BONUS Women After Dark Ep. 1: Shy Girl and the complicated reality of AI use in publishing

On March 14th, 2026, Hachette Book Group pulled the forthcoming horror novel "Shy Girl" from its lineup after the New York Times approached the publisher with what it claimed was evidence that the book was written by AI. Author Mia Ballard, who self-published the novel in February of 2025, told the Times in an email that she did not use AI to write "Shy Girl," but rather someone she hired to edit the self-published version did. Since the cancellation of Shy Girl, which is likely the first time a book has ever been pulled from traditional publishing due to allegations of AI usage, has sent both the publishing industry and the book community into a full-blown crash out. The controversy has spawned hundreds of think pieces, video essays, and podcast episodes from journalists, online creators, and even authors themselves who all seem to be asking the same question. Is there even really a way to truly know if a book was written with AI?The answer might not be as black and white as some would like to believe in this episode of Women After Dark. *Women After Dark is a series where the hosts of Women Are Reading indulge in some of their favorite guilty pop culture pleasures while exploring the most bizarre, controversial, and batshit insane nonsense plaguing the entertainment world that should not be discussed in the light of day. *