A.J. McCrae
@ajmccrae.com
Neurodivergent fantasy/horror author writing about magic, monsters, and mayhem. Appalachian witch. Always spooky. 💜 she/her
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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
This past weekend (past month?) has been A Lot and it's been feeling like there's no good news coming so I've attempted to celebrate the little things when I get the chance, and I'm excited that I get to say I sold my very first short fiction over the weekend. Won't be out for a bit but it happened!
January 27, 2026 at 12:06 AM
This past weekend (past month?) has been A Lot and it's been feeling like there's no good news coming so I've attempted to celebrate the little things when I get the chance, and I'm excited that I get to say I sold my very first short fiction over the weekend. Won't be out for a bit but it happened!
Until I bought my house, I never lived where neighbors relied on each other, we were always so spread out. But I'm damn grateful for my community with the recent snowstorm because I'd still be trapped in my house without them.
Instead, a few of us worked together and cleared most of the street!
Instead, a few of us worked together and cleared most of the street!
January 26, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Until I bought my house, I never lived where neighbors relied on each other, we were always so spread out. But I'm damn grateful for my community with the recent snowstorm because I'd still be trapped in my house without them.
Instead, a few of us worked together and cleared most of the street!
Instead, a few of us worked together and cleared most of the street!
Topped off my car's gas. Set for no-heat foods. My inability to throw out juice jugs to store rainwater for my plants came in handy for water. Will drip a couple faucets once temps drop further. Plastic on the windows.
Not my first big snowstorm with power outage potential but first in this house.
Not my first big snowstorm with power outage potential but first in this house.
a cartoon llama with the words bring it on on the bottom
Alt: Kuzco from The Emperor's New Groove, in his (cartoon) Llama form, saying "Bring it on."
media.tenor.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Topped off my car's gas. Set for no-heat foods. My inability to throw out juice jugs to store rainwater for my plants came in handy for water. Will drip a couple faucets once temps drop further. Plastic on the windows.
Not my first big snowstorm with power outage potential but first in this house.
Not my first big snowstorm with power outage potential but first in this house.
Last day before settling in to not leave the house for the weekend. We're mostly expecting an unknown quantity of snow here in PA but not expecting the roads to be passable Sunday, maybe Monday as well.
Stay safe out there!
Stay safe out there!
January 23, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Last day before settling in to not leave the house for the weekend. We're mostly expecting an unknown quantity of snow here in PA but not expecting the roads to be passable Sunday, maybe Monday as well.
Stay safe out there!
Stay safe out there!
Me: *has 4 novel WIPs going which is probably 3 too many*
Also Me: "Okay but, here me out, I have this short story idea about a necromancer..."
🙃
Also Me: "Okay but, here me out, I have this short story idea about a necromancer..."
🙃
January 14, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Me: *has 4 novel WIPs going which is probably 3 too many*
Also Me: "Okay but, here me out, I have this short story idea about a necromancer..."
🙃
Also Me: "Okay but, here me out, I have this short story idea about a necromancer..."
🙃
Read a cute scotland-based witchy romcom recently, LOVE'S A WITCH by Tricia O'Malley. Generational curses, magical antics, fun banter, adorable animal sidekicks. Would recommend!
(the cat was more interested in why I wasn't petting her instead of reading) #booksky
(the cat was more interested in why I wasn't petting her instead of reading) #booksky
January 14, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Read a cute scotland-based witchy romcom recently, LOVE'S A WITCH by Tricia O'Malley. Generational curses, magical antics, fun banter, adorable animal sidekicks. Would recommend!
(the cat was more interested in why I wasn't petting her instead of reading) #booksky
(the cat was more interested in why I wasn't petting her instead of reading) #booksky
First Monday back to work after the holiday break ☠️ RIP
a dog is standing next to a bed with the words `` i wanna go back to bed '' .
Alt: A dog walking into its crate and grabbing a blanket on the way to wrap around itself, saying, "I wanna go back to bed"
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:22 PM
First Monday back to work after the holiday break ☠️ RIP
Happy New Year! 🎉
a fireworks display with the words happy new year written below it
Alt: A fireworks display with the words happy new year written below it.
media.tenor.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:01 AM
Happy New Year! 🎉
Spending new year's eve curled up on the couch with a good book while the cats go full chaos mode thanks to the catnip I gave them.
Obviously the best way to spend the night 🥂
Obviously the best way to spend the night 🥂
January 1, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Spending new year's eve curled up on the couch with a good book while the cats go full chaos mode thanks to the catnip I gave them.
Obviously the best way to spend the night 🥂
Obviously the best way to spend the night 🥂
✨New growth✨
Just look at that little string of pearls. You wouldn't know it but a year ago she was a quarter of that size, a mere few inches of a strand that I hadn't yet managed to kill.
Now not only surviving but thriving 🌿
#PlantSky 🪴
Just look at that little string of pearls. You wouldn't know it but a year ago she was a quarter of that size, a mere few inches of a strand that I hadn't yet managed to kill.
Now not only surviving but thriving 🌿
#PlantSky 🪴
December 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
✨New growth✨
Just look at that little string of pearls. You wouldn't know it but a year ago she was a quarter of that size, a mere few inches of a strand that I hadn't yet managed to kill.
Now not only surviving but thriving 🌿
#PlantSky 🪴
Just look at that little string of pearls. You wouldn't know it but a year ago she was a quarter of that size, a mere few inches of a strand that I hadn't yet managed to kill.
Now not only surviving but thriving 🌿
#PlantSky 🪴
Discovered last night that I have a mouse in the house. Already looking into preventatives for future issues but in the meantime...
I never wish to see an animal suffer, but this mouse just entered a home with 5 cats including one VERY experienced hunter... this isn't likely to end well...
I never wish to see an animal suffer, but this mouse just entered a home with 5 cats including one VERY experienced hunter... this isn't likely to end well...
December 15, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Discovered last night that I have a mouse in the house. Already looking into preventatives for future issues but in the meantime...
I never wish to see an animal suffer, but this mouse just entered a home with 5 cats including one VERY experienced hunter... this isn't likely to end well...
I never wish to see an animal suffer, but this mouse just entered a home with 5 cats including one VERY experienced hunter... this isn't likely to end well...
That feeling when your heart says yes, but your knees doth protest too much
a giraffe is standing on its hind legs in a grassy field
Alt: A baby giraffe attempting to stand in a grassy field.
media.tenor.com
December 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
That feeling when your heart says yes, but your knees doth protest too much
Reposted by A.J. McCrae
"I can't afford to support my favorite author right now, I—"
Reviews.
Reviews are free AND they are a gift to authors that can keep on giving (i.e., exposure, marketing, algo boosts, etc.)
Please, give the gift of reviews to your authors this holiday season. It really can make a difference!
Reviews.
Reviews are free AND they are a gift to authors that can keep on giving (i.e., exposure, marketing, algo boosts, etc.)
Please, give the gift of reviews to your authors this holiday season. It really can make a difference!
December 9, 2025 at 11:04 PM
"I can't afford to support my favorite author right now, I—"
Reviews.
Reviews are free AND they are a gift to authors that can keep on giving (i.e., exposure, marketing, algo boosts, etc.)
Please, give the gift of reviews to your authors this holiday season. It really can make a difference!
Reviews.
Reviews are free AND they are a gift to authors that can keep on giving (i.e., exposure, marketing, algo boosts, etc.)
Please, give the gift of reviews to your authors this holiday season. It really can make a difference!
A little house plant love for an otherwise dreary Monday 🪴 Despite the winter weather outside, they're surviving and thriving! Lots of little plants to pot in the spring 💜
December 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
A little house plant love for an otherwise dreary Monday 🪴 Despite the winter weather outside, they're surviving and thriving! Lots of little plants to pot in the spring 💜
The pipeline of intrigue to disgust when I notice an ad for something that appears genuinely interesting only to scroll and see it uses genAI 🙃
December 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
The pipeline of intrigue to disgust when I notice an ad for something that appears genuinely interesting only to scroll and see it uses genAI 🙃
Writing while half asleep is great for shutting down the inner critic but she's gonna have a field day with this scene tomorrow 🙃 #amwriting
December 5, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Writing while half asleep is great for shutting down the inner critic but she's gonna have a field day with this scene tomorrow 🙃 #amwriting
First snow prints of the season!
December 2, 2025 at 2:32 PM
First snow prints of the season!
Saying "Good morning, Charlie" to my cat like I'm one of the Angels and she's about to send me on a top secret mission to impersonate an office worker 🕵️
December 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Saying "Good morning, Charlie" to my cat like I'm one of the Angels and she's about to send me on a top secret mission to impersonate an office worker 🕵️
There's something about the first real snow expected at the beginning of December that is deeply satisfying ❄️
a poster that says it 's coming with snow falling
Alt: A very snowy landscape with the text "It's coming!"
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:57 PM
There's something about the first real snow expected at the beginning of December that is deeply satisfying ❄️
Just a little critter 🥹
Was out in the yard yesterday taking advantage of the last warm day before a week of barely-above-freezing temps when I found this tiny salamander. Almost got swept up with the leaves I was raking!
Was out in the yard yesterday taking advantage of the last warm day before a week of barely-above-freezing temps when I found this tiny salamander. Almost got swept up with the leaves I was raking!
November 27, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Just a little critter 🥹
Was out in the yard yesterday taking advantage of the last warm day before a week of barely-above-freezing temps when I found this tiny salamander. Almost got swept up with the leaves I was raking!
Was out in the yard yesterday taking advantage of the last warm day before a week of barely-above-freezing temps when I found this tiny salamander. Almost got swept up with the leaves I was raking!
Nothing like hearing a crash in the house and playing the game of who broke it with the cats 🤦♀️
(Or the secret other option, something old gave out in the house and I can't find it...)
(Or the secret other option, something old gave out in the house and I can't find it...)
a cartoon of two spidermans standing in front of a nypd van
Alt: A cartoon of two spidermans standing in front of a NYPD van pointing at each other.
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Nothing like hearing a crash in the house and playing the game of who broke it with the cats 🤦♀️
(Or the secret other option, something old gave out in the house and I can't find it...)
(Or the secret other option, something old gave out in the house and I can't find it...)
Just found a note in my Obsidian vault for this project titled "IDK" and honestly same, past!Me. Same. #amwriting
November 25, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Just found a note in my Obsidian vault for this project titled "IDK" and honestly same, past!Me. Same. #amwriting
November 22, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Pleeeaasseeee I need the sequel to this book ASAP. Still feeling a major hangover after reading ASUNDER over the summer 🔥 Y'all want this book in your life, promise!
Convincing you to read my ~preceding~ novel, because I need the sales in order to get this one contracted. 😬
Share yours if you want!
Share yours if you want!
November 22, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Pleeeaasseeee I need the sequel to this book ASAP. Still feeling a major hangover after reading ASUNDER over the summer 🔥 Y'all want this book in your life, promise!
Don't mind me, just screaming my way through the rest of the week
November 20, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Don't mind me, just screaming my way through the rest of the week