Oleander Craw
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oleandercraw.bsky.social
Oleander Craw
@oleandercraw.bsky.social
150 followers 320 following 940 posts
Author of THE WARDS WILL FALL (2025) / DEVOURING FORTUNE (coming 2026) || 🚫NO AI || they/he 🏳️‍⚧️

http://oleandercraw.carrd.co
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oleandercraw.bsky.social
Here's a Puck for you today
Puck the cat in a pink fuzzy bed under a blue blanket
January 15, 2026 at 9:40 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Another evening of doing audio chapter things with J.... And we learned the squeaky chair was a bigger problem than anticipated 🥲
A recording studio
January 15, 2026 at 1:15 AM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Favorite part about french onion soup is then eating it as leftovers for breakfast for days afterward
French onion soup on a green plate
January 13, 2026 at 3:32 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Chapter 12 of TWWF is up!

For those of you new, this is a queer dark fantasy novel releasing through my newsletter. It follows the seer Maxwell as he navigates a land of decaying eldritch cities and the mysterious entity possessing him.

Read (or listen) now -
www.oleandercraw.com/the-wards-wi...
Eva snorted. “You’re jesting with me, of course. This isn’t something a witcheye just knows. I’d never seen such magic before until you arrived.” Maxwell blinked in surprise. He looked to General Aldi for answers. “Oswald had seemed to understand the windskip’s magic. And I thought you were familiar with the henotic device in Talmany—” General Aldi didn’t speak for a long moment. His spirit flattened in a curious way, compressing into something unobtrusive and quiet. If Maxwell had been better at close reading he’d probably be able to figure out the implications, but instinct was enough. The general was hiding something. And he was afraid. The Wards Will Fall book cover, featuring Maxwell looking apprehensive in a big coat while a shadow with a golden eye lurks behind him.
January 12, 2026 at 11:51 AM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Because I'm working on more TWWF edits this morning for a chapter buffer, here's an excerpt for #WIPSnips

Maxwell is trying to have a conversation with the mysterious spirit trailing him that he calls Not-Ivan, but he's not getting any of the answers he needs.
“You’re responsible for all this. I wouldn’t even be in this position if it wasn’t for you,” Maxwell choked on the words. He stared at Not-Ivan, his breath quickening as he struggled for air around the gathering disquiet in his chest. He was climbing the walls of his own mind with no outlet, beholden to a spirit that was at least partially responsible for the destruction of everything he’d held dear. “What do you even need me for?” Maxwell demanded. “Why keep me alive?” Not-Ivan opened his mouth like he would respond, then sealed it shut into a thin silent line. His mismatched gaze glittered unnaturally in the dark. Shadows take him. Shadows take them all.
January 11, 2026 at 12:52 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
You're right!! I've got a free newsletter serial and a new upcoming release~

DEVOURING FORTUNE (Science Fantasy)
📖 Dual POV & Timefuckery
🔷 Transmasc Fortune Weaver
💀 Trickster Entity Trapped in a Cave

THE WARDS WILL FALL (Dark Fantasy)
👁️ Angsty Bi Seer MMC
💫 Ancient Magic
🔔 Nothing is As it Seems
The wards will fall book cover. A man looking dubiously to the side while wearing a big coat. Behind him is a shadow with a golden eye Devouring Fortune. Book cover coming
January 7, 2026 at 1:01 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
For some reason the images failed to upload properly, so here they are again 🙃
January 5, 2026 at 3:42 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Another chapter of TWWF is live!

For those of you new, this is a queer dark fantasy novel free through my newsletter. It follows the seer Maxwell as he navigates an eldritch land slowly decaying and the mysterious entity possessing him.

Read (or listen) 👇
www.oleandercraw.com/the-wards-wi...
Maxwell walked stiffly out of the room, heart humming. The infirmary was deserted and dark except for a single oil lamp that revealed the slumped form of Officer Sunden against the wall, motionless with arms and legs bound in front of him. No blood, so hopefully not dead. General Aldi had left his assistant to guard the door for the night then. The knife dug under Maxwell’s ribs. He inhaled sharply. No time to think on it. “Keep going,” the orderly demanded. The Wards Will Fall book cover
January 5, 2026 at 3:27 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Yes ok, I'll accept this
Your 2026 word: prosperous
January 1, 2026 at 8:38 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Off work this week and getting a lot of editing wrapped up. Really wish I didn't need a full time job to pay the bills because I would get so much writing done
Photo of my laptop open to scrivener and a latte behind my laptop at a coffee shop
December 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Chapter 10 of THE WARDS WILL FALL is live!

A queer dark fantasy releasing a chapter a week for free through my newsletter.

Come read (or listen!) about a sad bi protag navigating a crisis of faith while becoming hopelessly entangled with an ancient entity. 👇

www.oleandercraw.com/the-wards-wi...
Ivan’s warning wound through his mind. The whispered words were nonsense, his half-formed fears reflected back at him with Ivan as some sort of perverse mouthpiece. But the squirming pit of nerves in his stomach wouldn’t let him rest. “What did you mean earlier?” Maxwell demanded of Ivan who had taken up silent residence in the far corner. Maxwell threw himself down on the bed and stared up at the fading afternoon light through the window. He didn’t really expected an answer, but talking to Ivan’s specter was the only way to distract himself from being alone with his thoughts once more. “Bochir,” Ivan murmured. “What?” Maxwell rolled over onto his elbows. “The general mentioned Bochir,” Ivan said. He held his head at an angle, his eyes trained on the floor like he was reading something on the tiles.
December 29, 2025 at 12:10 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
I don't have doctor, but medicine certainly comes up. Here's another snippet from DEVOURING FORTUNE. Daryifel has a run in with Golsani, First Limb of Auditing, in the baths.

#WIPSnips
Golsani loosened her grip and slipped back into the water, her pale eyes holding mine. The medicinal scent of the bath oils seared my lungs. I realized I was breathing hard and took an even breath. I eased back onto the bench. “I don’t know,” I replied bitterly. “I don’t know why Yasen returned on the same day. I have nothing.” Golsani studied me thoughtfully. “I’m going to let you in on a secret.” I eyed her warily and didn’t respond. Golsani didn’t share secrets.
December 27, 2025 at 4:28 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Sitting by the big window, staring at all the fresh snow, getting ready to dive back into Devouring Fortune edits with a peppermint coffee.

Will I start writing the bonus monsterfucker scene today thanks to @lincodega.com? Likely.
Whipped cream and crushed peppermint on top of coffee in a mint green mug
December 27, 2025 at 1:58 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Morrigan is very understated in her appreciation for fresh snow
Morrigan the Alaskan malamute standing in the snow
December 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
My malamutes were very excited
An Alaskan malamute happily running in the snow
December 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
A little excerpt of DEVOURING FORTUNE this morning as I work on edits. Reed has been listening to the story of Daryifel, and it's changing him in sharp ways as much as he wishes that wasn't the case.
Days. It had been days since Reed had last emerged from the cave. Maybe. It was hard to tell time in the liminal borderland the beast of fortune resided. He’d fallen asleep at least once through the story, only to continue dreaming of Daryifel. The dream was sharp as lived experience, crisp as if he was standing by her side. He’d woken unrefreshed, the weak sunlight filtering through the cave entrance unchanged and Daryifel’s hatred for the House etching into his very bones. It was an intimate and personal hatred, sharp as salt in a wound and forged over a lifetime of layered convictions. This type of pain was dangerous, unpredictable and disposed to reaching out to devour others. Reed knew its shape well. Much of his own journey to find the bones had been fueled by the same. And it wasn’t his to keep as much as the bones seemed bent on convincing him otherwise.
December 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
I am slowly collecting holiday themed cheese ball recipes and I gotta say I'm writing this one down, a real winner
A Christmas tree shaped cheese ball on a wooden platter surrounded by crackers, pecans, sausage and dried apricots
December 25, 2025 at 9:45 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Chapter 9 of THE WARDS WILL FALL is up!

A chapter a week releasing for free for my newsletter subscribers.

Come read (or listen!) about a sad bi protag navigating a crisis of faith while becoming hopelessly entangled with an ancient entity. 👇

www.oleandercraw.com/the-wards-wi...
“You’re still here,” Maxwell sighed. He scrubbed his face in his hands and groaned. “When are you going to leave me alone?” Ivan’s smiled widened. He flung himself down on the bed, head in his hands. His hair fell into his eyes, curling a touch at the ends, and his eyes were full of something almost vicious in their deep brown warmth. He spoke out of the corner of his mouth, drawing the words out to hang in the air between them. “Do you want me to leave you alone?” Yes. No. He wasn’t going to answer that. Not aloud at any rate. Admitting he wanted Ivan’s specter to hang around sounded like a road to further disaster. Ivan was dead and whatever Maxwell’s mind had conjured up in his place could only be damaging in the long run.
December 22, 2025 at 12:21 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
This really fantastic collection of short stories by Thomas Ha.

Weird with gorgeous writing. Love how each story feels like a unique glimpse into a strange different world. Giving me a lot to think on, especially related to what is being said and not said with word choice in worldbuilding.
Uncertain Sons and other stories by Thomas Ha
December 18, 2025 at 3:22 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
I gotta show off the cover for my serial that @sorenhaxan.bsky.social did. It's phenomenal.
The Wards Will Fall cover. Features a guy looking hesitant on the front with a big gnarly spirit behind him
December 17, 2025 at 3:44 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Very happy to say that after 2+ years of managing this hell disease my muscle strength is returning. 315# leg press feeling pretty good!
A leg press with 3 plates on one side
December 16, 2025 at 10:36 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Chapter 8 of THE WARDS WILL FALL is up! This is a dark fantasy novel exclusive for my newsletter readers. Come read (or listen) to a new chapter every Monday.

And stay tuned for a big book announcement this month in my monthly newsletter.... 💫

www.oleandercraw.com/the-wards-wi...
The windskip hit a pocket of air and shuddered, spiraling up briefly before plummeting down towards the ocean. Maxwell clenched his teeth against his stomach’s desire to climb his throat. The receding clouds flickered oddly, taking on strange rosy hues behind Lathuel’s magical barrier. A smudge of color appeared on the horizon. It wasn’t until the outline of hills came in clearer focus, punctuated by blocky rectangular Balebian structures set on the sea cliff, that he bolted upright with a stunned cry. Old fashioned sail boats bobbed in the waves below the complex, cradled in a sheltering cove.
December 15, 2025 at 2:48 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Got some art today at the holiday market for the wall
December 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Chapter 7 of The Wards Will Fall is up! Maxwell's home city of Eteln is in reach, but the night is far from over...

An exclusive dark fantasy novel for my newsletter. The first five chapters Read (or listen) for free. A new chapter every Monday.
www.oleandercraw.com/the-wards-wi...
Ivan perched on the farthest flight bench, his theurgist uniform impeccable down to the starched shirt and crisp white coat. He certainly hadn’t been wearing it when he’d died. His eyes were steady, his hands loosely folded together. Ivan was never still, his hands always busy. “You’re not real. You’re—” Maxwell choked on the last word. Ivan didn’t respond for a long moment. He stood. “Are you sure?” Maxwell remained frozen in place in his precarious position. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. Ivan pushed past the last flight bench and stood in front of him, hands at his sides, his face an unfathomable mask.
December 8, 2025 at 12:21 PM
oleandercraw.bsky.social
Working on fleshing out some of the worldbuilding details in Obsidian before I get deeper into some of these edits for Devouring Fortune. Most of this I had in my head but putting it down on the page finally so I can make sure I'm being consistent when I go back through and flesh things out a bit.
A screenshot of obsidian. At the top it says Worldbuilding / Sun Reeds. Below that is an image of papyrus plants followed by a header that says Description with two blurred out paragraphs. Below Description it says History, with more blurred out paragraphs.
December 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM