Madeline Crane
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Madeline Crane
@spacewhalespress.bsky.social
140 followers 100 following 230 posts
Writer of queer fantasy and weird tales for the weary & wandering, including BEYOND THE FROST-COLD SEA, JOURNEY TO THE WATER, and THE BOOK OF THE NEW MOON DOOR. Tabletop gamer, wearer of hats, mother of cats, she/her. spacewhalespress.com
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Solaire waits patiently for his favorite person to come home.

#caturday #orangecat
November 22, 2025 at 2:25 PM
spacewhalespress.bsky.social
I'm here until 3! Story Keepers Books, 7035 W Greenfield Ave., West Allis, WI
The writer, a medium-sized white woman with brown hair and glasses, dressed in black, sits at a table with The Book of the New Moon Door, Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea, and Journey to the Water displayed on it.
November 15, 2025 at 6:16 PM
spacewhalespress.bsky.social
Shepard demonstrates excellent loaf form.

#caturday
A small torbie cat sits on a striped pillow, her paws curled underneath her in a loaf position. Her eyes are closed, and her face is turned toward the viewer. A blue knit blanket sits behind her, and a closed laptop with a sticker featuring an image of skulls sits next to her.
November 15, 2025 at 3:00 PM
spacewhalespress.bsky.social
Come see me at Story Keepers Books on Saturday! I promise I don't bite.

7035 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, WI
Author event with local fantasy author Madeline Crane. Sat., Nov 15 Noon-3PM Includes a picture of the writer in a crocheted witch hat and glasses, and the covers of The Book of the New Moon Door, Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea, and Journey to the Water.
November 13, 2025 at 3:56 PM
spacewhalespress.bsky.social
Reading round-up!

MOONSHINE, by G.D. Penman, proving my point that modern writers do Lovecraft better than Lovecraft.

DARK PLACES, by Gillian Flynn. Thriller set in the aftermath of the Satanic Panic.

#currentlyreading KNOCK KNOCK, OPEN WIDE by Neil Sharpson.
Ebook cover of Moonshine by G.D. Penman. The images of a young white man in a suit and fedora and a large, curling tentacle are superimposed over an image of the sea at night. Digital audiobook cover of Dark Places by Gillian Flynn . The spreading roots of a tree are rendered in eerie green on a black background. Ebook cover of Knock Knock, Open Wide by Neil Sharpson. The imagebof a horned woman with dark hair, wearing a fur-lined collar, splits apart to reveal a second young woman with short hair, a nose piercing, and a sad look. Subtitle reads: Look inside. It needs you.
November 13, 2025 at 3:20 PM
spacewhalespress.bsky.social
Update: this is Solaire's bouncer now

#caturday
An orange tabby and white cat sits curled up in a green and white baby bouncer. Brightly colored toys hang above him.
November 8, 2025 at 4:53 PM
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QRP your dark art
October 28, 2025 at 9:57 PM
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A small loaf, full of concern.

#caturday
A small torbie cat sits on a black office chair, her feet tucked underneath her in a loaf position. Her face is turned toward the viewer, her ears pointed outward in a mildly perturbed expression.
October 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
spacewhalespress.bsky.social
I made this in order to participate in the demonstrations while also attending the book fair, but ended up not being able to use it because of printer issues. Maybe someone else will find a use for it?

#nokings #tarot
Five Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot cards, all in reverse, positioned as though they are falling from the top of the image: the Emperor, the King of Cups, the King of Pentacles, the King of Wands, and the King of Swords. Text in block capitols: no kings, no dictators
October 19, 2025 at 12:15 AM
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We're here! Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield, on the right down from the entrance!

#horrorbookfair #spookyfrogevents
A display of books and Tarot art!
October 18, 2025 at 4:27 PM
spacewhalespress.bsky.social
TWO events this weekend! Come say hi!
Spooky Frog, Goth Barge, DJ Synthia A Horrifying Book Fair Over 45 horror authors, local vendors, and more! Saturday, October 18th, 2025 11AM-4PM | All ages | Free parking | $5 entry Sheraton Hotel | 375 S. Moorland Rd., Brookfield, WI Image of a speckled frog on an orange and red geometric carpet What the Hex DIA DE MUERTOS A Día de Muertos-themed witch market featuring goods inspired by ancestral traditions and a vibrant respectful celebration of the dead October 19th 12pm-5pm $3 entry, children under 12 free Dresden Castle 3775 E Underwood Ave Cudahy, WI 53110 Image of a paper banner of cutout skulls in orange, pink, and yellow and black birds patterned with bones and flowers on a light blue background
October 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
spacewhalespress.bsky.social
Small loaf spotted

#caturday
A small torbie cat sits in the loaf position on a white couch, with a gray blanket in the background and a dark gray pillow behind her. She faces left, her small face in profile, and her eyes are closed. One ear is turned toward the viewer.
October 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
spacewhalespress.bsky.social
Solaire got a new, Halloween-themed cardboard cat house. It came with some GOOD catnip.

#caturday
An orange tabby and white cat emerges from the mouth of a smiling cardboard jack-o-lantern, one paw on the ground and his head twisted around toward the viewer. He is licking the wooden floor.
October 4, 2025 at 2:43 PM
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It's been a while since I checked around, so I was surprised and delighted to find this five-star review on Goodreads! If this sounds like something that interests you, BEYOND THE FROST-COLD SEA is available wherever books are sold, or go to spacewhalespress.com/buy-my-books

#swordandsorcery
A painted background of mountains rising above blue fog under a yellow sunrise. Text reads: Praise for Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea. This was such a run read. It has great action, a solid plot, and a lcoestory that unfolds naturally so you actually care about the characters. I don't read mich modern sword and sorcery, but this book is definitely a welcome modernization of the classic genre I grew up reading. I'll definitely continue reading more in this series.
October 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
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#currentlyreading THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.

I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic landscapes described in poetic language, so it grabbed me from the start. Since then, the worldbuilding has been just excellent.
Digital audiobook cover of THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, showing a cardinal and beneath it, a bluebird placed upside-down so the two birds' feet meet in the middle. The images of both birds have been cut apart on vertical axes and imperfectly pasted back together.
October 2, 2025 at 3:59 PM
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The blanket nest was so good, the cats were even motivated to share.

#caturday
Two cats sleep curled up next to each other in a pile of blankets and pillows. On the left is an orange tabby and white cat, and on the right is a smaller torbie.
September 27, 2025 at 2:29 PM
spacewhalespress.bsky.social
#currentlyreading HUNT, GATHER, PARENT: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans, by Michaeleen Doucleff.

Any other recommendations for parenting books? I want to do the best I can for my little human.
Digital audiobook cover of Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD. On a sky-blue background, the image of a canvas bag containing a pig, a giraffe, a narwhal, and a fishing pole. On the ground next to the bag, a pair of white Mary Jane shoes, a mango?, an ear of corn, a handful of blueberries, and a yellow chick.
September 23, 2025 at 1:19 PM
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Big flops!

#caturday
An orange tabby and white cat lies stretched out on the landing of some carpeted stairs, stretched out with his front paw and face toward the viewer and his tail curled up behind him.
September 20, 2025 at 1:24 PM
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This Sunday (the 21st), I'll be heading back to the Kenosha Book Festival! In addition to a collection of local & indie authors eager to talk books with you, there will be delicious food, a huge used books sale, and goody bags for the first 100 guests (so be sure to come early!)
Kenosha Book Festival, 2025 Edition - Chapter Six Sunday, September 21st - 10AM to 3PM Studio Moonfall • 5031 7th Avenue • www.kenoshabookfestival.com Studio Moonfall: Kenosha's home for local & indie authors! Includes some photographs of people visiting authors' tables at previous events.
September 18, 2025 at 3:12 PM
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Shepard always looks so comfy.
#caturday
A medium-hair torbie cat sleeps on a pile of blue pillows, her paws folded, her tail curled around her, and her ears up in a listening pose.
September 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
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#currentlyreading A DAY OF FALLEN NIGHT. It has been a while since a book has gripped me from page 1. I'm enjoying it even more than THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE.
.
Also just started BLOOD OVER BRIGHT HAVEN. Can my sleep-deprived brain keep track of two books at once? We'll find out!
Paperback edition of A DAY OF FALLEN NIGHT by Samantha Shannon, placed on a wooden floor next to a white rug with a pink and purple crochet blanket visible at the bottom right. The cover shows a long, serpentine dragon with blue scales and a golden mane, along with evergreen branches. A screenshot from the Libby app showing the digital audiobook of BLOOD OVER BRIGHT HAVEN by M.L. Wang. The cover shows a dark orb filled with red flames balanced over a dramatically foreshortened typewriter, with the text of the title and author's name in an arch above it. Bright yellow orbs and traces of light, as in a long-exposure photograph of the night sky, arc over the top. Below is the text "Chapter 1: A Field of Flowers"
September 11, 2025 at 8:42 PM
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This is my fault for leaving the bouncer in the choicest sun spot.

#caturday
An orange tabby and white cat lounges in a baby's bouncer, three colorful toys above his head. His eyes are half closed, giving him a smug expression. Sunlight falls on the bouncer and the wooden floor underneath.
September 6, 2025 at 5:12 PM
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Bird watching: a saga

#caturday
An orange tabby and white cat and a smaller torbie cat sit on some carpeted stairs, the orange cat on the top stair and the torbie one step down, staring out a window outside of frame with a striped curtain. An orange tabby and white cat and a torbie cat sit on the same step, both in the same pose, hunched down with their heads up and their ears pointed forward An orange tabby and white cat lies on the top step, asleep with his paws tucked under his body and his head down and turned away from the camera. A smaller torbie cat lies stretched out next to him, one paw stretched out toward the camera and her head down.
August 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
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I got bitten by three different mosquitos just to bring you this picture of my husband's tomatoes
Eight cherry tomatoes on a vine, varying in color, with bright orange-red tomatoes on the top and vivid green ones on the bottom. More red and green tomatoes appear in the background, obscured by leaves.
August 27, 2025 at 8:35 PM
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Shepard may look like she's having an existential crisis, but she is actually purring and waiting somewhat patiently for belly rubs.

#caturday
A small torbie cat lies on her side on an off-white couch. Her eyes have a distant, troubled look, but her paws are curved mid-knead and the patch of long hair on her belly is exposed.
August 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM