A.C. Wise
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acwise.bsky.social
A.C. Wise
@acwise.bsky.social
6.3K followers 5.3K following 2.5K posts
Author and reviewer. Sunburst Award winner. Nebula, World Fantasy, Stoker, Locus, Shirley Jackson, British Fantasy, Lamba, and Ignyte finalist. She/her. www.acwise.net. https://linktr.ee/acwise
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acwise.bsky.social
Don't mind me, just over here performatively reading in public am I doing this right? (Also Red Star Hustle by @sentencebender.bsky.social is amazing and y'all should read it, in public or otherwise.)
The image shows a hand holding an open paperback copy of Red Star Hustle by Sam J Miller against a backdrop of bottles and glasses in a bar.
November 13, 2025 at 10:55 PM
acwise.bsky.social
This is an absolutely gorgeous collection! Not only is Call and Response by @seraph76.bsky.social full of stunning fiction, it's a physically beautiful book too. Just look at the sprayed edges!
The image shows a hand holding a paperback copy of Call and Response by Christopher Caldwell. The cover of this collection features the title in black letters against a background of swirling colors, primarily red, cream, grey, blue, and orange. The colors continue into the sprayed edges of the pages.
November 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
acwise.bsky.social
A dark, frightening and visceral read that treats the body as a haunted house that the protagonist can't leave. If you're looking for some truly unsettling horror, I highly recommend The Graceview Patient by @caitlinstarling.com!
The image shows a paperback copy of The Graceview Patient by Caitlin Starling, propped against a black and white print showing two skeletons dancing around a bottle bearing the label Death. The upper half of a leather plague doctor mask is visible in the lower left corner of the frame. The wall behind the print and the book is red
November 7, 2025 at 6:20 PM
acwise.bsky.social
Tomorrow, I'll be at the Elkton Branch of the Cecil County Public Library signing and selling books along with other fabulous authors. Hope to see you there!

www.cecilcountylibrary.org/event/meetan...
The image is a digital event poster for the Cecil County Library author meet and greet, and includes an author headshot and bio.
November 7, 2025 at 4:24 PM
acwise.bsky.social
Tomorrow is the full moon, and with perfect timing, Howl: An Anthology of Werewolves from Women in Horror is out today!

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/howl-steph...
November 4, 2025 at 2:29 PM
acwise.bsky.social
Fear, much like beauty, is in the eye of the Beholder. Happy Halloween!
The image shows a pumpkin carved to look like a Beholder from Dungeons and Dragons. There's a Funko Pop Astarion figure in the shadows off to the left side.
October 31, 2025 at 10:26 PM
acwise.bsky.social
2/2

And because Apprehension is a Saga Double, flipping it around also gets me the thematically appropriate Red Star Hustle by @sentencebender.bsky.social, which I'm also really looking forward to reading!
The image shows a hand holding a paperback copy of Red Star Hustle by Sam J. Miller against the backdrop of a red wall.
October 27, 2025 at 10:15 PM
acwise.bsky.social
My recent book mail is pleasingly color coordinated and matches my office walls! Really looking forward to these: Call and Response by Christopher Caldwell, @gwendolynkiste.bsky.social's forthcoming collection The Haunted Houses She Calls Her Own, and Apprehension by @maryrobinettekowal.com.

1/2
The image shows a trio of paperback books against a red background and all the book covers are in shades of red. The books are Apprehension by Mary Robinette Kowal, Call and Response by Christopher Caldwell, and The Haunted Houses She Calls Her Own by Gwendolyn Kiste.
October 27, 2025 at 10:13 PM
acwise.bsky.social
Ballad of the Bone Road comes out in 3 months and 1 day! I've already started gathering swag and I can't wait to welcome you all to the Peony Hotel!
The image shows a paperback copy of the novel Ballad of the Bone Road, leaning against a white wall, on top of a dark brown bookcase. In the foreground are several black matchbooks printed with the name Peony Hotel with an outline of three flowers beside the name.
October 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
acwise.bsky.social
On Saturday, November 8th, I'll be taking part in the author meet and greet and book market at the Cecil County Public Library in Elkton, MD from 10am to 2pm. If you're in the area, drop by and say hi!

www.cecilcountylibrary.org/event/meetan...
The image is a virtual event flyer for the Cecil County Library Meet & Greet event, displaying an author headshot and bio.
October 24, 2025 at 4:56 PM
acwise.bsky.social
It is the worst being a kitten. No one at all ever feeds you and certainly no one gave you a whole handful of treats right before this picture.
The image shows a small tuxedo cat with bright green-yellow eyes staring up plaintively at the camera.
October 22, 2025 at 11:32 AM
acwise.bsky.social
Spotted on my walk to get coffee. A very Philly pumpkin!
The image shows a cluster of several pumpkins. The foremost pumpkin is carved with the likeness of the Flyers' mascot, Gritty.
October 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM
acwise.bsky.social
I'm very much enjoying this perfectly creepy seasonal read. The October Film Haunt by @michaelwehunt.bsky.social is exactly the kind of uneasy horror I'm in the mood for at this time of year.
The image shows a hand holding a paperback copy of The October Film Haunt by Michael Wehunt against the backdrop of a red wall hung with masks. The cover of the novel depicts a path leading into the trees. The image is distorted as it might be on an old VHS tape.
October 18, 2025 at 10:07 PM
acwise.bsky.social
Drinking coffee out of my @apexmag.bsky.social mug this morning, which is the perfect reminder that they're running a Kickstarter right now to support another year of fabulous art, fiction, essays, and reviews!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
The image shows a hand holding a black coffee mug printed with the Apex Magazine logo of an alien's head.
October 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
acwise.bsky.social
Sure, on one hand, it's only October 2nd, but on the other hand...Hallowine!
The image shows a hand holding a bottle of 19 Crimes Hard Chard: The Mummy, with a stylized label evoking the classic Boris Karloff portrayal of the mummy.
October 2, 2025 at 9:19 PM
acwise.bsky.social
Next Tuesday, October 7 at 6:30 pm, I'll be at Main Point Books in Wayne, PA with @franwilde.bsky.social, talking about her fantastic new novel, A Philosophy of Thieves. Hope to see you there!
The image shows a digital event poster with author photos of Fran Wilde and A.C. Wise and the cover image for Wilde's novel, A Philosophy of Thieves.
October 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
acwise.bsky.social
Woot! An ARC of Ballad of the Bone Road arrived in today's mail! The book itself releases in January and is currently available for preorder. Now that I can hold a copy in my hands, it's finally starting to feel real!
The image shows a paperback copy of the forthcoming novel Ballad of the Bone Road, placed beside a plastic skull. The cover of the book shows a pale hand with black nails holding half a pomegranate, which is embedded with tiny skulls. The hand is surrounded by red and pink peonies with black leaves.
September 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
acwise.bsky.social
Reading my way through this excellent short story collection. If you're looking for some great short speculative fiction, I highly recommend The Greatest Fight of Sunny Granada and Other Stories by Kenneth Yu.
The image shows a hand holding a paperback copy of The Greatest Fight of Sunny Granada and Other Stories by Kenneth Yu. The cover image shows a grayscale sketched figure of a bald man wearing trunks with his hands wrapped, fighting an alien with green skin and antennae.
September 10, 2025 at 10:34 PM
acwise.bsky.social
This beauty arrived in the mail today - Summer in the House of the Departed by @joshrountree.bsky.social. I can't wait to dive in!
The image shows a hand holding a paperback copy of the novella Summer in the House of the Departed by Josh Rountree. The cover of the novella depicts a somewhat rundown looking house with a blue glow in one of the upper windows and a tree in the yard. There are two young figures on the steps of the house, one seated and one climbing the steps, looking up at what appear to be photographs floating around the house.
August 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
acwise.bsky.social
It's the perfect weather for sitting outside and basking in @csecooney.bsky.social's sumptuous prose.
The image shows a hand holding a paperback copy of Saint Death's Herald by C.S.E. Cooney against a backdrop of trees. The book's cover is yellow, with a silhouette of a woman's head, bearing an elaborate updo hairstyle decorated with crystals, insects, a bird, a jellyfish, a tiger, leaves, bones, and a skull.
August 16, 2025 at 9:55 PM
acwise.bsky.social
As part of the Barnes and Noble Book Haul, the hardcover edition of Out of the Drowning Deep is 50% off from now until 9/1! This is the perfect time to grab a copy with the pretty endpapers!

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-the...
A graphic displaying the novella Out of the Drowning Deep. The book's cover depicts a blue eye surrounded by black wings tinted slightly blue and green, studded with more blue eyes.
August 14, 2025 at 9:52 PM
acwise.bsky.social
If you're looking for an excellent horror read, Staircase in the Woods by @chuckwendig.bsky.social is a wonderful exploration of trauma, friendship, and how houses and people become haunted.
The image shows a hand holding a hardcover copy of the novel Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig against a backdrop of trees. The cover depicts a spiral staircase with a black bird perched on the railing, surrounded by trees and a greenish-yellow light.
August 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
acwise.bsky.social
This is just to say that @wiswell.bsky.social's Wearing the Lion is absolutely gorgeous. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend. Wiswell's ongoing exploration of kindness in the face of brutal circumstances and impossible choices is truly lovely.
The image shows a hand holding a hardcover copy of Wearing the Lion by John Wiswell. The cover depicts figures in the style of paintings on a Greek vase, showing a man in a short robe with a lion over his shoulders, standing between two columns. A hind watches him from one side and a many-headed serpent from the other side. The background of the cover is various shades of blue.
July 28, 2025 at 10:23 PM
acwise.bsky.social
Book mail! Girl in the Creek by @wendywag.bsky.social showed up today. I preordered this one a while back and I've been eagerly awaiting its arrival.
The image shows a hand holding a hardcover copy of the novel Girl in the Creek by Wendy N. Wagner. The cover depicts a female figure wearing a white shift and sprouting a variety of pale mushrooms from her body. She floats in dark water, surrounded by green lily pads.
July 21, 2025 at 9:48 PM
acwise.bsky.social
On the road (well, train tracks) to Readercon! As a reminder, here's my schedule for the weekend.
Schedule for A.C. Wise for Readercon 34. Author Reading Friday July 18 at 2pm. The Year in Speculative Fiction Friday July 18 at 4pm. Unpredictably Topical Panel Saturday July 19 at 3pm.
July 17, 2025 at 1:31 PM