diff --git a/.github/workflows/release_workflow.yml b/.github/workflows/release_workflow.yml
index 522a8f2..96cc89c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release_workflow.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release_workflow.yml
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 name: Release Alpha and Propose Stable
 
 on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
   pull_request:
     types: [closed]
     branches: [dev]
 
 jobs:
   publish_alpha:
-    if: github.event.pull_request.merged == true
     uses: TigreGotico/gh-automations/.github/workflows/publish-alpha.yml@master
     secrets: inherit
     with:
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: publish_alpha
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Send message to Matrix bots channel
         id: matrix-chat-message
         uses: fadenb/matrix-chat-message@v0.0.6
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5169583..b55c57b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,20 +1,16 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## [0.0.8a2](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/tree/0.0.8a2) (2025-03-30)
+## [0.0.9a1](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/tree/0.0.9a1) (2025-10-26)
 
-[Full Changelog](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/compare/0.0.8a1...0.0.8a2)
+[Full Changelog](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/compare/0.0.8...0.0.9a1)
 
-**Merged pull requests:**
-
-- es-es/translate [\#27](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/pull/27) ([gitlocalize-app[bot]](https://github.com/apps/gitlocalize-app))
-
-## [0.0.8a1](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/tree/0.0.8a1) (2024-12-11)
+**Fixed bugs:**
 
-[Full Changelog](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/compare/0.0.7...0.0.8a1)
+- Error with black color [\#29](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/issues/29)
 
 **Merged pull requests:**
 
-- de-de/translate [\#24](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/pull/24) ([gitlocalize-app[bot]](https://github.com/apps/gitlocalize-app))
+- fixes https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/issues/29 [\#30](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-color-parser/pull/30) ([builderjer](https://github.com/builderjer))
 
 
 
diff --git a/downstream_report.txt b/downstream_report.txt
index 37917f6..0eb2e5e 100644
--- a/downstream_report.txt
+++ b/downstream_report.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-ovos-color-parser==0.0.8a1
+ovos-color-parser==0.0.8
 └── ovos-skill-color-picker==0.0.7 [requires: ovos-color-parser]
diff --git a/ovos_color_parser/matching.py b/ovos_color_parser/matching.py
index dd51b8c..f24caee 100644
--- a/ovos_color_parser/matching.py
+++ b/ovos_color_parser/matching.py
@@ -114,7 +114,11 @@ def match_color_automaton(cls, description: str, lang: str = "en",
                         if s >= 0.15:
                             #print(f"DEBUG: matched fuzzy color -> {(n, h, s)}")
                             weights.append(s)
-                            candidates.append(HLSColor.from_hex_str(h, name=n))
+                            try:
+                                candidates.append(HLSColor.from_hex_str(h, name=n))
+                            except ValueError as e:
+                                #print(f"DEBUG: {e}")
+                                pass
             else:
                 hex_strs = cls.match_automaton(automaton, description)
                 for hex_str in hex_strs:
diff --git a/ovos_color_parser/models.py b/ovos_color_parser/models.py
index 5fee275..0cbb852 100644
--- a/ovos_color_parser/models.py
+++ b/ovos_color_parser/models.py
@@ -55,9 +55,16 @@ def hex_str(self) -> str:
     def from_hex_str(hex_str: str, name: Optional[str] = None, description: Optional[str] = None) -> 'sRGBAColor':
         if hex_str.startswith('#'):
             hex_str = hex_str[1:]
-        r = int(hex_str[0:2], 16)
-        g = int(hex_str[2:4], 16)
-        b = int(hex_str[4:6], 16)
+        if len(hex_str) == 6:
+            r = int(hex_str[0:2], 16)
+            g = int(hex_str[2:4], 16)
+            b = int(hex_str[4:6], 16)
+        elif len(hex_str) == 3:
+            r = int(hex_str[0:1] * 2, 16)
+            g = int(hex_str[1:2] * 2, 16)
+            b = int(hex_str[2:3] * 2, 16)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"Invalid hex sting {hex_str}")
         return sRGBAColor(r, g, b, name=name, description=description)
 
     def __post_init__(self):
diff --git a/ovos_color_parser/version.py b/ovos_color_parser/version.py
index e157dbf..8775b03 100644
--- a/ovos_color_parser/version.py
+++ b/ovos_color_parser/version.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # START_VERSION_BLOCK
 VERSION_MAJOR = 0
 VERSION_MINOR = 0
-VERSION_BUILD = 8
-VERSION_ALPHA = 0
+VERSION_BUILD = 9
+VERSION_ALPHA = 1
 # END_VERSION_BLOCK