I’m excited to be participating in a Halloween blog hop on October 30-31. Special thanks to Katie O’Sullivan for organizing it! If you’re a follower of my blog, you may already know that having been born and raised in Massachusetts, autumn is my favorite season, next to winter. Here in Maryland the leaves are just starting to turn and we had our first frost last week. I missed apple picking this year, but I have some apples from a local orchard ready for baking and the colder weather is making me want to hunker down and be more productive inside. I think the magic of Halloween, when the veils between the worlds grow thin, has inspired me to really dive back into my writing.
For the Halloween blog hop, I’m going to share a few of my favorite scary/creepy stories. I don’t like watching horror movies because I can’t handle the gore, but I like reading old-fashioned ghost stories and weird tales of things that go bump in the night. After you read my list, leave a comment and share some of your own favorites during the hop on October 30 or 31. I have a $10 Amazon gift card to give to one lucky commenter to use on your favorite tricks or treats.
In no particular order:
1. The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs
The monkey’s paw grants three wishes, but be careful what you wish for. The end of this short story gave me shivers. I love the implied horror.
2. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
I read this for the second time last year. Creepy! I will never look at a carnival the same way again.
3. Don’t Look Now by Daphne du Maurier
A while back someone recommended that I read Daphne du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn and I fell in love with her gothic stories. She also wrote Rebecca and a short story called “The Birds,” both of which became Hitchock films. Don’t Look Now is a collection of stories, including “The Birds” and some frightening gems like “Blue Lenses,” about a woman who after eye surgery sees the heads of animals on people, reflecting their true nature, and “Don’t Look Now” (which was also made into a movie), about a couple on vacation who recently lost their young daughter and experience and unsetting series of events. Perfect Halloween reading.
4. The Festival by H.P. Lovecraft
It’s hard to choose just one Lovecraft story, but “The Festival” is pretty well known. New England setting, primal horror, typical Lovecraft. He has a distinctive, flowery style. I think you either like him or you don’t. I happen to love his writing.
5. The Tell-tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
I don’t think any list of horror favorites would be complete without one story by Poe. This one has stuck with me all these years. And if you can tell me which Simpsons episode featured this story, you get a gold star.
You can tell I haven’t read a lot of modern horror. What are some of your favorites, old or new? Please share and then check out the other blog hop participants! And happy Halloween!
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6. Maer Wilson
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10. L. V. Pires
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12. Iyana’s Rainbow
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Cindy Young-Turner 
In high school, I read a collection of Edgar Allen Poe’s stories and totally freaked myself out. I had to sleep with the light on for weeks! I’m with you – I don’t like horror movies too much, but a scary book can be so much fun… as long as I’m not alone in the house!
Happy Halloween!
I agree, I have to be careful reading them late at night!
i loved the Tell Tell Heart too, but i liked the Pit and the Pendulum better not to mention the Raven. Basically anything Poe was awesome to me growing up. then i discovered Alfred Hitchcock movies and scared myself silly with those every chance i got. LOL!
tammy ramey
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
My parents got me a copy of the collected works of Poe ages ago and I love it. The Raven is also a favorite. I’m not sure if I could do a Hitchcock movie. Might be too scary! Thanks for stopping by!
Cindy — there are some great creepy stories on this list, most I have read and love too. of your list, I’d probably push Tell-tale Heart up to the top. Love Poe!
Poe is definitely one of the masters!
Anything by H.P. Lovecraft totally creeps me out!
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com
I get creeped out but in a good way! 🙂
Love your book choices. Something Wicked This Way Comes still scares me. I love the old ones much better than the slasher books/movies.
When I was reading Something Wicked This Way Comes last year our local carnival started!
I’ve always been a scaredy kid since then that’s why I seldom watch or read scary books / movies. But recently, I’ve read this YA book. It’s called Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. It’s a pretty scary book. You should read it! It will keep you awake at night. Happy halloween!
alyssallanes [at] yahoo [dot] com
I’ve heard of Anna Dressed in Blood but haven’t read it. It’s got a neat cover. Happy Halloween!
I love this list….got to vote for The Monkey’s Paw being the most disturbing tale though…I was freaked out for ages after reading that one! The Tell-tale Heart is a close second though 🙂 Check out my own scary tale (true story) on my blog & leave a comment to win a free CWO Bookshelf listing in our Holiday issue of CapeWomenOnline.com magazine: http://capewomenonline.blogspot.com/