Take a seat by the fire.

Let me pour you a cup.
And share a tale or two.

Alby Crown

ABOUT

Who I am

For far too many years, I lived in the world of code — a professional software developer by day, a dreamer trapped behind deadlines by night.

It almost broke me. Endless meetings dulled my spirit, logic replaced wonder, and I began to forget what my own imagination sounded like.

Until one day, I realized I wasn’t begging life to set me free — I was begging myself.
To come back. To remember. To create again.

So I picked up my quill (fine, my trusty laptop) and went searching — for stories, for meaning, for a world where my soul could breathe again.

That journey became the Custodians series.
Every word is a piece of that rediscovery — my rebellion against silence, my love letter to imagination.

I hope, when you read it, you feel a little of what I found:
freedom, wonder… and a world that finally feels alive.

A woman with brown eyes, dark hair pulled back, wearing a gray blazer, smiling in a dimly lit room.

Meet My Co-Author

Never underestimate your co-author — especially the four-legged kind.

This little one has been my constant support, my cheerleader, and my daily reminder that joy can be loud, wiggly, and full of fur.

Whenever my motivation fades or my inspiration wanders off… guess who comes to save the day?
That’s right — her.

Meet Freya. My child in every sense of the word. She whines like one, demands cuddles like one, and knows exactly how to get them.

Sometimes she insists on joining me in the middle of a writing sprint, climbing onto my lap and using one of my arms as a pillow — yes, the arm I need to type with. So if I’m suddenly down to ten words a minute, now you know why.

But honestly? I could never be mad.
Because without her, my heart — and my stories — wouldn’t be nearly as full.

A small white dog wearing a gray sweater with a snowflake pattern, looking up at the camera with dark eyes.
Indoor plants on a windowsill, including large variegated leaves, a small aloe vera, a purple orchid, and other potted plants, with a tree visible outside the window.

A Few More Things

If you’re even the tiniest bit curious about my surroundings and questionable life choices…

Boy, oh boy — where do I even begin?

Let’s start with the plants. Yes, I nurse them. Talk to them, even. And that tree in the photo? That’s my friend. So please, be kind.

Then there’s my slightly obsessive love for crocheting. That colorful scarf you see? Made by yours truly. It only took… countless evenings, several cups of tea, and at least one morning of temporary blindness. Worth it.

And gaming — ah, my one true vice. World of Warcraft stole my soul back in the day, and these days you’ll find me haunting the Nintendo store. Don’t even ask how many hours I’ve spent in Zelda — or how many horses I’ve tamed and gear sets I’ve farmed. Let’s just say… too many.

So yes, I’m very much an introverted, indoorsy creature. I like my space, my quiet, and making the world around me cozy and beautiful.

The only one who can truly drag me outside?
You guessed it — Freya.
How I ended up with such a social little one, I’ll never know.
She didn’t get it from me, I swear!

A small white dog with long, fluffy fur and dark eyes sitting on a wooden floor.
A triangle crocheted scarf with pink and blue sections, decorated with two pink tassels.
A figurine of a female archer in blue and beige clothing and a large spider-like creature with a black body, pink accents, and multiple white paper-like legs on a beige surface with a brown background.