Small Ghost

Sweet reassurance and validation for anyone feeling adrift—this collection of verse, illustrations, and photography is a poetic refuge far away from loneliness. A delicate blend of melancholy reflections and absurd hopefulness, Small Ghost explores the exhausting reality of struggling with mental health. Mateer’s conversational style, infused with vulnerability and thoughtfulness, transforms mundane experiences into wistful musings. Panic attacks at the grocery store and days spent wasting away in bed are met with humor and care. Lauren Zaknoun’s evocative photography and the poet’s own illustrations add a whimsical, irreverent touch to the collection. With Small Ghost, Trista Mateer holds out a hand and offers solace to those who may feel otherwise isolated in their peculiarities.

About the Author :
Trista Mateer is a passionate mental health advocate, utilizing her large online platform (and her work) to destigmatize and springboard conversations surrounding grief, loss, trauma, anxiety, depression, etc. A multi-faceted creative force, Mateer is best known for Aphrodite Made Me Do It—a collection of art and poetry—which explores modern feminist issues through the lens of Greek mythology. Whatever she’s writing about, Mateer invites readers into a world where vulnerability is celebrated. Connect with her on Instagram and TikTok @tristamateer or at tristamateer.com.

Review :
"Trista Mateer never ceases to evoke feeling with her poetry – sad, raw, less alone. I even found myself screaming in agreement with how relatable her work is to those who struggle with their own mental health. Small Ghost is a collection you'll want to have beside you at your most vulnerable hour. I know I will." – Brianna Pastor, author of Good Grief "In Small Ghost, Mateer writes the words many of us feel but don't know how to say. Told through hard-hitting poems, photos and illustrations we've all come to recognize and love from Mateer, this memoir-in-verse is a reminder of the silence, pain and loneliness of depression. Whether you want to feel less alone, or want to better understand a friend who is suffering in silence, Small Ghost is for you." – Shelby Leigh, author of Girl Made of Glass  "Small Ghost reimagines what it means to haunt and be haunted, through a character that will ring true to anyone struggling with their mental health. These poems so expertly take the mundanity of everyday life and weave them into profound moments of sorrow, beauty, and meaning. By the end of this collection you’ll want to have a good cry, then call all of your friends and tell them you love them. Small Ghost may be a study of loneliness and isolation but, at its heart, is a moving ode to sunlit kitchens, sitcoms, and getting better. I wish I could go back in time and give this to the girl I was at sixteen." – Caitlin Conlon, author of The Surrender Theory "Small Ghost is a raw and haunting collection that explores the depths of depression and the fragile hope that reaches down to pull us out of it. Trista Mateer is a gifted poet who deeply understands the complexities of the human experience and isn't afraid to explore every aspect of it." – Kevin T. Norman, Book Content Creator.