ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer “JJ” Machado is a writer, marketer, and professor based in Massachusetts. She studied at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (Go Corsairs!), and now crafts stories steeped in New England’s haunted history, supernatural forces, and creeping horror. The region’s eerie folklore and rich past often seep into her work, giving her narratives a distinct sense of place.

Leveraging her marketing background and growing social media presence, JJ shares her love of horror with a dedicated audience. Her viral posts reflect both her enthusiasm for the genre and her understanding of niche storytelling and digital platforms.

JJ is the daughter of Portuguese immigrants from the island of St. Michael in the Azores, whose family settled in Massachusetts in the 1960s. Her heritage and upbringing in New England continue to shape her storytelling voice.

When she’s not writing, JJ can usually be found reading, researching hauntings (much to the amusement—and occasional concern—of friends and family), or exploring the outdoors. She considers New Hampshire a second home, loves the sea, and firmly believes she’d win Olympic gold if hammock lounging were an official sport.

She lives a short drive from the site where Lizzie Borden allegedly “took an ax and gave her mother forty whacks…”—a reminder that New England’s darker history is never too far away.

A lifelong reader, JJ gravitates toward the classics, young adult horror, dark romance, fantasy, magical realism, sci-fi, and dystopian fiction. She also has a soft spot for psychological thrillers. Her literary inspirations include H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, C.S. Lewis, and J.K. Rowling (because, let’s be honest, the Harry Potter series is a damn good story).

She doesn’t usually fan-girl out… but if Jack Torrance or Neville Longbottom sat next to her, she might make an exception.