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

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

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

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

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

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

SO MANY BOOKS!! 😍📚🔥

Hi my friends! It’s the last day of June. I hope you enjoyed June, did all the events you wanted or read all the books or just did you.

I put Wolf Healer in a couple of book events. I told you about the one a couple of weeks ago. Today, is the last day of Jae’s month Pride Reads. Today there are a ton of free books and the chance to win things! Wolf Healer is up for a free audiobook. Check it out!!

Jae’s Pride Reads Link…

If any of you see my posts on facebook or instagram, you know I talk about the writing community as being very important to my writing career. One of the people who has helped me is Jessica Rosenberg, an indie author who lives in Santa Cruz, California. She’s from Paris originally and when I went out to visit there last summer, she put up with a lot of my questions.

I’ve read some of her books. She writes about a magical town on the east coast. Like me, her writing has a lot of food, so expect to be hungry! Her characters tend to be older, but the stories are low spice.

There is a new book coming out, Spells & Spice & Everything Nice, and you may find this book, or others that she writes, a way to fill in the space between my books.

Juliette’s magic can find anything—except what she craves most. Compelled to return lost objects to their rightful owners, Juliette finds fulfillment in reuniting lockets, grimoires, and letters with their owners. But with her love life in tatters, her latest assignment stings. Between her demanding magic, colorful friends, Harvey the mischievous foster raccoon, and her thriving bookshop, Juliette’s hands and heart are full. But the mystery of a bedraggled teddy bear and a missing witchling awakens her deepest desires for a family of her own. With friends casting perfect spells by her side and Tybalt’s unexpected support, Juliette races to find the child, hoping to right the ultimate wrong and perhaps gain what she yearns for most. Join Juliette, Harvey, and the rest of the Portney gang in Spells & Spice & Everything Nice. Like the first two, the third Wyrd Words & Witchcraft Paranormal Women’s Fiction book is set in the same beach town as Jessica Rosenberg’s popular Baking Up a Magical Midlife series.

Happy soon to be July!

Huckle

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

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!