Reading a ghost story on Christmas Eve was once as much a part of traditional Christmas celebrations as turkey, eggnog, and Santa Claus.

When he finds an abandoned duck punt on Christmas Eve, a hunter rows out into the marsh and comes across a shipwreck. He climbs aboard to explore—and finds himself trapped when a surge snaps the mooring line and his punt floats away. Sleep eludes him, and soon he discovers that he's not the only one trapped on the derelict ship.

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Seth is the cartoonist behind the comic-book series Palookaville, which started in the stone age as a pamphlet and is now a semi-annual hardcover. His comics have appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Best American Comics, and McSweeney’s Quarterly. His illustrations have appeared in numerous publications including the cover of the New Yorker, The Walrus, and Canadian Notes & Queries. He is the subject of a recent documentary from the National Film Board of Canada, Seth’s Dominion. Seth lives in Guelph, Ontario, with his wife Tania and their two cats in an old house he has named “Inkwell’s End.”

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Praise for Christmas Ghost Stories

“[This] series of Christmas ghost stories, miniature books chosen and illustrated by the cartoonist Seth ... [offers] chills—and charm.”—John Williams, New York Times Book Review

“I just bought my set of these and they ... are ... PERFECT. I hope they do these every year.”—Patton Oswalt

“These are beautiful little books ... [My family’s] been reading them at home, and we’ve actually put them away so we can re-read them on Christmas Eve.”—Matt Galloway, CBC’s Metro Morning

“For Seth, this is really a labour of love.”—Peter Robb, Ottawa Citizen

“The two classic Christmas ghost stories that Seth and Biblioasis fashioned last year were a huge success for us. Nifty packaging, striking design—so Seth.”—Ben McNally, Ben McNally Books, Toronto, ON

“Seth’s Christmas Ghost Stories series resurrects the legacy of fireside tales at Christmas with these beautifully illustrated editions.”—John Toews, McNally Robinson Booksellers, Winnipeg, MB