my gifts and copious amounts of sugars watching celebrity family feud. It was Olympic gymnasts battling against each other and the question was, give a word to replace a swear word.

Steve Harvey looked utterly baffled. He said that his family would get three strikes in three answers! Every answer seemed to confuse him more. His reactions amused me.

When it got to the last answer, the team who were answering, had no idea. I had an answer, but wasn’t convinced (sugar). Both teams couldn’t get the last one. It was sugar. I had a student years ago who used sugar ALL the time!

I’m not sure why this amused me as much as it did! I don’t think I use many of these in my book, but if you ever feel like you need a swear replacement, here you go!

I believe in my NEXT newsletter I’ll have a call for ARC readers for Aura of the Chameleon. I may have said that last time, but we all know that December is a bit of a hard month. So far, everyone who’s read the book, loves it … which brings me much joy.

As we enter, as Jade would call, the blursdays of the year … when the lucky among us can get lost in the featureless days between Christmas and New years, I offer you a few places to grab free books. These are not books with newsletter sign ups, these are free books, available on sites like Amazon.

As it goes, I didn’t put any of my books on these pages, well, none of my books under my real name, but I do have friends who have books available in these book blasts. You can find many great books by amazing authors. Do note the days the books are available.

Romance Books:

Over 1700 FREE books available FOR ONE DAY ONLY

December 26th!!!

https://www.romancebookworms.com/

Fireside Book Cafe – Three day event

December 26 – 28

https://debbie52767.wixsite.com/fireside-book-cafe

Check them both out and find your next book bestie!

And for the love that is all I can ask, be gentle with the end of 2025. So much has happened, we don’t need anything big happening for the next week. We don’t need a big huzzah to bring in 2026. Let’s all be quiet and calm.

Reading is good.

Huckle 🌈❤️

Another One Bites The Dust!

I’m not sure if I’m talking about November, the last book I wrote, the last book I read, or the semester I’m teaching which ends in two weeks.

We are at the start of many endings.

I recently posted this-what would you be? Does that make you happy? Which of my books would you want to end up in?

I am part of a group of authors who are doing a reader party this week. Each day, for the next 5 days, this facebook page will have authors playing games and giving away prizes. If you’re on facebook, you should come and join us!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/853369609747267/

I recently critiqued the second book in the Legacy Series by Elizabeth Daly. Her first book Legacy Bound is amazing, if you haven’t ready it, you should.

As December begins, I’ll be starting an advent calendar, 24 days of baking. Okay, I started it a couple of weeks ago because I didn’t want to bake every day. I’m not sure why I wanted to play with advent calendars this year, but I did. Anyone else?

What is your favorite bake?

Huckle

Foolish week ahead!

I am so excited about this week. Well, no, I’m not, but I am! I just survived a week of spring break. Survived because lifting a box of early release copies of Xenagogue, I lost my balance and then my back hurt. Though, my back hurting isn’t really out of the ordinary.

So, if spring break was last week, why am I excited about next week? Well, there’s a birthday in the house, so I have an excuse to bake. Please don’t ask about my diet, it isn’t great. While out getting groceries today, I ran into someone with rainbow hair!!! I know, it was trippy. Now, I dyed my hair black back in January to get me to summer, so that will be a shock to some of you, but as Laura, the lovely lady with rainbow hair mentioned, I’m still full of rainbows in the inside!

  • me and Laura of the rainbow hair! She took a bookmark. She had the cutest family with her!!

What I’ve baked! The first is African Malva Pudding Cake. A family favorite. That second one is a s’mores blondie. It looks weird but it was tasty. The last picture is the mid-step in making fudge… it’s a dangerous process!

Next weekend I’ll make a sandwich cookie chocolate layered cake. Who knows what else will pop up… macaron cookies, pound cake (because we all need to put on more pounds!), and probably hot chocolate… he likes to drink it early and often!

Now, as you saw above, I have physical copies of Xenagogue. You are welcome to go ahead and order signed copies of any of my books from the website, INCLUDING Xenagogue! I know, super duper exciting. If you’d rather use paypal or venmo, just send a message and we can figure something out.

So, what’s new in the world of writing?

  • Obviously, Xenagogue is ready to be out in the world! It even has a few reviews on goodreads!
  • Veiled Phoenix will be at a sale price because of C.L. Cannon’s Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Fair. Not only are there Free & Discounted books, there are prizes! Check it out!!
  • On April 11th, when Xenagogue releases, there will be an online release party on The Reading Lounge a facebook reader and author page. There will be a slew of authors playing games and giving away prizes. Come join in on the fun and see what you can win!
  • I’ve been going through the Yugen critiques and soon I’ll be calling for an ARC team. Pebble’s story is so fun! All of this brings me joy!

Happy almost April, my friends!

Huckle

Ups and Downs

I teach math when I’m not wrangling cats, directing my family, or trying to control what my characters do on page. Though I don’t teach trigonometry, one of the first things you learn in trig, is the sine wave:

No, it's not negative cosine, I created the graph myself, I just did a screen shot from a weird place.

What does this fun little graph, which isn’t negative cosine, thank you very much, have to do with anything? Well, that’s what the temperatures around here have been like week by week. Warm one week, cold, wet and snowy the next. Since I work a battery heated coat this week, I’m looking forward to all my students wearing shorts next week!

This semester, wanting to get a class I teach to have a better pass rate, I’ve implemented a few new policies. One of them is points for coming to class every day. Now, I know we’re in the midst of a lot of different illnesses, and teaching at a university, when one student is sick, they’re all sick. I do have ways students can earn points back if they miss.

They continued like this. Nothing explaining her reason for missing class, just her obvious absence and this type of message. Ironically, the other thing I added to class was a warm-up that focused everyone for the weekly quizzes.

I’ll be honest, both these changes do seem to be helping.

Anyway, I did email the student explaining that the playlists, copies of the lessons with links to my youtube videos that mimic what I do in class, were for the few times students missed, not to replace class. She replied she had no idea that had been my plan.

Though I am skeptical, I still await her return to class.

And wait…

And wait…

As I wait, I write!

My new book is just over 30k. I would love to say that is the halfway point. I may be beyond the halfway point. I may post bits of chapter one to my facebook author page. Also, until pi-day, March 14th, if you join that page, or get a friend to join and name you as their inspiration on a post, you or they could win all three of the Ember Savita eBooks or audiobooks free! If you want to check it out, here is a link to the post!

The ARCs for Xenagogue have gone out, and three people have left reviews on goodreads. Though I’d LOVE to say everyone has given the book 5-star reviews, I know that isn’t ever going to happen. Despite two 4-star reviews, I’m not unhappy with them. 🥰

Xenagogue comes out on April 11th, pre-orders for the eBooks are up now.

If you’re looking for other books, don’t forget iheartsapphic always has deals available, as well as weekly giveaways and challenges. Check out their website and reader page on facebook. You could always nominate any of my books as your favorite for the year! I would not be completely unhappy with that. 😱🤣🤣🤣

If you’re worried about all the talk on boycotting Amazon, I’m with you. However, KU supports authors more than Amazon. And, honestly, there isn’t many other places for indie authors to sell out books. You can wait a week to pre-order or read my books, but for many authors, not buying books on amazon means they won’t be able to make ends meet.

That’s just my two-cents, for all it’s worth…

Happy March, y’all!

Huckle

Xenagogue – and more!

Well, we did it, it’s March! As the date says in a few days, March forth and buy books!

At the university where I work, students are, mostly, in the swing of things. Exams, homework, excuses, the works. I have my pattern of getting things done as well. I’m trying to stay on top of my work so I can write my new series. No one said any of this was easy, but it is fun!

Anyway, I sent the ARCs out for Xenagogue. If you signed up, please check your email. It will have come from bookfunnel, not me. That’s the site I can send eBooks out from. So far, the few people who’ve read it have given the story good reviews!

Xenagogue - book Book 1 of Pebble Stone Chronicles

Veiled Phoenix is part of an online book fair. This event goes on for over a month, and you can win prizes. You should go and check it out! Get discount and free books! What a deal.

check it out here: https://clcannon.net/bookfair/

Speaking of Veiled Phoenix, I’m pretty sure Battle Phoenix will be out in audio hopefully this week!

Let me know if you want me to email out the first chapter of the new book. It won’t be edited, but it could be fun!

Huckle

Books and More Books

Hi my friends! I wanted to send this out last night, but it was Monday.

Let’s start at the beginning and work through all the fun and exciting news. First of all, I am about half way through editing Xenagogue! Yep, that means the editor got the manuscript back to me and I’m slogging through all their notes. Book 1 of Pebble is a reality!

Pre-Order Xenagogue
Xenagogue – Available April 11, 2025

Now, if you wanted to be an ARC reader, and just never signed up, here is your last chance. I’ll take applicants through February 27th. My goal is to send out the eBooks on March 1st, or maybe the 28th if I’m really on top of the ball! Sign up here.

Now, why might I NOT be on the ball, you ask? Teaching? Grading? Classes? Nope. I started a whole new series. A dystopian fantasy. Maybe I’ll send out the first chapter, what d’ya think?

As for our favorite phoenix, Ember, well her final story, Battle Phoenix, is out. You all knew this. The audiobook is in review. It’s been there since Friday. It takes up to ten days, so I expect, if you love audiobooks as much as I do, you’ll be able to listen to the story, soon!

Battle Phoenix - book 3 of the Ember Savita Chronicles.
Battle Phoenix – book 3 of the Ember Savita Chronicles.

Last, but very much not least, Year of Queer Lit has a free and $0.99 book event TOMORROW, the 26th of February. Wolf Healer is part of the event. She’ll be on sale for $0.99. If you want to go grab some amazing books, check out this website.

Year of Queer Lit – Stuff Your Kindle Day!

I am so happy to be part of this event!

Huckle

A Cold Month 🥶❄️☃️

To anyone who has read Wolf Healer, you know my opinion of February. On the 14th, V-day itself, the roads were so bad, the spouse ended up not getting me anything because it was safer to just drive home. My son called me on his drive home from work, not to talk, but in case the car left the road, someone would know right away.

As for me, I was home Friday. My teaching schedule this semester is Monday through Thursday. I cooked macaron cookies and a nice dinner in (don’t ask about the diet!)

(By the way, the image above is my cat with the same opinion of February as I have!)

A friend of mine started listening to the full Jade series. On Sunday she started Battlefield and something distracted her after she finished chapter 5. I sent her this short story, linked on my website. It occurred to me that not everyone here may know about all the short stories I’ve written.

When I first wrote Wolf Healer, I had a flashback to when Jade was six, out running with Owen and her cousins. It’s the story she and Owen elude to when they discuss her knowing her future path to become the next wolf healer. The writing group I was with at the time thought it was too much for the first chapter so I took it out and added it to the website as a short story.

There are four short stories. The fist is the one about Jade when she was six. the next is when Bevin is young, coming out to the kiddos about his name. The third one is Bevin during spring break when Jade and Sarah are in Florida, and the last is the first chapter of Battlefield in Pebble’s point of view. You can find them all under the ‘mini’ menu tab on my website.

If there are any other questions you want seen fleshed out in a short story, let me know, though I may wait until after Pebble’s trilogy is out. Unless the questions are about Ember’s world.

Xenagogue is scheduled to drop on April 11th. There haven’t been many pre-orders, though I guess I don’t get many for this series in general, so I’m not too surprised. I’ve been told by my most amazing editor that it should be back to me in the next 7 to 10 days. If you want to be part of the ARC team, receive an early copy of the eBook and review it on the day it comes out, please fill out THIS FORM. (You can review it on goodreads as soon as you’re done, the only review that has to wait until April 11th is amazon)

Xenagogue - Book 1 Pebble Stone Chronicles
Xenagogue – Book 1 Pebble Stone Chronicles

I hope you are all doing well, and surviving this February!

Huckle

A Whole New World! 😱😍📚🌈

It’s the last week of winter break. I’ve been putting off setting up my classes for next week, but it’s getting to be critical! By Wednesday, Thursday?, I’ll be set for Monday. That’s my birthday gift for myself.

My birthday is Friday. This is the first year … ever? Well in a long time that I’m not teaching or working in some way the week of my birthday. The spouse’s bday is next week, so this weekend is the big celebration for both of us. We’re going to a Dinner Detective … dinner and a murder mystery all in one! I’m pretty excited.

I have a friend who loves to get me goose themed gifts … I have no idea where she got that ideas. (Do you hear the droll sarcasm dripping from me?) It amuses my family to no end. Today in the mail I received this!

Because of her, and my editor, I can go out multiple days wearing goose themed shirts, goose themed socks, and now I have a bookmark. It is sharp, it could double as a weapon! I’ll admit, it’s all amazing! 🥰😻

As you know, Battle Phoenix comes out on Friday. Kassandra Novell, the narrator, was sick at the end of December. Because of this, the audiobook will be a bit delayed. I don’t mind. For the most part, all my audiobooks have come out after the rest. As I write this, I’m listening to chapter 7, 8, and 9. As always, Kassie is doing an amazing job!

Battle Phoenix - book 3 of the Ember Savita Chronicles.
Battle Phoenix – book 3 of the Ember Savita Chronicles.

From where I’m sitting, Ember’s story is done. I don’t plan on going back into this world again. A few people have asked that I poke around more. Right now, I’m going to let the world be.

Before you all clamor to say you want more. I have a new idea I want to explore. My son, the original inspiration for my writing, loves the idea. The concepts are still in their infancy, but I do like where the story could go.

As for our favorite baby sister, Pebble’s first book, Xenagoge, is being edited. I’ll send out a sign up for the ARC soon!

Xenagogue - Book 1 Pebble Stone Chronicles
Xenagogue – Book 1 Pebble Stone Chronicles

I hope you’ve been surviving this cool January. As always, you can order paperbacks from the website.

Cheers!

Huckle

Happy January!

Hi friends!!

I know, it’s been too long. I’ve been meaning to say hi since last year, literally! I don’t have much of an excuse. So … what have I been doing?

  • Battle Phoenix is with the advance readers. If you really want an advanced copy and will get a review up by end of January, send me a note. I can get you a copy right away!
    • The book itself will be published on January 24 (fun fact, that would be my birthday 😱🙀)
    • The audiobook will come out some time in June, for pride month. If anything changes with that, I’ll let you know.
  • Xenagogue is heading to the editor!! I know, so very exciting. It is scheduled to publish April 11th.
  • Yugen, Pebble’s second book is coming in June, if everything goes as planned!
  • Zepher, the end of Pebble’s trilogy, comes out in August.
  • As always, you can pre-order all of these books

If you want to know things faster, join my facebook page or instagram, I post things there first and mostly daily. I know emails fill fast so I try not to put too much here.

Cheers!

Huckle

It’s The Holiday Season! ❤️📚🎧🌲🍪

It is almost December. I know that I just sent out a newsletter, but there are a few important things I need to tell you.

First of all, I’ve updated my website. There were a few items that needed a bit of help, but I believe I have it mostly in working order. As always, websites are a work in progress.

Speaking of progress …

  • Battle Phoenix – I am hoping to get this out in December, ahead of Christmas. I don’t know if I can. I also don’t know if it happens, if the audio will be available at the same time.
  • The Pebble trilogy – It is set for 2025! I hope all of you are as excited as I am. I believe after Pebble, I will be stepping away from these characters and this world. Then again, I have thought that before, so I may be convinced otherwise.
  • Events – I never really know where or how to find events. I seems to fall into them by accident. I do have a few coming up, but again, it seems more random than planned. I had one at a mall, not my best plan. I have one coming up in a few weeks in Madison, Wisconsin – super excited about that.
    • December 1st – I’m joining a group of authors for a day of give aways on the Reading Lounge of facebook. Find the link on my author page on facebook.
    • December 2nd – 7th – I’m joining a group of authors who are doing a December Dash, promoting indie authors books to be bought from their websites as holiday gifts. You can get mine from here. I’ve updated the page to include the phoenix series, and is updateable for when Pebble’s series is done.
      • The full list of participating authors can be found here, but it doesn’t officially start until December second!
    • The Big Gay Holiday Market – December 20th – 21st.
      • The 20th is 18+ with fun adult themed events
      • The 21st, in the morning is mask only, and the rest of the day is for everyone.
      • Come get gifts for the whole family!!

I have a friend who has started a website to review books! I’d love for you to check it out here!

I have another friend who has been making crochet art to make ends meet. Their work is amazing! They are disabled and this has helped them to maintain independence. If you want to check out their online store for more Christmas Gift ideas, you’ll be nothing but happy with their work. Check it out here!

We got this for one cat, a second decided it was hers. What can you do? But, it kind of fits my mood the day after Thanksgiving! I SHOULD be getting stuff done, but, alas, the cat reflects my wants!

Cheers, everyone! An happy holiday season!!

Huckle ❤️🌈