Feb 297 min read

Tiny Ghost Newsletter: Valentines Edition!!! <3

Tiny Ghost Press Newsletter 2.0, Issue #2, Feb 29, 2024

Boo!

Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Happy belated Valentine’s Day! With February wrapping up, we’re back with another issue of our new and improved newsletter. We’ve got some exciting things cooking in our Tiny Ghost kitchen that we can’t wait to share with you all throughout the year.

This year heart-shaped candies and chocolates invaded our stores, bouquets of roses bloomed out of nowhere, and the love bug spread faster than the flu. Another February came at us like a truck, but we survived. Though some of us were not entirely unscathed. Tony, the Tiny Ghost, seems to have been struck by a stray arrow or two from Cupid's bow and wants to keep haunting us with the Valentine’s Day spirit. That brings us to the theme of the February issue of our newsletter. We’re celebrating queer love and romance!

What better way for a bookworm to get into the Valentine’s Day mood than getting cozy with a warm beverage and a good romance novel? I’ve picked out a few of our favorite queer romances for you to enjoy.

Thankfully, there’s been no shortage of MLM romances these past few years. So, I’ve selected a few that we really hope you’ll want to pick up.

First up is My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy. This book has a splash of enemies to friends to lovers and a bit of the one-bed trope. My Fair Brady tells the story of a techie and an actor who fall in love while working on their school’s spring musical. Makeovers, musicals, and queer love, what more could you want?

Next up is Julian Winters’s As You Walk On By. This book has everything you need: promposal fails, high school drama, house parties, cute boys, and incredible POC representation. Read it and find out how the lead character Theo Wright’s old friend turns into a new flame.

For our last MLM novel, we have to include our favorite paranormal romance series, The Alpha’s Son by Penny Jessup. Sorry for the shameless self-promotion, but how could I not talk about my favorite werewolf couple? This series has fated mates and so much pining. And I definitely can’t blame Max for pining over the swoon-worthy Jasper. These werewolves will give you all of the warm fuzzies to get you through this winter. Oh and did I mention book two Chasing the Alpha’s Son came out last November?

Sapphic and WLW romance is unfortunately harder to come by in the media than their MLM counterparts. If you’re having trouble finding some good recommendations, I’ve got you covered.

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen is the perfect sapphic sports romance. This romance between a basketball player and a mean girl cheerleader has tropes galore: fake dating, enemies to lovers, and even one bed. I definitely recommend checking it out.

Adiba Jaigirdar’s Henna Wars is another great sapphic book recommendation. This story tells the tale of a Muslim girl who grapples with coming to terms with her sexuality and how that will affect the relationships in her life. Muslim people are often underrepresented in queer media so I’m happy to see this book get some love.

We at Tiny Ghost Press have our homegrown Monstersona by Chloe Spencer as another spooky sapphic story that you should check out if you haven’t already. While romance isn’t the biggest plot point in the story, it’s hard to forget the moments when Riley and Aspen start to fall in love on there disastrous cross-country road trip. I would 10/10 recommend this biting book.

So happy (belated) Valentines Day! I hope you find a good book to cuddle up with.

Stay scary,

Jeremy

Date Ideas For Romantic Queers

Queer romance novels aren’t the only way to celebrate love this year. What would Valentine’s Day be without dates? Love comes in many forms: romantic, platonic, and even familial. So here are some great queer and bookish date ideas so you can spend quality time with a partner or anyone you love.

Visit your local library or bookshop

What better way to start a bookish date than to go somewhere where you can get new books? It’s always great to be with someone you care about and enjoy their company while also enjoying a good book. This is a great way to learn more about each other’s tastes and find a book or two you can enjoy together.

Book to Movie Marathon

Pick out some books that have been turned into movies and get bingeing. Grab your favorite beverage and read a book of your choice together or separately, then get together with a bowl of popcorn for a fantastic movie night. Suppose you’re having trouble finding queer books that have been turned into films and tv shows. In that case, some great examples are Red, White, and Royal Blue, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Heartstopper, Fanfic, and Portrait of a Lady On Fire, just to name a few. Just remember, the book is always better ;).

Home Spa Date

Life can get pretty stressful, so why should the pressures of a date or hangout add to that? A relaxing night in is just what the doctor ordered. An actual spa package can be quite expensive, but bringing the spa to your own home can save a buck. Do an at-home manipedi with your partner. Get some mudmasks from the store and pamper yourself. Light some candles for a bit of aromatherapy and ambiance. I like to put on an audiobook or relaxing music while unwinding. Let this self-care night be as romantic or relaxing as you want it to be.

Visit a Local Cafe

Dinner at a restaurant can often be too formal and even pricey for a date night, so I recommend having a nice date during the day at a local cafe. Get you and your partner a nice coffee or tea and a sweet pastry. A big pro of a coffee date is that it prioritizes conversation with your date or partner. If you want more than conversation, cafes are perfect for studying, reading, writing, or doing any work you need to get done together, in fact, most of your favorite authors get some of their work done at their local coffee shops. When you’re done with your beverage and snack, why not go for a walk around your town or city? As a bookworm, I know I’ll never say no to a good book and a caffeinated drink, so I doubt your date will either.

Dates can often be a lot of pressure, but they don’t have to be. A potential romance is like a new friendship; just be yourself, and I’m sure you’ll both have a great time. The most important part is enjoying time with your chosen partner, friend, or whoever. I hope you’re able to try out some of these easy date ideas and bring a little queer romance into your 2024. Maybe our very own Tony the Tiny Ghost will find a special someone of their own this year, too.

Tiny Ghost Author Deep Dive

Starting NEXT month we'll be asking all of our authors some probing questions to get to know them a little better! Tune in next week for the start of this regular column.

Culture We've Enjoyed This Month!

A monthly breakdown of the culture the Tiny Ghost Team has been enjoying and inspired by this month.

Books: Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend by Emma Alban

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

Films: Red, White and Royal Blue

Moonlight

Anatomy of a Fall

TV: Heartstopper

Vanderpump Rules

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

True Detective: Night Country

Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 16

Music: Orquídeas album by Kali Uchis

On My Mama by Victoria Monét

Training Season by Dua Lipa

Stick Season by Noah Kahan

Podcasts: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang (I DO think so honey!)

Your Burning Questions Answered!

Each week we'll answer one of your burning questions. Whether you want to know a little more about how we work as a publisher, the books we publish, or just want to know when your favorite werewolves are returning, we've got you covered.

Q: Why is Februrary an important month at Tiny Ghost Press?

A: February is often known as the month with Valentine’s Day or the shortest month of the year, but it’s much more important than that. February is Black History Month. Black people have contributed so much to Western society that is often overlooked and taken for granted. Black people also experience many systemic hardships that non-Black populations don’t have to face or even think about when coasting through everyday life. It’s very important to support Black authors, businesses, creatives, and causes not just in February but all year round.

We at Tiny Ghost Press can’t wait for you to get your hands on our first book by a Black author, Trailer Park Prince by Andre L. Bradley. It’s a sci-fi fantasy that doesn’t shy away from depicting real-world issues plaguing society such as prejudice and racial oppression. We hope you love getting to know the princes Noan and Jormon in this tale of magic, queer identities, and social commentary.

If you have a question you'd like answered sound off in the comments or send us an email at info@tinyghostpress.com

Tips from Tony the Tiny Ghost!

Thinking of submitting your work to Tiny Ghost, another publisher or an agent? You'll need the perfect query letter. Tony is here to help!

Writing a perfect query letter can be tricky, here are some helpful tips!

-Don't overthink it. You query should be short, concise, and captivating. It should leave the reader excited about you and your work and keen to read more.

-Whoever you're pitching to they probably know what you're looking for. Jump right into the query with the most interesting information (which is hopefully your story).

-Start with character. Who is your protagonist, what do they want, and what is stopping them from getting it. Character is what engages a reader, you can tell us about the amazing fantastical world you've created layer, once we're already hooked.

-It's good to include a specific reason you're approaching the recipient, to show you've done your research and you care about who you're pitching your work to.

-You don't need oodles of experience but when tell us about yourself show us why you're the best person to write this story.

-Be polite, succinct, and always follow submission guidelines.

I hope that helps! Boo!