A.J. McCrae
@ajmccrae.com
Neurospicy fantasy/horror author. Appalachian green witch. Devourer of books. Eternally in my spooky era. 💜 she/her
ajmccrae.com
ajmccrae.com
Pinned
A.J. McCrae
@ajmccrae.com
· Sep 18
Hello! I'm A.J. McCrae, author of fantasy and horror with a heavy splash of romance. I write about monsters, magic, and mayhem (not necessarily in that order) with a soft spot for anything involving bones 🦴
For more info and the newsletter I sometimes remember to send: ajmccrae.com
For more info and the newsletter I sometimes remember to send: ajmccrae.com
It's hard not to feel a little witchy when 2 crows follow you on your walk ✨
November 13, 2025 at 7:27 PM
It's hard not to feel a little witchy when 2 crows follow you on your walk ✨
Back on my mask nonsense with my heavily Gothic horromance inspired Wild Hunt novel and it's absolutely not because I watched Frankenstein and Crimson Peak recently.
Completely unrelated. Couldn't be further from the thing.
Maybe I should re-watch Van Helsing next....
#amwriting
Completely unrelated. Couldn't be further from the thing.
Maybe I should re-watch Van Helsing next....
#amwriting
November 13, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Back on my mask nonsense with my heavily Gothic horromance inspired Wild Hunt novel and it's absolutely not because I watched Frankenstein and Crimson Peak recently.
Completely unrelated. Couldn't be further from the thing.
Maybe I should re-watch Van Helsing next....
#amwriting
Completely unrelated. Couldn't be further from the thing.
Maybe I should re-watch Van Helsing next....
#amwriting
Finally had the chance to watch the new Frankenstein movie and goddamn del Toro created a masterpiece. The actors alone sold it but with the costuming? The cinematography? *chef's kiss* 12/10, no notes. Might even top Crimson Peak as my new fave Gothic.
a man and a woman are looking at each other and the woman is wearing a white dress
Alt: Elizabeth from the movie Frankenstein (2025) looking up into the face of the Creature whose back is to the camera.
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Finally had the chance to watch the new Frankenstein movie and goddamn del Toro created a masterpiece. The actors alone sold it but with the costuming? The cinematography? *chef's kiss* 12/10, no notes. Might even top Crimson Peak as my new fave Gothic.
New novel already has a graveyard ☠️ Starting strong! #AmWriting
November 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM
New novel already has a graveyard ☠️ Starting strong! #AmWriting
After an unexpectedly busy October, hoping November proves more productive for words so giving the new thirty30k.com challenge a go! Anyone else participating? #AmWriting
November 1, 2025 at 12:48 PM
After an unexpectedly busy October, hoping November proves more productive for words so giving the new thirty30k.com challenge a go! Anyone else participating? #AmWriting
Being an adult means making crescent rolls drizzled with honey in the middle of the day because you can 🥐
a cartoon of winnie the pooh sitting at a table with a bowl of food and the words yum
Alt: A cartoon of Winnie the Pooh sitting at a table with an empty plate, rocking back and forth with excitement. The text says, "Yum!!"
media.tenor.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Being an adult means making crescent rolls drizzled with honey in the middle of the day because you can 🥐
Oh, to be a cat whose human has been trying to work through a sticky plot point for the last 2 hours #amwriting
October 26, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Oh, to be a cat whose human has been trying to work through a sticky plot point for the last 2 hours #amwriting
Walked the dog. Dinner prepped and ready. Garbage put out for pickup. Might actually have the evening free to do fun things!
*sees mountain of dishes to be washed*
*sees mountain of dishes to be washed*
an old man with a beard says " these aren t the droids you 're looking for "
Alt: Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars as an old man with a beard waving his hand and saying, "These aren't the droids you're looking for."
media.tenor.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Walked the dog. Dinner prepped and ready. Garbage put out for pickup. Might actually have the evening free to do fun things!
*sees mountain of dishes to be washed*
*sees mountain of dishes to be washed*
I started Sarah Rees Brennan's LONG LIVE EVIL last month as a buddy read with @dhstrange.bsky.social then proceeded to have like 3 weeks of no reading time 😅
But I finally finished it and it was fun! Lots of excellent foreshadowing and breadcrumb trails to follow. Can't wait for the sequel!! 💙📚
But I finally finished it and it was fun! Lots of excellent foreshadowing and breadcrumb trails to follow. Can't wait for the sequel!! 💙📚
October 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I started Sarah Rees Brennan's LONG LIVE EVIL last month as a buddy read with @dhstrange.bsky.social then proceeded to have like 3 weeks of no reading time 😅
But I finally finished it and it was fun! Lots of excellent foreshadowing and breadcrumb trails to follow. Can't wait for the sequel!! 💙📚
But I finally finished it and it was fun! Lots of excellent foreshadowing and breadcrumb trails to follow. Can't wait for the sequel!! 💙📚
Woolly bear sighting while walking the dog today. Seen a few with a similar pattern. When I was little, I used to gather them up in a small bucket to see what kind of winter we were having 🐛
October 20, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Woolly bear sighting while walking the dog today. Seen a few with a similar pattern. When I was little, I used to gather them up in a small bucket to see what kind of winter we were having 🐛
Reposted by A.J. McCrae
Shoutout to whoever was like the news sucks, let’s spice it up by doing a jewel heist at the Louvre
October 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Shoutout to whoever was like the news sucks, let’s spice it up by doing a jewel heist at the Louvre
The Mondaying is starting strong with no power. Guess I don't have to go to work!
a dog is wrapped in a blanket with the words back to sleep written below it
Alt: A dog pulling the covers back over it's head with the words, "Back to sleep"
media.tenor.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:28 AM
The Mondaying is starting strong with no power. Guess I don't have to go to work!
When I start hearing noises upstairs:
"Is it a ghost or did the cat lock herself in the bedroom again?"
"Is it a ghost or did the cat lock herself in the bedroom again?"
a man with a beard and mustache says " it could go either way "
Alt: A man with a beard and mustache saying, "It could go either way."
media.tenor.com
October 19, 2025 at 6:59 PM
When I start hearing noises upstairs:
"Is it a ghost or did the cat lock herself in the bedroom again?"
"Is it a ghost or did the cat lock herself in the bedroom again?"
Chillin' like a villain on this #caturday 😈
Stayed up way too late finishing LONG LIVE EVIL by Sarah Rees Brennan last night (very villain coded 😉). Started it over a month ago and just haven't had much time for reading. But all done and ready for the sequel next year!
Stayed up way too late finishing LONG LIVE EVIL by Sarah Rees Brennan last night (very villain coded 😉). Started it over a month ago and just haven't had much time for reading. But all done and ready for the sequel next year!
October 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Chillin' like a villain on this #caturday 😈
Stayed up way too late finishing LONG LIVE EVIL by Sarah Rees Brennan last night (very villain coded 😉). Started it over a month ago and just haven't had much time for reading. But all done and ready for the sequel next year!
Stayed up way too late finishing LONG LIVE EVIL by Sarah Rees Brennan last night (very villain coded 😉). Started it over a month ago and just haven't had much time for reading. But all done and ready for the sequel next year!
Spending my Friday night finally catching up on my current reads. Maybe I'll even finish a book for the first time in...
...on second thought, let's not do the math 😅
...on second thought, let's not do the math 😅
a man reading a book with the words go away i 'm reading written below him
Alt: A man reading a book with the words "Go away I'm reading" along the bottom. The clip is from one of my absolute favorite romcoms, Austenland.
media.tenor.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Spending my Friday night finally catching up on my current reads. Maybe I'll even finish a book for the first time in...
...on second thought, let's not do the math 😅
...on second thought, let's not do the math 😅
Looks like I need to start developing a love of black walnuts 😂
October 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Looks like I need to start developing a love of black walnuts 😂
There is something deeply satisfying about watching a plant grow 🌿🪴
October 16, 2025 at 2:58 PM
There is something deeply satisfying about watching a plant grow 🌿🪴
Alright bluesky, I have a 10 gal bucket quickly filling up with black walnuts and more to come from my tree. Started collecting them so I wouldn't hit them with the mower but would love to use them.
Any suggestions/ideas/fave recipes to share?
#gardening #food #foraging
Any suggestions/ideas/fave recipes to share?
#gardening #food #foraging
October 15, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Alright bluesky, I have a 10 gal bucket quickly filling up with black walnuts and more to come from my tree. Started collecting them so I wouldn't hit them with the mower but would love to use them.
Any suggestions/ideas/fave recipes to share?
#gardening #food #foraging
Any suggestions/ideas/fave recipes to share?
#gardening #food #foraging
The final #gardening haul for this year. After an exceptionally late start getting my seedlings planted (the ones still alive at that point...) I'm thrilled I got this much! But, alas, the frosts are coming more regularly so harvested what I could to ripen indoors.
Next year, I shall plant sooner 😅
Next year, I shall plant sooner 😅
October 14, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The final #gardening haul for this year. After an exceptionally late start getting my seedlings planted (the ones still alive at that point...) I'm thrilled I got this much! But, alas, the frosts are coming more regularly so harvested what I could to ripen indoors.
Next year, I shall plant sooner 😅
Next year, I shall plant sooner 😅
Reposted by A.J. McCrae
Marvellous Minoan clay vessels made by creative potters on the island of Crete during the Aegean Bronze Age around 3,500 years ago! 🤩
Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me
#Archaeology
October 11, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Marvellous Minoan clay vessels made by creative potters on the island of Crete during the Aegean Bronze Age around 3,500 years ago! 🤩
Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Missed a few days there but it's a new week! Had some breakthroughs on one of my novel WIPs so aiming to get those integrated, and want to get rolling on my new botanical horror short. #LGBTQWriteAThon #QueerWriters
#LGBTQWriteAThon October 13:
Goals day! What are your goals this week?
#writesky #queerwriters #writers #lgbtqwriters
Goals day! What are your goals this week?
#writesky #queerwriters #writers #lgbtqwriters
October 13, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Missed a few days there but it's a new week! Had some breakthroughs on one of my novel WIPs so aiming to get those integrated, and want to get rolling on my new botanical horror short. #LGBTQWriteAThon #QueerWriters
First frost yesterday. Took the AC unit out of the window tonight. We are officially in FALL WEATHER LET'S GOOO 🍂
a picture of a forest with the words best time of the year written on it
Alt: Sun shining through a forest where the leaves have changed to reds and oranges. Text reads "Best time of the year!!!"
media.tenor.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:08 PM
First frost yesterday. Took the AC unit out of the window tonight. We are officially in FALL WEATHER LET'S GOOO 🍂
Reposted by A.J. McCrae
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
Reposted by A.J. McCrae
In celebration of World Octopus Day, we wanted to revisit one of our favorite cephalopod sightings, the glass octopus — Vitreledonella richardi filmed during a month-long #PhoenixIslandsCoral expedition in 2021.
October 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
In celebration of World Octopus Day, we wanted to revisit one of our favorite cephalopod sightings, the glass octopus — Vitreledonella richardi filmed during a month-long #PhoenixIslandsCoral expedition in 2021.
I'm currently working on both a folk horror and an adventure fantasy currently (and a handful of other projects in either the horror and/or fantasy space, some crossover between on a couple) #LGBTQWriteAThon #QueerWriters
October 9, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I'm currently working on both a folk horror and an adventure fantasy currently (and a handful of other projects in either the horror and/or fantasy space, some crossover between on a couple) #LGBTQWriteAThon #QueerWriters