Tessera

A.J. McCrae

@ajmccrae.com

Neurodivergent author of romantic fantasy & folk horror. I like cursing characters and writing science-y magic. Appalachian witch, always spooky. 💜 she/her ajmccrae.com

212 Posts182 Follower 240 Folgt

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 2w ago

Couldn't find a container quickly enough before I lost momentum so I harvested my snapdragon seeds in a teacup. You know, as one does.

My pale-skinned hand holding a pair of scissors and a white teacup with a berry design on the side.

The same teacup from the front showing a purple, pink, and yellow moth.

The inside of a white teacup that says "Lull" on the bottom. Snapdragon seed pods and tiny black seeds cover the surface.

A.J. McCrae@ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

Braved the smoke outside long enough to let the dog out and check my plants from the recent heat wave. My snapdragons are currently giving "angler fish" #GardenSky #FlowerSky

A closeup of dried snapdragon seed pods resembling fish-like skulls.

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 2w ago

Rewarded for a week stuck inside with some gorgeous insects on today's walk, including a hummingbird moth which I've never seen in person! #Wildlife #Nature #Pollinators 🦋🐝🌻

A hummingbird clearing moth collecting nectar from a pink flower.

A monarch butterfly resting on a pink flower with its orange, black, and white wings partially open.

An Eastern bubble bee on a bright yellow flower.

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

I fear my tiny nightstand may not be able to hold many more research books 😅 (and I have 5 new ones on the way...) #AmWriting #Folklore #FolkHorror

A stack of books including: Finding Faeries by Alexandra Rowland; The Big Book of Cryptid Trivia by Bernadette Johnson; Magic from the Hilltops & Hollers by Leah Middleton; Monsters of the Northeast by Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler; Spooky Appalachia retold by S.E. Schlosser; Haunted Pennsylvania by Mark Nesbitt and Patty A. Wilson; Backwoods Witchcraft by Jake Richards; American Monsters by Linda S. Godfrey; Spooky Pennsylvania retold by S.E. Schlosser; The Big Book of Pennsylvania Ghost Stories by Mark Nesbitt and Patty A. Wilson; and Wild Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer.

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

This is Charlie. Her favorite hobby is sitting next to my bed and staring at me for extended lengths of time. That is all.

My black cat staring very intently up at me from the floor.

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

My research assistant today is slacking on the job. I've got a stack of books on Appalachian folklore to get through and he's just snoozing away 💤 Probably has the right idea 😂

My tabby cat sleeping on the bed beside me with his toe beans showing.

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

Attempting to enjoy the storms rolling in before they go from "delightful writing conditions" to "please don't bring a tree down" #AmWriting

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

Braved the smoke outside long enough to let the dog out and check my plants from the recent heat wave. My snapdragons are currently giving "angler fish" #GardenSky #FlowerSky

Another closeup of snapdragon seed pods that look remarkably like an angler fish.

Science News @sciencenews.bsky.social · 3w ago

Examinations of almost 4,000-year-old mummified princesses suggest that they were skilled users of the daggers, bows and other weapons buried with them, researchers report. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ancient-egyptian-princesses-weapons-war

Ancient Egyptian princesses knew their way around weapons of war

Analysis of six mummies from ancient Egypt challenges the idea that the bows and daggers buried with some royal women were merely ceremonial.

sciencenews.org

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

Sometimes my doomscrolling is cute/funny animal videos. And sometimes it's 3 hours of learning about using sterile flies for screw worm management, and farming practices to encourage dragonfly populations, and floating farms in Bangladesh, and deep sea creature scanning using lasers.

Ange | Author A. M. Shilling @gunsmile.bsky.social · 3w ago

Thanks so much to @cmrosens.com for this kind review! Interested readers can check out the first two chapters of THE DEVOURING for free on my website, and purchase a copy from most major book retailers. amshilling.com/books/the-devouring #BookSky #WritingCommunity #IndieBooks

The Devouring

HORROR / THRILLER NOVEL • 405 PAGESRELEASED APRIL 9, 2026SELF-PUBLISHED Jason and Ayana’s lives as a married couple have always run parallel but never entwined. It’s the perfect arrangement: he’s f…

amshilling.com

Divination Hollow Reviews@divinationhollow.bsky.social · 3w ago

Today's #bookreview comes from contributor @cmrosens.com, who reviews The Devouring by author A. M. Shilling. Check out C.M's thoughts on this Lovecraftian cosmic horror thriller!

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

You know you work with good people when they immediately ask about your pet's health and if you need more time off after you post that you'll be out for an afternoon vet appointment. (Everything's good, just a routine checkup and I forgot to add that in my work post 😅)

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

The afternoon migraine sucked but waking up to my nap time companion is always nice 💜

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

Had a fun day participating in #BluePit and seeing all the amazing stories we will (hopefully) get to read one day! It also led to a breakthrough on one of the WIPs I shared! Something just finally *clicked* when I wrote up the pitch and now I'm ready to dive back in again 💪

Sarah @selford.bsky.social · 3w ago

To Do: 1.Change name 2.Avoid Godmothers & Princesses 3.Find portal home 4.DO NOT GET MARRIED After an unwise wish Prince Charming wakes in a magical realm where there's a shortage of suitors for princesses. Godmothers are hunting him down, and his only ally is a talking frog. #BLUEPIT #📖 #Q #YA #F

Collection of pictures clockwise from top left.
A crown-wearing frog sitting on a lilypad. A crowned man with gold hands resting on his shoulders, instead of a face there's an oval showing a dimly lit corridor. A white horse in fog. A large tree with moss covered roots. A book with sparkles and light emitting from the pages. A close up of a red apple. A woman in a blue gown and cloak, with a tiara.

Hanna Patrick is Querying @hannapatrick.bsky.social · 3w ago

If you like: 🔮unique magic systems 🔥Slow burn romance ❤️‍🔥Strangers➡️lovers➡️enemies ⚔️Fierce female protagonists 🍃BG3 Rivington-esque setting 💖LGBTQIA rep on the page 🤪All the banter Then this one’s for you! COVENANT OF THE DAMNED is a 116k rom. fantasy querying now #📖 #bluepit #A #F #Q

Annabeth is querying!@annabethwrites.bsky.social · 3w ago

ANASTASIA X THE SERPENT & THE WINGS OF NIGHT ❤️‍🔥93k Adult Romantasy ✨Light X Shadow ✨Strong but messy FMC ✨He falls first (and so much harder!) ✨Elemental magic ✨Slow burn ✨Deadly Trials ✨Forced proximity ✨Found family ✨Meddling gods ✨SO MUCH YEARNING #Bluepit #Q #A #F #R #📖

The moon also rises - 93k adult romantasy

Pitch: after thief Rorie discovers she’s the lost princess of a fallen light magic dynasty, lethal succession trials pit her against a shadow wielding rival— but as the conspiracy behind her bloodline’s slaughter pushes them together, their bond threatens both her heart and her claim for the crown.

Comps: Anastasia, servant of Earth, when the moon hatched and the serpent and the wings of night

Adregem ཐིཋྀ @adregem.bsky.social · 3w ago

LIGHT WIELDING & OTHER MORTAL MAGICS In a dark realm where light is toxic and steel is untouchable, a mortal woman with a flashlight and a cosplay sword must ally with a monster king to stop a vengeful demigod. #BluePit #📖 #NA #F #R #Q #ND

Mood board for the fantasy novel "Light Wielding and Other Mortal Magics."The moon behind the clouds; bats in a cave; a death's head moth, fog in the redwood forest; a lighthouse, cracked earth; a sword. Moth and mushroom details.

AmaraJLynn 🦹 drafting Fire & Feathers @amaralynn.bsky.social · 3w ago

NON-BINARY WONDERLAND x BEAUTY & THE BEAST Alois falls down the rabbit hole and finds fearsome beast Jabberwocky is nothing like the poem—they're kind, gentle, & love books. If they want a fairy tale HEA with Jabber, they must end the corrupt Red empire’s destructive reign. #A #F#R #BluePit #LGBT

Text: agents' guide to Alois.
a fairytale romantasy.
Wonderland x Beauty and the Beast with a primarily non-binary cast.
86k words.
Imagery: an illustration of Alois falling down the rabbit hole, and an illustration of a rose.

Text: tropes/themes
enemies to lovers
monster love interest
the monsters aren't the villains
bookworm MC
Touch them and die
queer acceptance
Illustrations: Alois reading under a tree, and two stacked books.

Text: comps.
Imagery: the title pages for Uprooted and Belle REVOLTE, movie covers for Howl's Moving Castle, and The Ancient Magus' Bride. Image of Belle and Beast dancing from the live action Disney movie, and a drawing depicting Beast turned human and Belle holding a knife with a speech bubble saying "Belle it's me" and "change back".

Text: the pitch:
When enby bookworm Alois falls down a rabbit hole, the last thing they expect is to find where they belong and fall for the fearsome Jabberwocky. Jabber is nothing like the poem Alois read as a child; They're kind, gentle, and love books.

If Alois wants their happily ever after, however, they must bring an end to the corrupt Red rule and their own mother’s destructive reign of Wonderland.

Illustrations: Alois holding a book and walking down a hallway with three paintings, and an animal skull

Blythe Gilpin @blythewrytes.bsky.social · 3w ago

BEAUTY & THE BEAST x STAR TREK Roan, part of the last team of archaeologists sent to Earth, stumbles into an ancient bunker haunted by the synthetic mind of a trillionaire. She’s the only one who can fix his tech, but can she save him before Earth is swallowed by the Sun? #BluePit #📖 #Q #A #SF #ND

A collage of photos with text in the middle saying “Archaeologists will date any old thing.” The other pictures include a circuit board, archaeology tools, a record player, a museum interior, an astronaut looking at San Francisco buried in sand, a man holding a dark rose, a person reaching out to a ghostly figure, and an espresso machine.

Kelsea Wolf 📚 ✨@kelseawolf-writes.bsky.social · 3w ago

Gravity Falls X The Sunbearer Trials When the Society of Curse Breakers is cursed, Alice is accused and must follow a map of riddles to find the amulet that can break the curse before the traitors use it’s extraordinary magic to take over the world. ⛵️ 👻 🔮 ⚔️ 🗺️ #bluepit #q #ya #uf

A mood board containing the following text META DATA
YOUNG ADULT URBAN FANTASY
88K STAND- ALONE OR SERIES POTENTIAL (BOOK TWO COMPLETE)
Tropes
Found Family
Enemies to Friends
Weird Girl Friendships
THE SOCIETY OF CURSE BREAKERS
THE PITCH
Alice has been kicked out of seven schools in seven years. She's tired of taking the blame for disasters that can't possibly be her fault, or if they are, no one will explain why. When her aunt invites her to come live in their family home, and train to follow the family legacy, Alice hopes to understand who she is and what happened to her parents. For centuries her family has led The Society of Curse Breakers, but curse breaking is treacherous and there are enemies around every corner. A week into her new life the leaders of the society are cursed, and Alice is framed. To clear her name and save her people, she must sail south solving ancient riddles and battle cryptids and folktales to find the amulet that can break the curse, without leading the traitors to the key to conquering the magical world.
There is a phot of a sailing ship, the ocean a map and a swamp

A mood board with pictures from clockwise, a swamp, a capybara, a swamp, a map, a lighthouse, a sailing ship, a tunnel, a brick mansion, and a diver. The words clockwise say, betrayal, diverse magic systems, folklore, cryptids, strange villians, pirates, spirits, curses, urban fantasy, found family. With the society of curse breakers in the center.

Alexis ☕ is querying @abookishchai.bsky.social · 3w ago

HAZELTHORN X YELLOWJACKETS Lucas, a sullen painter working at his local community theater, must cooperate with Mira, a self-absorbed seventeen-year-old, to save his best friend from the theater’s botanical horrors. #Bluepit #H #SP #Q #YA #Bluepit📖 #📖

@amberjollyauthor.bsky.social · 3w ago

❄️Project Winter-a holiday, paranormal romance With Jack Frost magic and a Christmas deadline, a murder.ed social worker must leverage her ex, the only man she’s ever loved, to solve her unfinished business. Second chance romance Sisters Fake dating ❄️❄️ magic #bluepit #A #R #PN #W art by mknzgmbn

Mariann Evans @mevanswrites.bsky.social · 3w ago

NEEDY LITTLE THINGS x THE MORTUARY ASSISTANT Mara can see the last thing the dead saw. When a murdered girl’s final memory reveals Mara’s best friend, who disappeared three years ago, Mara’s gift becomes the key to solving both cases. If it doesn’t get her killed first. #BluePit #📖 #YA #M #W

A nine block moodboard with dramatic, mysterious vibes. The blocks include: mortuary tags, a girl sitting by a grave, undelivered text messages saying I miss you, come back, hands reaching for each other in the smoke, “dead girl walking” chalked into the asphalt, a girl sitting with her head on her knees, police caution tape with blood, Two girls running towards a rainbow while holding hands, a gravestone close up on the words in loving memory.

Els🖤🤍💜🩶@elsjones.bsky.social · 3w ago

MASTER OF DJINN X THE LAST BINDING Tal is a necromancer in hiding until Daniel uncovers her secret. He'll keep it - if she helps him stop a mage murderer. Can she trust him before she becomes the next victim? Can she survive The Dissolution of Tal Stephens? #A #F #R #W #ND #BluePit #📖

A 19th c portrait of a woman in a red gown whose face is melting. It has a green frame And the title The Dissolution of Tal Stephens

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 3w ago

KNIGHT & THE MOTH x GODKILLER x Renaissance "Italy" Drina, illegal witch and war orphan, can free her kingdom from the evil gods who rule--if she teams up with witchkiller Dante and steals 7 angel hearts. She'll kill him in the end--if she doesn't fall in love with him first. #A #F #BluePit 📖

[[a collage of images and the text be my beautiful enemy. two people kiss in the dark. there is a stately roman temple. a verdigris angel. and the duomo of Florence with its red roof tiles.]]

PJ (he/him) is querying...@pjwrites.bsky.social · 3w ago

PROJECT BONES After being accused of inviting the plague into a royal summit, a necromancer priest has to work with his only alibi, a cagey nobleman, to clear his name. 🦴 Death magic 🏰 Locked-castle mystery 🕯️ Medieval fantasy 🏹 Robin Hood trope 🏳️‍🌈 MM romance #BluePit #📖 #W #A #F #LGBT #DIS

A moodboard containing imagery of ghosts, bones, foxes, the night sky, and a palace. The title says "PROJECT BONES."

PITCH

Necromancer Nevell of Farlay cannot die, not since surviving the plague as a youth. Now he works as a priest to the god-king, summoned to protect His Majesty during the plague season. But when a mysterious spirit is sighted and nobleman is found dead, Nevell’s reputation gets called into question. His only alibi is the cagey, annoyingly handsome Lord Hargrave, whose reluctance to help Nevell clear his name threatens Nevell’s clergy rank—the only thing protecting his home from the horrors of the plague.

EXCERPT

“Have you no sense?” Nevell stepped between the man and the dying girl’s bed. His magic persisted, but the man carried a lantern that brought too much light into the room, threatening to wash out the spell. “A priest is at work. You should not be here.”

The man paid him no mind, instead peering over Nevell’s shoulder. “I’ve been called senseless before,” he said, speaking with the same grace his attire implied. “Is she…?”

“Dead? Nearly. The spirits are about her. You may have let them out.”

“Her mother has tended to her since this morn.” The man still didn’t look at Nevell. “The spirits will have fled already, if they intended to.”

“Spirits often lack intention.”

“You would know best.” The man took a few steps toward the bed, only stopping when Nevell grabbed his shoulder. He tried to shrug out of the grip, but Nevell held fast. “Father, we can save her—”

“Nay,” Nevell said. “She’s gone.”

INSPIRATION

This image contains inspirations for this WIP, including:

A serious of T. Kingfisher books ("A Sorceress Comes to Call," "Nettle & Bone," and "Hemlock & Silver) labeled "T. KIngfisher's horror-fantasy blend.

A picture of Robin Hood from Disney's Robin Hood, labeled as such.

An image of a necromancer with skeletons from Bioware 4 labeled as "The Country Nevarra from Dragon Age 4."

"The Tainted Cup" by Robert Jackson Bennett, "The Gentleman and his Vowsmith" by Rebecca Ide, and "Green & Deadly Things" by Jenn Lyons, all labeled as "potential comps."

henna is drafting 🌿💐🐈‍⬛@hennamarchives.bsky.social · 3w ago

THE EVERLASTING x THE KNIGHT & THE MOTH featuring... 🪞 exiled heiress x lost prince 🪞 water goddess with a lil bit of a vendetta 🪞 exploration of agency in a collectivist society 🪞 are we more than our shame? #bluepit #📖 #W #A #F #OV #POC

Alex, the Warrior of Write @authoralexharvey.bsky.social · 3w ago

A woman out of time. A soldier longing for home. A peasant fighting for her life. A savior entombed in stone. Four women at the epicenter of a conflict that will reshape their earth and sky, and all of life as they know it. A sapphic epic fantasy serializing August 7th! #BluePit #📖 #A #F #W #LGBT

A pitch deck with a forest background. The slide says "From Under a Poisoned Bough, a serial by Alex Harvey-Rivas"

followed by

Sapphic ecological epic fantasy
Weekly serial starting August 17th

A pitch deck with a forest background. On the left side, it lists tropes and themes. On the right side, it lists four pieces of media and how they inspired the book. The media starting from top left and moving right are: Final Fantasy 13, Naucisaa of the Valley of the Wind, The Traitor Baru Cormorant, and Hollow Knight.

A pitch deck over a forest background. On the left is the summary. On the right is a series of excerpts from the work.

A pitch deck over a forest background. It's titled "The Characters" and shows four characters with a grayscale picrew picture to accompany them. From top left and moving right then down:

Lili, a woman with long hair that goes down her back and billows out. She wears a mesh top and has several piercings. Her entry is titled "A Woman Out of Time"

Myrtle, a woman with long hair that goes down her back and is fairly narrow. She wears a low cut shirt and sweater and is holding a knife. Her entry is titled "A Peasant Fighting for Her Life"

Ahelicia, a woman with long hair in twin braids. She wears a lace up tunic and is carrying a sword. Her entry is titled "A Soldier Longing for Home"

Sorrel, a woman with short dark hair. She wears a button up shirt and has her eyes closed. Her entry is titled "A Savior Entombed in Stone"

Liz 👻🍂🪦@thewriteratlas.bsky.social · 3w ago

NECROMANCER PRINCE After the Empress’ sudden death, exiled imperial spy Simo enlists his necromancer ex-bf & twin sister to steal her corpse, resurrect her, and hunt down a magic artifact. #bluepit #F 💀 necromancers 🌤️ dark humor 💀 body snatching 🌤️ found family 💀 island setting 🌤️ court politics

‘The Empress wasn’t going to return his magic after all. She was going to let him rot overseas, separated from half his body and from his home, forever hiding the broken part of him for the sake of what tatters remained of his family’s reputation.’

Images: burning paper, a girl holding a sword, a man holding a crowned skull, a ship’s wheel, ancient pillars, and a hand grasping smoke.

A.J. McCrae @ajmccrae.com · 3w ago

The Monday is mondaying hard today. The latest development involves finding an ant infestation in my living room with no clear indication where they are coming from. I love insects, they're great, but not in this quantity in places they do not belong 😑