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Cats, kids, and clocks

It took me way too long to think of a third word that had that hard ‘c’ sound for the subject of this newsletter! Last year we got a new kitten. We have too many cats, but, what can you do when the spouse is addicted?

Well, the new old kitten (full blown cat, age 4, almost 5) doesn’t not like that we have a new kitten, and attacks the new one. So the new one is a bundle of furry fear. The new kitten, one and a half years old, is coddled. She gets to be in our bedroom at night, hidden from the other cats. She’s very protected. Despite that, every now and again, she pees indiscriminately.

Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels.com

Next week is spring break. Last week there were quizzes. This week exams. Lots of grading. Lots of things to do. But next week, nothing.

I had two students blatantly cheat. I’ve been teaching log enough that it wasn’t even a question. I hate doing the paperwork for this type of situation. Can’t they think of me and what they’re putting me through?? 🤣🤣😱

I think I’ve acclimated to the time change. I haven’t gotten used to driving into the sun. It had just passed the point of beaming into my eyes and BAM, it’s back!

But now, the good news.

  1. Xenagogue is up on iheartsapphic! It has it’s own page and everything!! Xenagogue by Huckleberry Rahr – I Heart SapphFic | Find Your Next Sapphic Fiction Read
  2. On April 11th, when Xenagogue comes out, there will be a release part on The Reading Lounge, a facebook page. A bunch of authors are coming together, offering free books and prizes. Join the page, and have a fun day of it!
  3. All of the Ember Savita books are out on audio. I have free audio codes, I’m just trying to figure out the best way to generate readers or engagement with them. I tried on my author facebook page, it didn’t work. If anyone has an idea, let me know!
  1. I finished Aura Of The Chameleon, a new dystopian book I wanted to write. I released half of the first chapter on facebook. Should I put the first chapter in my next newsletter?

Well, hope you’re all doing amazingly well!

Huckle

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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.

That said, my policy for making up points for missing is not a way to turn my class into an online class. I’ll discuss online class in another newsletter. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a student email me when she hasn’t attended, not with her reason for not being there, but just with the words like, what pages do I need to do? There hasn’t even been a subject, greeting, or salutation to the emails. 🙄🙄🙄

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

Huckle audiobook, Battle Phoenix, Book Annoucement, book deal, book event, book fair, books, free book, huckleberry rahr, New Book, Pebble Stone Chronicles, queer books, Veiled Phoenix, Xenagogue

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

Huckle Book Annoucement, book event, book fair, book sale, books, Ember Savita Chronicles, huckleberry rahr, Marketing, New Book, new books, Veiled Phoenix, Xenagogue

Treat or — 📚🔥🔥🔥😘

Did you survive September? Did I?

The start of a new semester is always a challenge. New instructors, new students, new schedule, new classes, new … just new.

Because the weather in Wisconsin is nice, I’m still bopping around doing book events, so it really feels like I’m maintaining two jobs. I tell you, it’s a trip.

Okay, let’s talk books. Veiled Phoenix is out, but you know that, the book has been out since June. As has the audiobook. Moonstone Phoenix is out. They came into the world on September 27th. ACX, the biggest producers of audiobooks has been … special? challenging? exciting? frustrating? All of the above? Probably all of the above.

I actually have a few books held up in their QA maze and I can’t get a clear reason why they won’t release my stories. This isn’t the first time I’ve struggled with them and their odd requirements. I’m wondering if in the future they’ll deny my book because I didn’t perform the correct dance of their people. Don’t worry, I’ve been dancing up a storm!

As for the last book of the Ember Savita Trilogy, Battle Phoenix, I’m still hoping to move the publication date up to before Christmas of 2024. Wouldn’t that be nice? That would leave Pebble’s trilogy for 2025. (Did you notice you could pre-order Battle Phoenix AND all three of Pebble’s books??)

For those of you who have read my friend A.R. Grime’s series, Wyldling Dream, I thank you. The first two books, Wyldling Snare and Wyldling Trial are out and ready to be loved.

Well, Wyldling Armor is out (now?) Depends on when you’re reading this. It comes out on 10/8 (octopus day!). You should read this fantastic follow-up to the first two books, just check out this cover. We get to learn about more of the magic, both good and bad. There are three point of views, and one isn’t a hero! Getting into the mind of the villain is fantastic! More than that, LOOK AT THAT COVER!

If you are in Wisconsin. I’ll be at Studio Moonfall in Kenosha on October 12th. I’ll be there again 26th with A.R. Grimes if you want to get one of her books, signed.

I hope you’re having a great October, my friends, and I’ll have some great news for you in a week! Just you wait!!

Huckle

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Exciting News! 📚😍😘🔥

Hi my friends! We are in the middle of August and things are happening!

For any of you of facebook, there is a new page for readers and indie authors that is very supportive of us authors, The Reading Lounge. Tomorrow, August 20th, they will be opening it’s virtual doors for the first time and during the day there will be a slew of games and book give aways! You should come check it out!

Please note, all those times are Eastern Standard Time. I’ll be closing out the night with a give away of Veiled Phoenix, though, if you have that book and are interested in Moonstone Phoenix, and are the winner, just let me know!

On Sunday, I’m back in Kenosha for the Kenosha Book Festival. I am so excited to be there. I always meet amazing people when I visit Kenosha, including the narrator to Veiled Phoenix!

On August 26th, I’ll be part of Year of Queer Lit – Stuff Your Kindle, which will offer a ton of free and $0.99 queer lit! I hope you’re as excited as I am!

I hope in all of this you found something you thought was fun and interesting!

Huckle

Huckle audiobook, Book Annoucement, book deal, book event, book fair, books, Ember Savita Chronicles, Moonstone Phoenix, New Book, New Release, Pebble Stone Chronicles, Veiled Phoenix

On The Road Again

Hi friends! I have so many exciting things to share with you.

First of all, Ember Savita Chronicles. Veiled Phoenix is available on audio. The narrator did SUCH an amazing job, I’m thrilled. Meeting her at the Kenosha Book Festival in June was just one of the best things ever.

Speaking of, I’ll be heading down to the Kenosha Book Festival again on August 25th with author A.R. Grimes! If you can make it, it’s a great place to meet indie authors, get books, and have a good time. There are also deals on used books, so there’s something there for everyone.

As for something happening SOONER, I’ll be visiting WordHaven BookHouse in Sheboygan THIS weekend, on August 10th. Again, I’ll be traveling with A.R. Grimes. We’ll be holding a class on How to Publish a Book. We’ll also have our books there.

Every time we’ve gone to WordHaven, we’ve had a ton of fun. It’s an amazing bookstore. Even if you just want to stop in to say ‘Hi!’, we’d love to see you.

Back to Ember. I’ve been getting some good feedback on Veiled Phoenix. I hope all of you are enjoying the story. I just sent Moonstone Phoenix to the narrator. My hope is to have the audiobook publish close to when the book itself releases. I MAY even release earlier than November. What are your thoughts on a good release date?

Now, this series is planned to be a completed trilogy. Once I’m done with it, I’ll be working on getting Pebble’s trilogy out.

I have physical copies of Meowgical Tales, the anthology with the Jade short story. If you want to get a signed copy from me, send me a message. I don’t have this book on my website because I can’t order them easily.

If you have any thoughts or opinions on what direction I go on my writing after Ember and Pebble’s stories, I’m open. I do have a shift-octopus series I wrote that I can finish up, but beyond that, let me know what you’re interested in!

Happy August!

Huckle

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Mid-Summer Books! 😍📚🎧

Hi my friends. As many of you know, Veiled Phoenix is out in the world! My mom, who had read the first three Jade books, read it. She said she wanted to wait for Moonstone Phoenix before reading the remainder of the Jade series. So … I guess she liked it! 🤣 That said, I’m hoping to get her to finish Jade’s college years.

When I was in Paris last summer, Andrea Kummer contacted me, saying she was interested in narrating the Jade Stone Chronicles. Getting books narrated is scary, but exciting … and very expensive.

Just over a month ago, I was in Kenosha, at a book fair, and I met Kassandr Novell. She is an up and coming narrator from Wisconsin. She sent me a book she’s worked on. Then, as things go, we got to talking and it turned out, she loved Veiled Phoenix. As of now, she has six chapters left to narrate. I can’t see it taking her more then a few days to get them done. Then ACX has to double check everything.

Yes, it’s true. The audiobook for the Ember Savita Chronicles will not wait for the full trilogy to be out!

Tomorrow I will be part of a facebook book party. A group of authors are congratulating an author whose book is coming out soon. If you’ve never been to one of these parties, I can’t suggest them highly enough.

For several hours, every thirty minutes a new author tells you about themselves, what they write, and offers something for free. All you have to do is interact with the posts and you can win signed books, or eBooks, or all sorts of things. I’ve won a ton of things in the past. They are fun, and always worth it.

When: Tomorrow, July 15, noon to 9pm Easter Standard Time, US. twelve hundred to twenty-one hundred…

Where? The Queens Library on Facebook.

Other fun news. I am part of an anthology. Paw and Pen International have put together their second anthology of cat short stories. The book comes out tomorrow. Both the first and second book are on sale right now for $2.99, but will increase to $4.99 very soon. You should go and check these books out. A lot of great authors have contributed.

If you read book 7 of Jade: Pack Presents, and wondered where those cats came from, the short story is in the second of these two books: Meowgical Tails

The first book, PurrAnormal Tails is also full of great stories.

You should get out and check them BOTH out right away. All the profits go to cat rescue, not the authors or anyone else. It is such a great organization!

Anyway, hope your July is going great!

Huckle

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Summer – FREE BOOKS!

Hi everyone! I want to keep this short and sweet. Updates:

  1. I have written and updated the Pebble Stone Chronicle trilogy. I will now pass them off to my team to do their magic. This won’t be a quick process, but it’s worth the wait.
  2. Veiled Phoenix is out in the world! The second book, Moonstone Phoenix, is past the first editor and soon, I hope, will be off to the second.
  3. I believe I started in the subject that there were free books!

I know I’ve mentioned this, but ALL DAY TODAY!!! Free fantasy books!!

Link: bit.ly/stuff-your-kindle-fantasy

May the books be ever in your kindle!

Huckle

Huckle Book Annoucement, books, Ember Savita Chronicles, huckleberry rahr, queer books, Veiled Phoenix, Xenagogue

Fire and Phoenixes!

Happy June!

Well, it finally happened. Veiled Phoenix is alive and well and out in the world. For those of you who read books on Kindle Unlimited, go, read, and enjoy. If you’re more interested in eBook or Paperback, those are available as well.

Moonstone Phoenix, the second book is slated to come out on November 22nd. If I can get all my raving racoons to agree, I may get the book out sooner. At the moment, that actually looks good. I have one and a quarter edits left. Beyond that, the cover is done and I do my own formatting.

I’ve been spending the last month and a half critiquing SO many books. It’s been nice getting back to reading. I’m also almost done writing and cleaning up the Pebble trilogy. Then I’ll throw the series to the critique/edit group. We should see Pebble out in 2025 … at the latest. (I may write faster than my elves can work…)

We are halfway through pride month, hope you’re enjoying it!

Huckle

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Happy Pride Month!

I know I’ve been sending out a lot of newsletters. This one will be very short. Three items!

  1. Veiled Phoenix comes out on the 14th! Pre-order today. I have the physical books, and they are beautiful!
  2. I’ll be at the Kenosha Book Festival on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, across the street from Studio Moonfall bookstore. Come out and see me!
  3. Jae, a big name in sapphic books, has put together a month long Pride Reads Celebration. There are books, and giveaways. Go check it out! There is something every day! https://jae-fiction.com/pride-reads-celebration/

That’s it!

Huckle

Cat pic to make you smile!