January 2026.

New Year, Same Ghosts!

I’d love to start this newsletter by saying a very heartfelt thank you to the lovely writing community that has grown out of Little Ghosts Books over the last number of years. It has been so special to be trusted with the works in progress of our pals in the literary space, from our in-person events to the submissions we receive in our inbox. This past Friday we hosted our second “Submitting Short Fiction” workshop to kick off the year and we had a packed house of authors looking for tips on the how-tos of tracking paid markets, tailoring short stories for calls, dealing with rejection, what to look for in a contract and more!
Submitting Short Fiction was hosted by Little Ghosts and run by a panel of professionals, and a deep and spooky thank you to Jessica Peter, Sephera Giron, and Emily Flynn-Jones who came to share their expertise. And of course the Ontario chapter of the HWA! The Horror Writer’s Association is a great resource, offering ZOOM calls and newsletters and meet-ups- we reached out to them to make sure we were in contact with any pro pals who might want to be a part of our programming.
We’ll now return to our regularly scheduled Work in Progress series, a monthly event for writers of all genres and skill levels to share pieces and get peer feedback. It is hands-down my (Chris’) favourite event to run. You all are so creative and talented, and to watch the encouraging environment and friendships grown in this, our house of horror lit, reminds me that what I do has purpose. Again, thank you, for sharing with us and looking forward to another year of celebrating your publishing successes!

(For our lovely out-of-town pals, we are looking at running remote feedback sessions this year- it is just a matter of figuring out the platform format and time management. Keep your eyes peeled for something soon!)

ON WRITING… with Jay!
Are AI Artists… Artists?

As much as my cynical heart wants to say, “No, goodnight, everybody,” this is a discussion in the whirlpool of AI discourse that is rarely talked about. AI Art is a hot topic, but someone or some group is prompting that AI. So, are those humans considered artists? Is there genuine craft in influencing a generative non-corporeal entity to do the vast majority of the artistic labor? Is AI the 21st-century paintbrush opening doors to innovations we have yet to comprehend? Was the first caveman to use a stick to draw in the sand considered a hack or a genius?

First things first, let me get my experience with an AI artist out of the way to acknowledge any latent bias. Not too long before writing this article, I was contacted by a social media AI artist with a horror channel. They made 15 to 30-second horror shorts and have hundreds of thousands of subscribers. That traction granted him the eyes of producers and a budget to make his very own live-action feature film. They had a script and needed someone to punch it up, add an ending, and put it into proper screenplay format. I was conflicted about working for someone who only really knew AI content, but at least they were reaching out to a human to help write a thing for humans to perform. That, and I could’ve used the cash for the holidays.

Shortly after that, I received their “screenplay.” It was seven short scenes written over four pages, which scored a “High likelihood of AI-generated content at 85–90%” on Grammarly’s AI detector. Not a fan, but I persisted. To write a 90-page screenplay with four pages of material within their parameters was not going to be easy. I sent samples and asked for feedback. They enjoyed it at first, but eventually, they let me go from the project. They were taken aback by the liberties I took to fill the page count. They wanted little dialogue, all in one location and one night, and to strictly elaborate on their seven scenes. I did my best, but I didn’t know how that was possible. That’d be hard to stretch out to ten minutes, let alone ninety.

I’m going to be honest. It really hurt me. It fouled my mood and warped my perception for the next couple of weeks. I’m not proud of myself for letting a setback sour my disposition, but writing is my livelihood. Not being considered worthy of the craft really struck my ego. If I’m not good enough to write, what am I? So, yes, there’s going to be some inherent bias in the article.

Jim, The AI Whisperer from Medium Magazine, definitely says “Yes.” AI artists are artists and declares that “if mechanized reproduction and curating ‘regurgitated’ images make something ‘not art’, then much of what we’ve culturally considered art throughout the 20th century is also ‘not art’.” Which is an argument to pontificate. We develop new tools daily to aid in artistic endeavors. Chris, the other day, just purchased a “sleeve board” to specifically aid in the screenprinting of graphics on long-sleeve shirts. I don’t believe that makes the printed shirt any less artistically potent. The sleeve board is a tool to help efficiently elevate your craft, not a hack to do the craft for you.

But the word ‘hack’ exists for a reason. The Game Genie was something I longed to get my hands on in the 90’s. My neighbor had a Nintendo, and I desperately wanted to dominate the likes of Contra with unlimited ammo and impervious skin. The Game Genie was a video game accessory that altered code to allow players to enhance their abilities in the game. It hacked your games’ intrinsic rule set and made the experience easier beyond its intended use. Cheat codes, to be blunt.

So, I played Contra with every weapon and zero consequences. The initial sugar rush of immortality was a treat, but I quickly lost interest. Soon, every game I played with the Game Genie lost its appeal. The experience of growth wasn’t just diluted, but completely vacated from the experience. I didn’t have to learn patterns or earn a new weapon to dispatch enemies. I just had to be there, with no incentives to be there.

The same goes for art. It requires work. It requires struggle to wrench empathy upon your canvas. When attempting to find the struggle within my punch-up gig, I had a significantly hard time identifying the humanity within their project, let alone elevating it. In their defence, that’s not what they were looking for. They were looking for a sugar rush. It’s how they built a successful platform, and that’s not what I was providing. But is what they’re doing actually art? Well, people like it. Does audience appeal weigh in on the debate? If so, are memes art? How about security camera footage of people falling? I don’t think so. Looking back, I made a massive misstep in accepting the writing gig. It sent me down an emotional spiral I’m still working myself through. And if I learned anything from my attempts, it’s that my motives were disingenuous. I wanted the extra holiday cash and tried to trade in my convictions for a project I was deeply uncomfortable with undertaking. Time to eat some humble pie and ground myself back to earth, I suppose.

In my eyes, Nick Cave said it best in his Red Hand Files, “…even though the creative act requires considerable effort, in the end you will be contributing to the vast network of love that supports human existence.” And he’s right. When I look back on my writing, regardless of its quality, I love it. Despite the woes of a writer, I loved the process of it, I loved who I was before it, and I loved who I became after it. Then I get to let that go into this ecosystem of love. That’s ultimately what happens with Art. The world, more often than not, can be brutal and unforgiving. Art is humanity’s defiance of that impartiality, and we need to not only cherish that rebellion but protect it. Someone I don’t know cultivated something that started as an ethereal pinprick in their soul, crafted it into a tangible thing with their effort, and shared it with the world, where it touched and inspired other people. AI art can’t do that.

Write on Weary Travelers.

Jay’s SOLD OUT Screenwriting Workshop is BACK in January! Open to writers of all skill levels, this 5 week seminar will have you leaving with an understanding of script structure and storytelling- even if you have never written before. Perfect for pals who have some big writing goals in 2026, and an absolute steal at just under $20 per session. This workshop is capped at 12 attendees, and at the time of writing this Newsletter there are only FOUR SLOTS AVAILABLE.
Sign Up Here!

KRISTIN’S KOZY CORNER…
The opposite of a Case of the Januaries.

Welcome to the new year Little Ghosts newsletter readers! And happy one year anniversary to the newsletter; one full year of us talking about books, events, writing and the life of running a small business - it’s been so much fun to share our thoughts with you! No really, every time someone mentions something they read in the newsletter, or buys a book that one of us talked about, or comes to an event we featured, and so on - it truly makes our day. Sometimes it even brings people together: someone I used to work with at the evil empire realized who I was after our December newsletter and that gave us a chance to reunite and reminisce! (waves at person, you know who you are). Who knew our little newsletter had such power! Here’s to even more connections, interactions and bonds forged and renewed in the coming year, we’ve got so much planned for you!

Last year I was deep in existential dread when writing my first contribution to the newsletter, and I don’t know if my rant about my former life in bookselling helped me to work through that this year, or if I’m just in a different frame of mind- but I’m feeling more positive this year. Now of course that’s not to say that I’m not still eyeing all the contemplative, mind-bendy horror; of course I am! Only this time it isn’t dragging me down into the depths… perhaps that will come later? Did anyone else just glance over their shoulder like in a horror movie? No, just me? *shakes it off and continues to type*

Social media feeds at the end of December and the beginning of January are littered with people posting their reading accomplishments from the previous year, and I have to tell you as someone that reads a lot (but used to read much more), I find myself scrolling past those pretty quickly a lot of the time. It can be very intimidating, especially those posts from people that read hundreds of books; I feel like how can I as a professional bookseller be so far behind? How are they managing to read ALL OF THOSE BOOKS? (Mostly I’m jealous, I too once read in the hundreds every year). So when I hear a customer shyly say that they only read *insert allegedly small number here* books last year, as though they failed, it kind of breaks my heart. Whether you read one or one hundred books, you know what’s great? You read! That’s what matters, you took the time for yourself and your brain and you read. And isn’t that freaking awesome!

What I want to talk about with you my dear readers, are your reading goals for 2026, and how you do not need to set any if you don’t want to! And by that I mean you do not need to set a number - whether big or small - the only goal you really need is to just read; start with one book, and then when you finish that, pick up another, and so on. If you happen to need a little encouragement - hold for shameless product plug - you can pick up one of our shiny, new reading journals! They are interactive, beautifully illustrated and designed by Chris, and they give you lots of guidance about what you did (and perhaps didn’t) like, plus if you bring your beautifully filled out journal page back to the shop, we’ll give you a sticker! Remember when we got stickers for our accomplishments? Remember how much we loved that? We’re here to make reading fun! Oh and did I mention that there are TWO different journals? One for your straight up horror reads, and one for your spicy monster reads; like I said we want to make reading fun.

Now please understand that I am not dismissing reading goals, not at all - I set them for myself - but I recognize that they’re largely aspirational, something to give me a little push, and if I don’t hit that target then I don’t beat myself up. I take comfort and joy in the fact that I read, and that I (hopefully) read books that engaged, entertained and excited me, that had me pumped to share them with customers, co-workers and friends. The hope that I’ve read something unlike anything I’ve encountered before - and honestly rarely does a year go by in which that doesn’t happen - aren’t books just the best? So yes, please set goals for yourself, and take it one book at a time.

Lastly, I want to mention that it does not matter in which format you choose to read, and to reinforce for you that all formats are valid! Physical, audio, e-books, comic, graphic and so on - don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not “really reading” if you don’t have a heavy ass book (with no pictures) on your lap. Personally I do prefer a physical book of some kind, that’s my preference, also I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by books every day, so my access is perhaps different than yours. However, I always have at least one book on my phone, I love graphic novels and I do make my way through some of our kids’ books (because some great writing happens for the younglings). I don’t listen to a lot of audio books, not because I don’t think they’re great, they absolutely are, but I am so bloody fussy about who’s doing the reading that I often tap out. Also, I am easily distracted, in that if I’m walking and listening to a really interesting book, there is a good chance that I will walk into someone and/or a tree. I tend to shut out the world when a book has me in its grasp, so for my safety and everyone else’s I only do audio books at home, and even then I’d rather curl up on the couch with the book in hand. But I’ve a number of friends that are audio devotees and that allows them to read so much more than if they had to sit still, and I love that! So whatever format you choose, whether or not you set a lofty reading goal for yourself, just enjoy the experience, lose yourself in those stories people! Give yourself that time if you’re able, and give yourself grace if you’re not - life changes all the time and sometimes you just can’t (see me during the first year of Covid, my brain refused to process the written word, it was nightmare fuel).

Okay, I know you’re wondering when I’m going to get to the books - stop rambling Kristin - and the answer is right now! Just a few titles to get us started, let’s ease into our reading year.

And since I didn’t talk about it during our end of year wrap-up (silly me), I am going to start with some existential, mind-bendy, sci-fi horror:

There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm: This book, my word this book. Sci-fi horror and just all out weird fiction at its best. I cannot say enough good things about this book and the trip it put my brain through - to put it bluntly, it’s an absolute mindf*ck. The non-linear story (trust me, it works beautifully) about a group of people fighting against antimemes; ideas that exist yet don’t (do they?), that eat memories, that make you question who and what you are - how do you, how does anyone fight back against something they don’t always remember exists? When knowing what you know is dangerous, you know? The writing is excellent, the pace propels you through the story as you anxiously flip pages wondering; can this battle possibly be won? And will you even remember when/if it is?

And now just a few recent reads/books I’m reading:

October Film Haunt by Michael Wehunt: I struggle to describe just HOW GOOD this book is; the layers upon layers you delve into as the story gets deeper into the mythos surrounding an old horror film called “Proof of Demons”. Is someone recreating it, filming a sequel, or just f*cking with Jorie Stroud, the former horror film blogger and October Film Haunt social media darling, and for a time, internet pariah after a blog post about “Proof of Demons” contributed to the death of a teenage girl. Jorie’s just trying to lead a quiet life with her son, away from her ex and anything to do with horror movies, until a mysterious VHS tape is delivered to her. As you fall further into this fever dream, you’ll struggle to figure out what’s real - or was it real all along, and we’re all complicit in summoning a being from another realm? Is what we’re reading in fact, instructions?

Queer Werewolves Destroy Capitalism: Smutty Stories (Queering Consent) by MJ Lyons: Come for the pack of werewolves who roam downtown Toronto damaging and wreaking havoc on the centres of capitalism, stay for the smutty fun after we destroy the oligarchs! This is a snack-sized collection of five stories that are perfect for whiling away a dreary winter’s day.

The Cold House by A.G. Slatter: This has moved up my TBR as the title appeals to me in a seasonal way, and the description of what’s inside certainly scratches an itch in my head; part grief horror, part gothic, part lonely widow in a creepy house, part “everything I thought I knew was wrong”. This novella looks to be perfect for sending shivers down your spine, wondering if you just heard a voice echoing from another room, when you know you’re home alone…

I’m going to leave it at that for now lovely newsletter readers, I promise to overload your brains with books next month. And truly, thank you all for reading along, for coming to the shop this past year, for your orders, your reposts, your tags, your lovely reviews and more. Let’s do more of that this year! Can’t wait to see you, whether virtually or in person, or both! Welcome to the new year, let’s kick its ass instead of the other way around.

Retail Therapy:
xii. Sales vs. Value.

In January & February, notoriously the slowest months for retail, I have taken to putting in the time to strategize, rest, and regroup. Those of you who are familiar with the Little Ghosts’ Annual Cycle know that we always close for a week after New Year’s- time is very liminal after the Holidays and we take advantage to sneak away. I can’t speak for the whole team, but I can speak for myself and say that getting back into a solid gym routine, eating well, cleaning the house, and sleeping a full 8hrs a night does wonders for starting the year on the right foot. If the quality of the newsletter pieces and the meetings we have been having as a team are any indicator, I can say that we are all better for doing it. Obviously the sales for this period suffer, but I think the quality of work and planning going forward is worth it.

Despite having run small businesses for 10yrs, I have never been good at sales. I want people to be comfortable, to be happy, to have a good experience- if parting them from their dollars seems like it would hurt them, I simply won’t apply pressure. I like to think the spaces I make (and Little Ghosts’ in particular, with all of its community programming) have value inherently. We sell books, and of course I am a person who believes in the transformative power of storytelling, so I think what we sell also has tremendous value. $24-$28 for a work of art that someone poured years of their lives into making is a steal. Considering all of the hands it takes to polish a manuscript into something on our shelves (editors! designers! marketing! print shop workers! distributors and delivery people- our Purolator guy is one of my favourite people on Earth long may he make great wages with benefits and pension!) it is a small miracle every time a new book arrives.

Unfortunately, the value of the undertaking does not automatically equal sales. I can tell you that from the bottom of the piece of my heart that broke when I closed The Sidekick, a cafe x comic store that ran for nearly a decade. The vibes were priceless and immaculate straight down to the people who had their wedding photos there, who raised their families by our weird VHS fireplace- and it always struggled to pay rent. I have never heard complaints about the costs of goods the way I heard them in comic book sales, which is and will always remain wild to me. For every person it takes to produce a prose novel, you can x2 for that in comics. You have artists (multiple! inkers and colourists at least), editors, writers.. plus the paper quality means a higher print cost overall. A prose book may cost $24, and a comic may cost only $2-4 more. But people will bitch to high heaven, despite pages and pages of breathtaking artwork and re-readability. So it wasn’t just that space, but that whole industry, which struggled with Value vs. Sales. I could have a separate rant about everything a cafe is expected to provide for its surrounding community in comparison to the average per person spend- it is a miracle every year a small neighbourhood coffee shop survives. It’s a dream to provide space for knitting groups, parent socials, filmmaker screenings, paint nights, open mics and more. It’s a shame none of it ever pays enough to live, and that it always seems like people are playing a game of how little they can spend for how much they can use the space. I miss The Sidekick so dearly every day, but I do not miss that tension for even a minute.

The Value question has cropped up for me again as we plan our activities into 2026, and as we start to put little price tags on some of the things we used to do for free. On one hand, I always want all of the programming at Little Ghosts to be accessible to everyone- we encourage Book Club pals to use Libby, grab books from the library, or share amongst themselves. We never charge for readings, signings, or even for attendees of Little Ghosts Fest. We didn’t used to charge anything for Work in Progress Night, or Marketplace Vending either. All of these things have a lot of value and have created a lot of goodwill and opportunities for participants. However, we ran into a problem where free meant people treated it as no-value. An increasing amount of no-shows, last-minute cancellations, and out-and-out bad behaviour means that we have had to start encouraging people to stop and think about the time, effort, and value of these activities. That means we have to put a dollar amount on it. Ew. Capitalism.

In order for spaces like ours to survive, we are going to have to get good at sales no matter what we believe our inherent value to be. Vibes don’t pay bills. We can of course get good at communicating that value through marketing and outreach (and I think we are good at that!), but ultimately it is up to consumers to agree with their dollars. I do not want to get into a whole ass thing about big corporations again because you could simply read my prior newsletters for those spicy feelings about big businesses who save customers a buck by undercutting everyone along the way. Sales may not equal Value, but Sales do equal staying power for small businesses. So in 2026, try to get your dollars to communicate your Values, where possible! If that means no-spend periods where you prioritize rest and savings to better strategize future purchases, I encourage it. It helps us each personally heaps every year! And like our free community activities, you can do a lot of free things that help out in the literary and small business space- leaving reviews on indie books you loved, sharing the posts of local shops or tagging them when you post about a product you got from them and are enjoying, or y’know liking and commenting on this newsletter- all things that are high value for no sale at all.

FEBRUARY EVENTS with Phi!
Wait… is this slow season?! Sure doesn’t look that way!
UPCOMING EVENTS - February 2026

• Friday, February 6th, 6-8pm… WORK IN PROGRESS NIGHT!

  Are you a Local Author? Come by and share your latest and spookiest with a room of writers and supportive folks. Read your own or summon a reader from the room if you’re feeling shy and receive valuable constructive criticism before your work gets sent out into the publishing wilds.

  All attendees MUST bring work to read! It only works if we are all vulnerable- but don’t be scared. Your bookshop Dads are here and believe in you.

• Saturday, February 7th & Sunday, February 8th, 12-4pm… VENDOR MARKET!

  • Looking to get some Valentine’s shopping done? Support local businesses and artists this year! Swing by the Shop to check out an assortment of local vendors and artists!

  • (Vendors TBA)

• Saturday, February 14th, 1-3pm… ZINE LAUNCH: Friday the Flirteenth!

  Get flirty on a Friday the 13th that hits right before Valentines with a collection of indie monsterotica by local horror authors! Gobbled by Goblins, Scooped up by Sea Creatures, and Made to C*m by Creatures of Mythology… something for everyone in this great little zine from Little Ghosts Books.

• Friday, February 20th, 6-8pm… Little Ghosts Book Club Presents: “Helpmeet” by Naben Ruthnum

  • It’s 1900, and Louise Wilk is taking her dying husband from Manhattan to the upstate orchard estate where he grew up. Dr. Edward Wilk is wasting away from a mysterious affliction acquired in a strange encounter: but Louise soon realizes that her husband’s worsening condition may not be a disease at all, but a transformative phase of existence that will draw her in as much more than a witness.

• Friday, February 27th, 6-8pm… QUEER FEARS! A Little Gay Book Club Presents: “Countess” by Suzan Palumbo

  • A queer, Caribbean, anti-colonial sci-fi novella, inspired by the Count of Monte Cristo, in which a betrayed captain seeks revenge on the interplanetary empire that subjugated her people for generations.

    Virika Sameroo lives in colonized space under the Æerbot Empire, much like her ancestors before her in the British West Indies. After years of working hard to rise through the ranks of the empire’s merchant marine, she’s finally become first lieutenant on an interstellar cargo vessel.

    When her captain dies under suspicious circumstances, Virika is arrested for murder and charged with treason despite her lifelong loyalty to the empire. Her conviction and subsequent imprisonment set her on a path to justice, determined to take down the evil empire that wronged her, all while the fate of her people hangs in the balance.

• Saturday, February 28th, 1-3pm… Signing: “Wretch” by Jeremy Wagner

  Chicago is choking under the hottest summer on record, but the true heat comes from the blood spilled on its streets.

  Detective Donnie Lynch trails a killer who shouldn’t exist. Mob boss Tico “The Meatgrinder” Tortellio has stepped out from the shadows of his empire with a personal vendetta to avenge his daughter—and nothing short of blood will settle the score. Both men are hunting the same man— if “man” is still the right word…

  The elusive killer, Derek Hoffman, is a steroid-abusing-sociopath twisted beyond recognition whose body and mind have been grotesquely transformed after his participation in a clinical trial for an experimental ED-arousal-drug called, LIBIDONAL. Hoffman has become something monstrous, a predator driven by lust, rage, and a thirst for blood.

  With the city becoming a killing ground for a new apex predator, Lynch and Tortellio race toward the same target. But who will reach Hoffman first? And when they do, can bullets or brutality be enough to stop him?

• Saturday, February 28th, 11am-5pm… Little Ghosts Books @ Book Bazaar!

  • Located at 1540 Durham Regional Hwy 2, Courtice, ON

  • A whimsical market of books & treasures by day, with author meet & greets, panels & readings by night! By day, wander through rows of indie and Canadian authors, cozy vendors, and bookish treasures. From enchanting reads to handmade goods, every corner offers something unique for book lovers and curious minds alike. Discover your next favourite story, meet the people who write them, and shop one-of-a-kind creations that capture the spirit of imagination.

  Whether you’re a lifelong reader, a casual browser, or simply love supporting local creators, The Book Bazaar promises a day (and night!) of stories, community, and magic.

  

  Phi writes, poetry edition.
  
  modern boy

  by philip rowan
  

  i am a modern boy

  and i am going out

  to be a modern girl

  who shakes her ass
  

  i am covered in cat hair

  but under the kaleidoscope

  of the disco ball

  and the funky fresh tunes

  you would never even notice
  

  and maybe my eyeliner is smudged

  and maybe my beard
  doesn’t quite match
  the sunflowers on my skirt

  but i never got to have a girls’ night
  

  no one ever taught me

  how to be pretty

  or elegant

  or how to do fucking mascara
  without poking myself in the eye
  and ruining the whole look

  with a good, manly cry
  

  for the record,

  i think my skirt matches both

  my beard and my steel-toed boots

  and I will kick you in the shins,

  if you say otherwise
  

  i’m out of breath;

  i’m running out of ways to say what i mean,

  so kiss me goodbye

  behind the bleachers
  

  i’ll see you under the disco ball soon.
  

  
  Thank you to everyone who reads this newsletter!
  The website discount code for readers is NEWSLETTERGHOST
  Use it at The Little Ghosts' Webstore for 10% off your next purchase.