Huckleberry Rahr's Blog, page 3

It’s a fair!

Hi all!

The transition from teaching to only focusing on writing is always odd. I keep thinking I’m forgetting something. I’ve spent most of the last week beta reading two books, both excellent. I love that part of writing, getting in and seeing the process before publishing, knowing that my thoughts and opinions will help make someone else’s project better.

Though Veiled Phoenix comes out on June 14th (!!!), I’ve already done a reread of Moonstone Phoenix. Last night I began my read through of Battle Phoenix, the end of the trilogy. My first beta reader suggested I add a chapter to the end of the book, so this read through is slow and critical. I’m trying to really get in and make it better.

Don’t forget, you can pre-order any of the Ember Savita Trilogy, today! Though Veiled Phoenix comes out June 14th, you can order the first book from me early. I don’t have that page up on my website yet, but you can order one book on the Jade page and put Veiled Phoenix in the notes. Be the first to read the book!!

As a reminder, all of Jade Stone Chronicles is available on eBook, Paperback, Kindle Unlimited, and audiobook!

On Sunday, I’ll be at a book fair in Kenosha, Wisconsin. There will be lots of venders there selling books and other fun items. There will be a food truck!!! I know, I get excited by almost anything. Here’s a facebook link about the event.

https://www.facebook.com/events/374391782017381

As soon as I’m done with my beta reads and Battle Phoenix, I’ll be back to the Pebble series. I believe the first book is at a good point, but books two and three need work. So, I have a lot of work to do!

I hope all of you are as excited as me.

Huckle

Summer Dreaming

May is such a strange time. There are a large number of us still chugging away: work, school, homework, deadlines, and all of it. That said, for some people, finals have come and gone, school’s out, and it’s time to look towards the next chapter of 2024.

I hope no matter what you’re doing, you are finding ways to relax and have some fun.

There are a few things I’d like to discuss. First of all, I have several meet and greets around Wisconsin this summer. Some coming up soon.

Friday, May 17th, I’ll be at Studio Moonfall in Kenosha, Wisconsin from 4 – 7pm. Here is the facebook event.

Saturday, May 18th, I’ll be at Dragon Tale Books in Menomonie, Wisconsin with A.R. Grimes from 1 – 4pm. Meet the Authors-Huckleberry Rahr and Angela Grimes

Sunday, May 26th, I’ll be back at Studio Moonfall for an outdoor book event with lots of authors and other venders.

Besides planning meet and greets, I have been trying to read, write, and well, do some arithmetic. That last is mostly over now, since I am one who finished final last week. I’ve been reading through the edits of Veiled Phoenix, the first of the Ember Savita trilogy. I do believe it will be a trilogy. Once I got done finalizing that book, I read through book two, Moonstone Phoenix. I’ll probably read Battle Phoenix next.

Veiled Phoenix will be live on June 14th!!! If you were wondering.

I have two amazing critique readers who read my books and ask those probing questions that lead to me adding or subtracting words, depending on what they’ve asked. I am supremely thankful for both of them. I was going through Angela’s comments on book two and will be going through Elizabeth’s comments on book 3. Usually Elizabeth is the first to get her hands on my books.

Once I’m done reading through Ember’s books, I’ll go back to Pebble’s series. I need to do much more with her trilogy. I think the first book is probably fine, but books two and three need … more.

As well as writing the books, I’ve been getting the covers made, which is always a fun process. They are slowly getting done.

You can get more info on all of the books on their individual pages on my website.

Anyway, hope you’re May is going well!

Huckle

And The Winner Is…

Not me.

Wolf Healer is a finalist in two categories for the 2024 American Legacy Awards! I didn’t win, but I get place for LGBTQ+ Fiction and Urban Fiction. I’m still pretty excited.

Since 2024 began, I’ve written a first draft of all three books in the trilogy that will one day be the Pebble Stone Chronicles. In the next day or two I’ll even contract for the covers! It’s all so real. I need to read through the books before I have anyone else read them, the books are short and need … well, probably a lot, but at least some TLC. (That’s tender loving care, not a channel on the tele… )

Last year I wrote a phoenix series. The first book, Veiled Phoenix, has finally been edited. For awhile it felt like the book that would never BE edited. I’ve not only gone through the edits, which means I can start formatting the book, I’ve set dates for publishing all three books of the trilogy, and set up pages on amazon. That’s right, it’s all really happening. You can check out the pages on my website or on Amazon if you want to pre-order any of them.

Here is a link for Amazon. <CLICK ME!!>

So, Veiled Phoenix will come out on June 14th. Check out this cover!

Isn’t it great?! Let me know what you think.

Huckle

In Like a Lion

We’ve made it to the end of March. This hasn’t been the best month for me in sales, but it’s been amazing in terms of audiobooks… guess what?! They’re ALL OUT!!!

If you want more regular interactions with me. I have an author page on facebook that I’ve been very active in. Please join me and others. It’s been lots of fun interacting an joking around.

I write a lot of books. I have a couple of pen names where I write contemporary and paranormal romance. Because of this, my editor has a hard time keeping up with the backlog of books I have. So, Veiled Phoenix, the first of the phoenix shifter books, has been patiently waiting for the love of more than critique readers.

In the last few weeks, I have found a new editor and signed a contract. She will start editing in the next week or so. By the end of April, she’ll be done! Then the ARCs can go out. I have about six or seven people signed up to get the book early. If you are curious, here is my page on the book so you can read what it’s about: https://huckleberryauthor.com/ember-savita-chronicles-book-1/

If you want to sign up to be part of the ARC, here is the sign up: https://forms.gle/ULf31wBhhB3vavfn7

I am currently writing the third of the Pebble books. I have planned on there only being three books in her series: Xenagogue, Yugen, and Zephyr. The blurbs haven’t been added to the website yet, but they’re coming soon, I promise!

Happy sugar weekend!

Huckle

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

Let it SNOW!!!

It is Friday the … well 12th, not 13th, but we were SO close.

It is the second time this week Wisconsin has closed for snow. On Tuesday it wasn’t so bad. I didn’t want to leave the house anyway. I’d gone shopping on Monday, not thinking about the forecasted snow, and ran into everyone and their brother shopping … it was fun. I sometimes feel I’m as clueless about the obvious as Jade!

Today, I was supposed to drive roughly two hours to Kenosha, Wisconsin for a ‘Meet the Author’ event. I’ve been planning this trip to Studio Moonfall for over a month. I love the bookstore and the owner is lovely. Unfortunately, the snow, ice, and overall blizzard had another idea.

I’ve rescheduled for May 17th … past the semester when I’m teaching and hopefully past the snow!

In early December my family got a new kitten. She is now six months old. She’s been hiding in my bedroom since we got her. Yesterday, we locked her out of the bedroom. Believe it or not, she started to explore and see what her new home was about.

Happy January!

Huckle

It’s 2024!

Hi my friends! I am beyond excited for the new year. The end of 2023 was a bit rough. That said, I can’t believe the last of the Jade Stone Chronicles came out!

Did any of you read the short story? What did you think? I’d love to hear back from you.

I’m about to start writing the last of the phoenix books. It will be a trilogy. I don’t know that I’ll write more in that world, but at the start, Wolf Healer was a stand alone, so, we’ll see.

BIG NEWS!!!

Today, January 1st, for one day only, there is a HUGE FREE EBOOK EVENT. You may know of the free romance event, but this is different, it’s fantasy book. Moreover, you do NOT need to join a newsletter to get the books. All these books have been set to free on TODAY! Check it out!

Most of you have read Wolf Healer, but that’s the book I’ve submitted. That said, there are many other books you can find!

Check out the link, here (or many places above).

As a reminder, if you want to come meet me and maybe check out some of my other books, get something signed, in a couple of weeks I’ll be at Studio Moonfall in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It is an absolutely lovely bookstore everyone should check out. Not only does it have great books and book stuff, it supports so many authors and author events!

Lastly, if you want to join the ARC (advanced reader copy) team for Veiled Phoenix, the first of the phoenix shifter series, sign up here. I don’t think I’ll be ready to publish for a few months, but of course, y’all will be the first to know!

Cheers!

Huckle

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!”

Happy Holidays

Hi my friends. I hope your December has been festive and full of less sugar than mine. I’ve been practicing different dessert recipes for a few weeks, maybe months, and I’m good and sugared at this point.

I need to figure out a way to desugar myself before I turn into a sugary pastry. Anyone who wants to join me in trying to eat better or exercise, having others join in the torture is always better, just let me know.

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So, last summer Andrea Kummer, narrator extraordinaire, contacted me about the Jade Stone Chronicles. She just finished book 5. I’ve been reviewing the chapters and the book should be available in a couple weeks.

Whereas she lives in Los Angeles, she’s from Wisconsin. She came home for the holidays, and I had the pleasure to meet her. As we spoke about all things book and not book, she told me she’d had some thoughts about my characters outside of the stories I’ve written.

She inspired me to write a short story. I’ll be sending the short story out to all of you in a couple of days.

I’ve been working on my next series as well as trying to map out a Pebble series. We have a new kitten, so it’s hard to get anything done. Maybe I should have all of you vote, the phoenix shifter series or Pebble? It’s a bit of a silly vote since two of the phoenix books are written, but with the list of books I want to write I’m curious about people’s interest in the Pebble series. I mean, I know my family’s opinion!

I hope y’all enjoy these last few days of 2023. For me, it’s been a rough end of the year so I’m definitely looking forward to 2024. The new year brings my birthday month, a new semester, and the hope for new and exciting change.

Cheers!

Huckle

That’s A Wrap!

Hi my friends! Today Pack Present went live. It answers some of the questions you may have had at the end of Battlefield. I hope it answers all the lingering questions, and answers some you didn’t even know you had! It’s a short Christmas Novella, but it packs a punch.

Some fun facts about the book:

It has MORE than just Jade’s POV!! I know, this was fun for me as well. There are, I believe 3 points of view in the book. I’ll tell you Bevin is one of the other POVs, but I’m not going to tell you the last, it would be a bit of a spoiler. The pack has cats!! Right! If you look at the cover of the book, you can see the cat. There is a cat anthology coming out in 2024 and I submitted a short story about how the pack get kittens. Well, the short story takes place BETWEEN Battlefield and Pack Present, so now the kittens are cats. The cat’s name’s all come from the book: Wyldling Snare, by A.R. Grimes. I believe the book is either free or on sale right now. As is book 2, Wyldling Trials in the series. A fantastic series by the way.

Other fun facts. The next series, yes, I plan on writing Pebble’s story, but before that comes out, I have two books in a phoenix shifter series written: Veiled Phoenix. I’m actually collecting names for an ARC team. If you think you’d be interested, fill out the form. The main character is nonbinary. Writing a main character with they/them pronouns has been a trip. https://forms.gle/B5LYJDJfkZkHfKrt53

I have a few TikTok videos. If you go and watch and comment, you could win free audiobooks version of Wolf Healer (and beyond!). They audiobooks are amazing. Here is one of the videos: TikTok Video!!

Happy Holidays!

Huckle