Brain Lag

Photo by Monstera Production: https://www.pexels.com/photo/jack-o-lantern-with-black-hat-5634828/

Happy Halloween and Samhain and feliz Día de Muertos! However you're spending the next two days, stay safe, have fun, and enjoy whatever seasonal read appeals to you.

And some books for the black-hearted:

books2read.com/the-black-tr...
books2read.com/blackout-ody...
books2read.com/shadows-of-s...
books2read.com/hard-side

Some tart titles for the orange fans:

books2read.com/tinkers-sea
books2read.com/altaterra
books2read.com/the-nighting...
books2read.com/STS-1

Photo by Karola G: https://www.pexels.com/photo/halloween-flat-lay-5208210/

And for our final spooky season matchup, it's back to the basics: #TeamOrange or #TeamBlack?

Available now at your favorite digital store! The Afghan Wedding by Gary Girod, Gary Girod

And some sweet tales for your tender side:

books2read.com/the-afghan-w...
books2read.com/WCBM
books2read.com/altaterra
books2read.com/unseen-hird
books2read.com/shadows-of-s...

Available now at your favorite digital store! XY-Girls and More Stories by Derwin Mak

Some spicy stories to heat up a cold autumn night:

books2read.com/xy-girls
books2read.com/cloning-free...
books2read.com/WIHFS
books2read.com/aig
books2read.com/halcyon

Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/red-pepper-and-bar-of-dark-chocolate-4198376/

We're getting into the home stretch of the spooky season! This week we ask about the taste of Halloween: are you #TeamSpicy or #TeamSweet?

Screenshot of ebook page; green highlighted text reads: "There were also several standout single-author collections in by Canadians in 2024. Do yourself a favour and check out... Mecha-Jesus and Other Stories by Derwin Mak (Brain Lag); The Price of Memory and More Stories by Sally McBride (Brain Lag);..."

Huge thanks to Year's Best Canadian Fantasy & Science Fiction volume 3 for mentioning our 2024 short story collections in the anthology's introduction.

See what the hype is about: books2read.com/mecha-jesus books2read.com/tpom

Cover art for Indigo Time, an 18th century painting by Paul Sandby of a castle on the forested edge of a lake; cracks run through the sky with slices of photonegative colours inside

Thrilled to announce our next title: INDIGO TIME by Sally McBride! When an immortal queen trapped in the body of a child meets a child with the power of centuries, time and space itself may be in jeopardy. Coming March 2026. Preorder now: books2read.com/indigo-time

www.brain-lag.com/s/stories/ne...

Banner for Can*Con Vendor Room with photo of book vendor; text reads: *Tons of books by local authors, *Geeky items, art and crafts, *Free entry; Brookstreet Hotel, 525 Legget Dr., Ottawa, October 17-79; photo courtesy Can*Con

Photo of author giving presentation to over a dozen attendees; photo courtesy CollingWord

It's a great weekend for literature enrichment in Ontario. For those in the Ottawa area, we hope you have fun at @canconsffh.bsky.social, and for those in the Georgian Bay area, enjoy a full weekend at the second annual CollingWord. If you see any Brain Lag authors, say hi!

Available now at your favorite digital store! Alium by Grady Lynch, Grady Lynch

And some gentler stories for those looking for a cozy read:

books2read.com/the-bloodstone
books2read.com/the-con-delu...
books2read.com/innocent-earth
books2read.com/other-london-1

Available now at your favorite digital store! Alium by Grady Lynch, Grady Lynch

Some dark tales to feed a troubled mind:

books2read.com/alium
books2read.com/blight-of-th...
books2read.com/sins-and-sci...
books2read.com/tinkers-plague

Photo by Noel Aph: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cute-handmade-felt-ghost-on-wooden-stool-28745222/

Our Halloween match-up this week is all about the ✨vibes✨. Are you #TeamGrim or #TeamSpoopy?

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/delectable-sliced-pumpkin-pie-on-white-ceramic-plate-248469/

Happy Thanksgiving to our fellow Canadians. Stay safe, enjoy your holiday, and we hope you get a moment to sink into a good book.

Available now at your favorite digital store! Soul, Light, and Wings by Simon A. G. Spencer

And some tales to explore your darker side:

books2read.com/soul-light-w...
books2read.com/grey-witch-1

Available now at your favorite digital store! Rose by Mike Bryant, Mike Bryant

Some stories to rise from your grave to:

books2read.com/rose-bryant
books2read.com/the-nighting...

Photo by Alireza AM from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/majestic-angel-statue-in-peaceful-cemetery-31824897/

It's time for another Halloween match-up: undead vs. underworld. Are you #TeamZombie or #TeamDemon?

Graphic with large quotation marks, author name, and URL; text reads: A lot of ideas come to me in my sleep, which is why my wife tells me I'm tired when I wake up.

Dale E. McClenning's inspiration comes from what-if questions or dreams... despite the hazards that creates.

Read INNOCENT EARTH now (also available as an audiobook!): books2read.com/innocent-earth

Available now at your favorite digital store! Crowman by David Rae, David Rae

And some tales of transformation to bring out the beast:

books2read.com/crowman-rae
books2read.com/the-light-be...
books2read.com/the-nighting...

Available now at your favorite digital store! Extreme Dentistry by Hugh A. D. Spencer, Hugh A. D. Spencer

Some immortal stories to slake your thirst:

books2read.com/extreme-dent...
books2read.com/the-earthborn
books2read.com/tpom

Photo by Rok Romih: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-moon-on-a-dark-sky-3489072/

It's a classic matchup for this week's Halloween head-to-head: #TeamVampire or #TeamWerewolf?

Graphic of quote reading: I try to cast a broad net when it comes to consuming media, and I find that allows me to find inspiration in the space between two completely unrelated ideas.

Simon A. G. Spencer finds inspiration in books, movies, video games, history, and more. See how he combines "two completely unrelated ideas" in SHADOWS OF SLAVERY: books2read.com/shadows-of-s...

And some ghostly grimoires to haunt your imagination:

books2read.com/RTBS
books2read.com/tfoo
books2read.com/crowbait
books2read.com/live-nude-al...
books2read.com/blackout-ody...

Some witchy tales to tell around your cauldron:

books2read.com/grey-witch-1
books2read.com/wild-magic-l...
books2read.com/imaginary-fr...
books2read.com/other-london-1
books2read.com/ruins-of-cha...

Photo by Joy Marino from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/opened-book-3050270/

The spooky season is starting, and to celebrate, we're going head to head with weekly matchups until Halloween! For this first week, we ask: are you #TeamWitch or #TeamGhost?

Photo of event hall filled with vendor tables

Thank you to everyone who came out to The Fantasy Forum on Saturday! It was great to get back to London and we hope to return soon.

Banner for The Fantasy Forum, 09.20.25, The Grove, London, ON; image of dragons, butterfly-winged swords, and an open book on a light purple background

Tomorrow! The Fantasy Forum brings a whole day of literary fun to The Grove at Western Fair District, London (Ontario), including panels, a paint night, trivia, and more. Admission is FREE. simpli.events/e/fantasy-fo...

Photo by Perfecto Capucine from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-tablet-computer-behind-books-1329571/

Bookshelf bursting at the seams? Partner/roommate concerned you'll be buried alive by your TBR pile? Try an ebook! Not only are they weightless, but you can buy ANY Brain Lag title from your choice of webstore for only $7.99. Find your new favourite today: books2read.com/rl/BrainLag

Photo of author Hugh A. D. Spencer sitting at table with books on it, speaking with someone across the table

Photo of author Catherine Fitzsimmons at table with books and art on it

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Mississauga Literary Festival this weekend! Hope to see you at another event soon.

Poster for Mississauga Literary Festival, three stylized open books on a black background

Tomorrow!! Meet a slew of local writers for FREE at the Mississauga Literary Festival at the Hazel McCallion Central Library. mississaugalibrary.ca/litfest