A.J. Hackwith

Portland doesn’t need the military. Portland has its own defenses.

I doodled a quartet of goblins in my planner today and remembered a) I don't draw for shit and b) it's delightful anyway. This may have to become a Thing. Maybe... #goblinoftheweek?

Anyway, here's four feral best friends who do crimes together.

John this is amazing and I only hate you a little for writing such a cool idea first YES PLEASE

Saddest thing about being an author is not reading your own book tags on AO3 because I ALSO want this 🥲

PLUS get inside info from the amazing minds of @mikechenwriter.bsky.social @valerievaldes.bsky.social and more. Pretty cool group @writersdigest.bsky.social put together (and let me sneak in)

Starts tomorrow! Register for the WD conference and on Saturday I'll be chatting about the 'Tentpole' method for cinematic plotting. If you're the kind that starts an idea with music video montages and big vibes, this is for you. writersdigestuniversity.mykajabi.com/science-fict...

Hey, if you wanna learn how I worldbuild despite HATING worldbuilding PLUS cool stuff from @swankmotron.com, @valerievaldes.bsky.social, @ajhackwith.bsky.social, and more, then join the @writersdigest.bsky.social SFF virtual con this weekend! writersdigestuniversity.mykajabi.com/science-fict...

At 3pm I am joining a lovely crew to discuss Solo TTRPGs and writing at Worldcon. Come check it out! I’ve been hauling a bag of heavy game books all day just to let folks flip through them after panel! 📚Room 420-422

Yesterday a Worldcon friend complimented me on my bi pride flag and I had to do a double take to realize what I’d done on accident. 🩷💜💙

I love them, your honor.

Taking a break from Worldcon to make sure you've heard about the delicious queers n' necromancy @macey.bsky.social book that was announced. Freakin' stoked.

Was just informed that I am in fact MODERATING the Outlining to Sell panel at 9am despite having checked “no” to moderation for worldcon. So…uh. Please come and plz clap as I Do My Best to with the extremely smart and talented panelists 👀

I will never forget how Meta defended this by insisting none of these books were of value alone, merely in aggregate. What a pathetic worldview.

AHHHH CONGRATS!!!!

a cartoon of cinderella with a very dark eye Alt: a cartoon gif of cinderella with a very dark eye smudges

The indignity of finally retiring to the hotel room after a long day at #worldcon and realizing your makeup has went full raccoon eyes for who knows how long and no one said anything

I am on low reserves so probs won’t be at the bar parties long, but will be around and would love to catch up! Let me know when you’re downtown and I’ll see if I can swing by

Hey #wolrdcon friends! In two hours I’m doing a (probably dramatic) reading from Toto. Catch me there, or at any of these other places this week: #worldcon2025

Just seeing this and overcome with feels. Thanks, friend <3

The 10 Best Dark Academia Fantasy Books There will be a quiz at the end of this darkly academic list. Hope you studied.

www.themarysue.com/the-10-best-...

I LOVED The Library at Mount Char.

Books by:
@naominovik.bsky.social
@ajhackwith.bsky.social
@rfkuang.bsky.social
‪

Guys, that signing blew me away. Thank you EVERYONE who came. I can’t believe we ran through all those books! #eccc2025

👀👀👀… Obviously I meant level TWO. SUMMIT LEVEL TWO. Author needs coffee badly

SIGNING DAY #eccc2025 Come grab a copy of TOTO and get it vandalized by me. 11am to 11:50, Penguin Random House booth 20515 on Summit level 3!
I'll have free stickers, babes. 🎉

We're not in Kansas anymore, #Toto! So thrilled to have stumbled upon this while browsing my #publiclibrary yesterday. Experiencing the Oz story from Toto's point of view is rocking my world tonight. @ajhackwith.bsky.social Bad dogs go to Oz. 💚 bookshop.org/p/books/toto... #booksky

Will you be at Emerald City ComicCon this weekend? I'll be signing books at the @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
booth on Saturday 11am! Grab a copy of TOTO while you're at it 📚 #eccc2025

Really good idea, past!me, getting into a new hobby that requires a lot of research and reading and testing technique that has completely overtaken the time I used to use reading news. A++, would recommend to everyone in the next 4 (or 10, probably) years.

Stay out of politics? Ridiculous! When has a writer ever managed to avoid politics? Every story is political. Tell a soul a story they want to believe, and you can change the world.

The Library of the Unwritten - @ajhackwith.bsky.social

a cat is sitting on a couch looking at a laptop . Alt: a lil cat man smacks the keyboard as fast as he can

DEFINITELY the boost I needed to get this draft wrapped up and sent to the editor this week.

*checks watch*

...oh god okay no one panic, back to work

Guys, I just got a sneak peek of cover art for the Goblin book that puts the romance (between spikey femme goblin and strongk fey lady knight) and it just...all the queer fairy tale feels. ❤️‍🔥

Can't stress this enough: a random story you write on a lark may end up being the one that gets you the most recognition while the one you really love may get few reads and/or your worst reviews. Don't overthink it. Publishing is a gamble. You'll win some; you'll lose some.

Storytelling Is Political, And That’s A Good Thing | The Nerd Daily Guest post written by Toto author A. J. Hackwith A. J. Hackwith(she/they) is a queer writer of fantasy and science fiction living in the woods of the Pacific Northwest with her partner and various pet...

Over on The Nerd Daily, I talked politics:
Storytelling Is Political, And That’s A Good Thing - thenerddaily.com/aj-hackwith-...