AJ Hartley
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authorajhartley.bsky.social
AJ Hartley
@authorajhartley.bsky.social
New York Times Bestselling novelist, Shakespeare professor, fan of Japanese rock music, collaborator with Blink-182's Tom DeLonge, hobbyist, creator, annoyed

author site: www.ajhartley.net
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlh2jTxFoqs&t=10s
My deep dive discussion of BABYMETAL's "Algorism". Hope you find it enriches your sense of the song: youtu.be/S9JLg-es44g
BABYMETAL "Algorism": a discussion with AJ Hartley BM chat #55
YouTube video by Andrew (AJ) Hartley
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
On visiting places as part of your writing research, hiking the gorgeous and rugged English Lake District, and my superhuman mother :) youtu.be/vfOEhVl20uA
Travel as writing research: AJ Hartley and his mum tackle Easedale Tarn
YouTube video by AJ Hartley's Weird Writing Life
youtu.be
November 18, 2025 at 1:50 PM
In conversation with my translator about Japanese yokai (monsters) and the dances our choreographer devised to represent them: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UfV...
エピソード3:金子さんの妖怪ダンス、日本と西洋の妖怪の違い、AJが感じた日本人の感性
YouTube video by Trek Boy トレック・ボーイ
www.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:14 PM
The next in my reposted writing AMA is now up on my new channel (please subscribe) and it's on how writers begin a project. youtu.be/5VPcj3tOJSY
Ask Me Anything on writing #4: where to start and what makes a book stand out AJ Hartley, novelist
YouTube video by AJ Hartley's Weird Writing Life
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 8:11 PM
When English weather gets in the way of my on sight book research... youtube.com/shorts/HxHAc...
When English weather messes up AJ Hartley's book research. Easedale Tarn via Sour Milk Ghyll
YouTube video by AJ Hartley's Weird Writing Life
youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Feel like some gentle, well executed and pleasantly unexpected TV drama which believes in people? I have been enjoying these 3 quirky new Japanese TV shows (Their Marriage, Talentless Takano, and Romantics Anonymous): youtu.be/NKtlPupepCM
3 odd Japanese TV shows: Their Marriage, Talentless Takano, and Romantics Anonymous. With AJ Hartley
YouTube video by Andrew (AJ) Hartley
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 5:31 PM
It's a nice day to wake up to :)
November 5, 2025 at 2:11 PM
In honor of #Godzilladay here's my review of Godzilla Minus One from 2 years ago youtu.be/oRNRiHhL3XA
Godzilla Minus One: review by AJ Hartley. ゴジラ-1.0 How to do monster movies right.
YouTube video by Andrew (AJ) Hartley
youtu.be
November 3, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Some suitably Halloweeny Hideki Smith swag made an appearance at my signing 🙂 youtube.com/shorts/mLVrJ...
Origami mukade and a new kitsune! Signing Hideki Smith 2
YouTube video by Andrew (AJ) Hartley
youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:08 PM
After a glitch earlier today, the Hideki Smith books are back up on Amazon. The second in the series is (bafflingly) yet to get any reviews! If you've read, please consider posting a quick response. Thanks! www.amazon.com/dp/164554371...
Hideki Smith and the Omukade (Hideki Smith Demon Queller)
Hideki Smith and the Omukade (Hideki Smith Demon Queller) [Hartley, A.J., Osako, Hisako, Hartley, Kuma] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Hideki Smith and the Omukade (Hideki Smith Demon Queller)
www.amazon.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Is middle grades fiction the hardest kind of book to publish? AJ asks Mari Mancusi. youtu.be/klejtA84Lyc
What is the hardest fiction to publish? AJ Hartley asks middle grade author Mari Mancusi: AMA #10
YouTube video by AJ Hartley's Weird Writing Life
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Cool review article from Australia. A reminder, I'll be signing this and the Hideki Smith series tomorrow evening at Park Road Books (7pm) in Charlotte.

www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews...
Time Rider review: Blink-182's Tom Delonge serves up sci-fi thriller packed with lore
If Twelve Monkeys and The Terminator could merge with the world’s coolest motorbike, the end result might resemble the novel Time Rider.
www.artshub.com.au
October 28, 2025 at 6:54 PM
On creative writing classes and writer's block: youtu.be/rLt3kB6BYZQ
Ask Me Anything on writing 3: creative writing classes and writer's block. With AJ Hartley.
YouTube video by AJ Hartley's Weird Writing Life
youtu.be
October 28, 2025 at 3:01 AM
A perennial writer dilemma: plotting (outlining and otherwise working out the shape of your story in advance of actually writing it) vs. pantsing (making it up as you go or writing by the seat of your pants): youtu.be/VWPiKDTLVOo
Ask Me anything about writing 2: plotting v. writing by the seat of your pants, with AJ Hartley
YouTube video by AJ Hartley's Weird Writing Life
youtu.be
October 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Wednesday!
October 25, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The first of the Ask Me Anything on writing series I began last year now on my new YouTube channel. Will continue to add the others and add new ones. youtu.be/dbQTDAqaBxg
AJ Hartley, novelist. Ask Me Anything 1: character, discipline, mistakes, overused words and more!
YouTube video by AJ Hartley's Weird Writing Life
youtu.be
October 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The final day of our fundraiser. Note that though the site (maddeningly) says we reached our goal, we are actually at less than a quarter of our target. The platform "upgraded" a week ago and our project information got reset in the process.

www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
October 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Last call. Today is our last day. We're nowhere near what we hoped to raise, but everything we DO raise will be used to fund the project. Please take a look. This will actually and directly shape people's lives. www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
October 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM
My discussion of "Sunset Kiss" one of my favorite songs off the new BABYMETAL album along with some semi-relevant 80's J-pop/rock nostalgia. youtu.be/0HJ-t2Euufc
BABYMETAL and Polyphia "Sunset Kiss": AJ Hartley BM chat #54 with a sidebar on 80s J-rock/pop.
YouTube video by Andrew (AJ) Hartley
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 2:18 PM
1 week from today, my only scheduled signing for Time Rider and Hideki Smith 2. www.facebook.com/events/11935...
October 22, 2025 at 9:25 PM
How do you represent a playful yokai that has no face but can appear as anyone it wants in dance? Like this :) Monsters of the HIDEKI SMITH books, #4, the Nopperabo. youtu.be/UM11Oq3U0z4
のっぺらぼうの演奏 (Nopperabo Playing) 「ヒデキ・スミスと日本の妖怪」Yokai dance #4: Monsters of AJ Hartley's HIDEKI SMITH
YouTube video by Andrew (AJ) Hartley
youtu.be
October 22, 2025 at 1:16 PM
One of my favorite Japanese yokai is the faceless shapeshifter the nopperabo, which is heavily featured in my Hideki Smith novels. Doing a dance representing something that changes its face is especially challenging, so I particularly love what the team came up with :) youtu.be/mynGL4lr_W4
Nopperabo dance. The faceless shapeshifter yokai from AJ Hartley's Hideki Smith novels
YouTube video by AJ Hartley's Weird Writing Life
youtu.be
October 21, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Only 3 days of our South African home building fund raiser left. Please check it out. www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
Dellani village house building project by ajhartle1 - Indiegogo
Building houses fit for people
www.indiegogo.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Only 4 days to go and we're still at under a quarter of the funds we had hoped to raise to build these 2 houses. Please take a look. The good news is that ANYTHING we raise will get used for building materials so all is not lost. www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...

youtu.be/byxGFlP3dzI
Dellani village house building project by ajhartle1 - Indiegogo
Building houses fit for people
www.indiegogo.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:29 PM
A.J.ハートリーと丹羽正之による受賞作『ヒデキ・スミスと日本の妖怪』(日本語)のKindle版(電子書籍)が、現在セール中です!Amazon.jpで2週間以内にご購入ください。割引期間が終了します。

www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/B0FH...
Amazon.co.jp: ヒデキ・スミスと日本の妖怪 eBook : A・J・ハートリー, ヒサコ・オオサコ, クマ・ハートリー, MOSKI, 丹羽正之: Kindle Store
Amazon.co.jp: ヒデキ・スミスと日本の妖怪 eBook : A・J・ハートリー, ヒサコ・オオサコ, クマ・ハートリー, MOSKI, 丹羽正之: Kindle Store
www.amazon.co.jp
October 20, 2025 at 12:15 AM