By: Camille Samilton and Kaylee Spiva
October 28, 2026
Once upon a time, there were authors, authors who built worlds out of words, sealing them on the crisp white paper. They painted them with the smooth sway of their ink.
Some authors were valued, adorned with an intricate golden crown, dressed in deep crimson red. Their stories commanded six figures; these authors became known as Royalties.
Kingdoms slowly-populated with magical beings they designed called characters. The characters were found within the ink-blotted, black letters, spanning over hundreds of pages.
They placed their magic in numerous stores to provide people with the stories in their heads, hoping someone would find these narratives worthy enough to turn the page.
However, this did not last forever as a new type of blood dripped onto the pages. The work of AI, wrapping itself around those letters, are making some people scurry in despair.
A developing author named Mia Ballard, gripping horror of Shy Girl, climbed onto the historic shelves of the United Kingdom from the timid appearance of self-publishing.
In February of 2025, Shy Girl started hitting the shelves while growing in immense popularity, receiving the highest praise from stores to online websites. The doors were slowly-opening for a young, new author.
During the soon release from the publishing house Hachette, a small trickle of red doubt seeped through the words, making the pages red.
Readers began to question the book saying that when they read it, they witnessed marks of AI generation, such as repetitive phrasing, causing these accusations to spread online.
March 19, 2026: A year after the novel had been self-published, Hachette instantly announced the cancellation of the novel and its soon to be U.S. release with the discontinuation of the U.K. edition. All this after receiving serious backlash from readers over AI allegations.
Ballard denied the use of AI generation when writing her novel. She claimed during an interview with the New York Times that an editor she hired used AI tools to edit the book in the earlier drafts.
She also spoke out on the effects the controversy had on her personally.
“This controversy has changed my life in many ways, and my mental health is at an all-time low, and my name is ruined for something I didn’t even personally do.” (NYT)
As one of the largest book publishers in the United States, Ballard’s statement demonstrates how online backlash with big companies can negatively reflect someone’s mental state and overall health.
Ballard’s world has grown smaller beneath the weight of online speculation about AI. And, she continues to live under suspicion.
