Hello and welcome to the latest issue of The Ghoulish Times. My name is Max Booth and this is my free spooky newsletter for all things GHOULISH. I am writing this at 1am with a fresh cup of coffee. I have news to share and news is what I will share. You have been warned.

First up!

HOME SICK HOME

It’s been a minute since we announced a new Ghoulish Books title in our line-up! Well, here ya go! We’re publishing Adam Michael Kozak’s debut novel Home Sick Home. Fans of bleak feel-bad fiction look no further! We have the perfect thing just for you…

Pre-orders are open right now in the webstore. eBooks and paperbacks are available. All paperback pre-orders will come with a signed book sticker from the author. Pre-order HERE.

Please consider sharing and spreading the word in addition to pre-ordering. This is a debut novel coming out from a very small press. Things like this can only truly thrive with the magic of word of mouth, and y’all need to trust me: this book is something magical, and it’s going to knock you on your ass.

HILL COUNTRY LITERARY FESTIVAL

Today (Saturday, March 21) I will be on a Genre Exploration panel at the Hill Country Literary Festival / Mammen Family Public Library in Bulverde, TX, alongside Etta Easton, Wondra Chang, and James Wade, with Isa Arsen moderating. If you’re local, I hope to see you there! It’s free to attend. Nowhere Books will also have copies of my books there for sale all day, as they are the festival’s official bookstore vendor. Support cool bookstores! Support cool festivals! Support cool libraries! SUPPORT THE FREAKIN’ ARTS.

Exploring Faith and Fear in Nine Religious Horror Novels

Over on the Reactor blog, Sam Reader wrote up a fantastic piece about faith and fear in religious horror novels, and just so happened to include Jess Hagemann’s Mother-Eating (published by Ghoulish Books):

Read the blog post HERE and order Mother-Eating HERE.

WIHM 2026: Meet Jess Hagemann

Speaking of Jess Hagemann! Here she is again… this time, in interview form, via the Timber Ghost Press blog. Read the interview HERE.

DON’T GO FOR THE VAULT

With less than 2 weeks to go, this horror heist anthology from Cat Eye Press remains just under halfway to its Kickstarter goal.

Consider backing it and helping another small press publish a cool anthology? Also, if funded, I am contracted to write a story for it (specifically, a story about witches who rob a sperm bank), so I do have my own selfish reasons for plugging the project today. PLEDGE NOW.

PATREON ROUND-UP

Since the last newsletter, I’ve posted two new things on my Patreon. First is a short story called “Kids of the Black Hole,” which is about a bunch of trans & queer kids living in a punk house with a bizarre box hiding in its basement. Read it HERE.

The second thing, posted late last night, is an essay going over the life and death of Richard Bachman (Stephen King’s former alter ego). If you were ever curious about how this byline came into existence (or why it died), consider reading my post HERE.

Or, just, I don’t know, consider supporting my Patreon, anyway? Not to sound too desperate in your inbox or anything, but any support would help immensely. Money is very tight right now and it’s only going to get worse, if I’m being honest. Things are not great! JOIN HERE.

Okay, bye.

-max