Steph Rae Moran
@stephraemoran.bsky.social
Folklore-inspired writer (fiction, blog, newsletter)
Reader of fantasy, historical fiction, and mystery
Loves nature, museums, and lattes
🌈 bi
newsletter: https://stephraemoran.substack.com/
website & folklore blog : https://stephraemoran.com/
Reader of fantasy, historical fiction, and mystery
Loves nature, museums, and lattes
🌈 bi
newsletter: https://stephraemoran.substack.com/
website & folklore blog : https://stephraemoran.com/
We recently took a trip to San Luis Obispo to check out the university (Cal Poly). (Our daughter is in the midst of applying to colleges.) Cal Poly is my alma mater, so it was fun to visit the campus. I love all of the new murals. And I took a selfie with Albert Einstein!
December 5, 2025 at 1:39 AM
We recently took a trip to San Luis Obispo to check out the university (Cal Poly). (Our daughter is in the midst of applying to colleges.) Cal Poly is my alma mater, so it was fun to visit the campus. I love all of the new murals. And I took a selfie with Albert Einstein!
The bones of Fred McFee and I wish you a spooky Halloween! When my kids were young, Eve Bunting's book, The Bones of Fred McFee, was a favorite read during this time of year. And one year we found our own Fred McFee to help us celebrate the season. He's been hanging around ever since. 🎃
October 31, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The bones of Fred McFee and I wish you a spooky Halloween! When my kids were young, Eve Bunting's book, The Bones of Fred McFee, was a favorite read during this time of year. And one year we found our own Fred McFee to help us celebrate the season. He's been hanging around ever since. 🎃
I think I can safely thank Taylor Swift's new song, "The Fate of Ophelia," for the sudden increase in traffic to my blog post on Ophelia. It's my top-ranking post for the week and impressions got a huge boost. :)
stephraemoran.com/the-owl-was-...
stephraemoran.com/the-owl-was-...
October 8, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I think I can safely thank Taylor Swift's new song, "The Fate of Ophelia," for the sudden increase in traffic to my blog post on Ophelia. It's my top-ranking post for the week and impressions got a huge boost. :)
stephraemoran.com/the-owl-was-...
stephraemoran.com/the-owl-was-...
Pop-up roller skating in downtown LA last night!
October 5, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Pop-up roller skating in downtown LA last night!
I attended Barbara DeMarco-Barrett's book launch party on Sunday. I love the cover! Can't wait to dive in and read her short story collection.
September 22, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I attended Barbara DeMarco-Barrett's book launch party on Sunday. I love the cover! Can't wait to dive in and read her short story collection.
Sights from a recent day at the beach. 😊
September 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Sights from a recent day at the beach. 😊
Where do you like to walk? I always enjoy this wilderness path. It's shady there in the afternoon, which is generally when I go walking. 🌳
August 6, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Where do you like to walk? I always enjoy this wilderness path. It's shady there in the afternoon, which is generally when I go walking. 🌳
I love this view! You can see so much of Los Angeles from the Getty, which is perched on the hillside. I recently had the chance to visit @gettymuseum.bsky.social. It's a lovely museum that offers a range of art (from medieval to contemporary), plus it has unique architecture and beautiful gardens.
July 21, 2025 at 12:02 AM
I love this view! You can see so much of Los Angeles from the Getty, which is perched on the hillside. I recently had the chance to visit @gettymuseum.bsky.social. It's a lovely museum that offers a range of art (from medieval to contemporary), plus it has unique architecture and beautiful gardens.
I ran into a few animal friends on my walks this week: a mule deer, a black-crowned night heron, and a sea lion. :) I love that even though I live in an urban area, I still have opportunities to see lots of wildlife. 💜
July 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I ran into a few animal friends on my walks this week: a mule deer, a black-crowned night heron, and a sea lion. :) I love that even though I live in an urban area, I still have opportunities to see lots of wildlife. 💜
On a recent walk I saw several butterflies dancing. 🥰 I tried to catch one on video. 🦋
June 20, 2025 at 2:28 AM
On a recent walk I saw several butterflies dancing. 🥰 I tried to catch one on video. 🦋
Do you have a favorite walking path? This is one of mine. 🌼
May 22, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Do you have a favorite walking path? This is one of mine. 🌼
I just learned of the following tradition: say "rabbit" as your first word on the first day of the month to receive a present!Source: Notes and Queries (Mar-27-1909).
I came across this cottontail on the side of the trail recently. Not sure if it was posing for me or just too terrified to run, lol.
I came across this cottontail on the side of the trail recently. Not sure if it was posing for me or just too terrified to run, lol.
May 1, 2025 at 9:39 PM
I just learned of the following tradition: say "rabbit" as your first word on the first day of the month to receive a present!Source: Notes and Queries (Mar-27-1909).
I came across this cottontail on the side of the trail recently. Not sure if it was posing for me or just too terrified to run, lol.
I came across this cottontail on the side of the trail recently. Not sure if it was posing for me or just too terrified to run, lol.
I'm beginning to see some pretty, spring flowers on my walks. :)
April 9, 2025 at 3:49 AM
I'm beginning to see some pretty, spring flowers on my walks. :)
I enjoyed attending the AWP Conference & Bookfair on Saturday. One of the highlights for me was that Cardiff University had a booth, and I had fun talking folklore and practicing Welsh pronunciation with their representatives. And they gave me a welshcake, which was delicious!
April 1, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I enjoyed attending the AWP Conference & Bookfair on Saturday. One of the highlights for me was that Cardiff University had a booth, and I had fun talking folklore and practicing Welsh pronunciation with their representatives. And they gave me a welshcake, which was delicious!
Happy St. Patrick's Day! I've been sneaking out for walks between rainstorms. I came across a patch of clover on one of my treks. (Four-leaf clover folklore will be the topic of my next newsletter, which goes out Mar. 19th). 🍀 And I also saw some cacti blooming. Spring is beginning to peek through.
March 17, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Happy St. Patrick's Day! I've been sneaking out for walks between rainstorms. I came across a patch of clover on one of my treks. (Four-leaf clover folklore will be the topic of my next newsletter, which goes out Mar. 19th). 🍀 And I also saw some cacti blooming. Spring is beginning to peek through.
A snowy, mountain view from our neighborhood this morning! ❄
March 7, 2025 at 5:41 PM
A snowy, mountain view from our neighborhood this morning! ❄
Nature walks help me to relax, explore mindfulness, and think about my writing. What types of walks do you enjoy? How do they help you? 🌿
February 7, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Nature walks help me to relax, explore mindfulness, and think about my writing. What types of walks do you enjoy? How do they help you? 🌿
My husband and I traveled with the kids to Arizona during the holidays to visit with family. While we were there, we hiked a portion of the Arizona Trail (near Picketpost Mountain). It was cool and overcast for most of the hike, but the sun came out toward the end. 🌵❤
January 17, 2025 at 1:47 AM
My husband and I traveled with the kids to Arizona during the holidays to visit with family. While we were there, we hiked a portion of the Arizona Trail (near Picketpost Mountain). It was cool and overcast for most of the hike, but the sun came out toward the end. 🌵❤
Wishing you peace, good health, and fun nature walks in the year to come. Thank you for exploring folklore with me and for supporting my writing. ✨
January 1, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Wishing you peace, good health, and fun nature walks in the year to come. Thank you for exploring folklore with me and for supporting my writing. ✨
I wish you a festive and fun holiday season! While it hasn't been very wintry here in SoCal, it has been nice walking weather. This past week I saw a deer and a decorated tree along the trail. ❤
December 24, 2024 at 12:54 AM
I wish you a festive and fun holiday season! While it hasn't been very wintry here in SoCal, it has been nice walking weather. This past week I saw a deer and a decorated tree along the trail. ❤
I took this picture after meeting my sister for lunch near the beach a few weeks ago. After, I had a few minutes until my meter expired, so I walked to the shore to watch the waves. It was lovely. Sometimes you only need a brief respite. 😊
December 12, 2024 at 6:24 PM
I took this picture after meeting my sister for lunch near the beach a few weeks ago. After, I had a few minutes until my meter expired, so I walked to the shore to watch the waves. It was lovely. Sometimes you only need a brief respite. 😊
Some of my recent walks have included lovely sunsets. 🧡
December 2, 2024 at 9:38 PM
Some of my recent walks have included lovely sunsets. 🧡
I recently completed the second draft of my folklore-inspired novel! It’s a fantasy infused with faerie folklore, and it explores the changeling legend from the parents’ perspective. The next task will be editing the manuscript!
December 2, 2024 at 9:29 PM
I recently completed the second draft of my folklore-inspired novel! It’s a fantasy infused with faerie folklore, and it explores the changeling legend from the parents’ perspective. The next task will be editing the manuscript!