F. Marion Crawford for Halloween

For tonight's (third) countdown to Halloween post, a reading suggestion: the stories of F. Marion Crawford. One of my favourite, I must say, as Crawford is not shy of using gory effects and violence, but never to the detriment of atmosphere and suspense. It is never gratuitous. The one I first discovered is The Upper Berth, which is about a drowned corpse haunting the cabin of a ship, but you also have For the Blood is the Life, which is a classic vampire story and The Screaming Skull which is a ghost story about a... well, a skull that screams. And bites. And kills. Deliciously dark stuff. Now, I must confess, I haven't read The Witch of Prague yet. Because it's more magical realism and fantasy than proper horror, or so I have been told, and because I was kind of hoping to read it the city where it is set one day. We did discuss taking holiday there last year and before. That said, I might make it part of next year's countdown TBR, early in the season.

New Old Witch

A few days ago, Wolfie and I went down town in one of the local artisan markets they have every other Saturday. Someone was selling home made decorations, many of them autumnal or Halloween themed. I am always on the lookout for new Halloween decorations to spook out the place. My son and I agreed on a witch, because we always need more witches. We bought this one. We haven't decided of a name yet. She doesn't look like the nasty, malevolent crones we have as witches usually. More like a kindly if eccentric grandmother. Anyway, Wolfie and I will decide of a name at some point, any suggestions in the comments welcome.

Fearsome Witch

 For today's countdown to Halloween post, I wanted to share a picture my father took during one of his walks. There are already Halloween displays in front of houses, like this one, ready for trick or treat. You might have seen this witch before, because it's on display every year and every year I share a few pictures of her. She is just deliciously sinister. And this year, she is putting a Jack O'Lantern in a cauldron. God knows what she is stewing in there. I think there is a story to tell about her. Maybe one day.

M&S in Halloween Mode

Okay, so the Halloween countdown starts tomorrow, but all the same, I have been in the mood for it since AUgust at least. And I have been happily surprised that many shops are also preparing in advance. Our local cMarks & Spencer had this window image in the window.A  Jack O'Lantern (or two), a vampire, a witch (with her bubbly, creepy cauldron), a ghost, a black cat, a skeleton... It's like the perfect gathering of Halloween critters. It will almost make me forgive them for having Christmas stuff already. Otherwise, going there this time of year is a treat.

Walpurgisnacht!

 Beware, beware all! For tonight is Walpurgis Night, a night where witches, ghosts and devils roam the earth. And yes, it is very much like Halloween, but without pumpkins and at the end of April. If you are lucky, you might even get a chill akin to the one you can feel in the best autumn. Be that as it may, Walpurgis Night is one of the important dates in my calendar, the starting point of my countdown to the countdown to Halloween, if you will. So I intend to read horror stories tonight, if I can. I might even start writing a scary story myself, featuring a witch or more. Oh, and if you are wondering about this witch, it's a magnet a friend has on her fridge. I couldn't help but take a picture of it.

Soir macabre

 Photo prise par mon père cette année, lors de sa promenade dans Chicoutimi. J'aime particulièrement le mort-vivant chauve. Un zombie? Je vais finir par me réconcilier avec lemonstre. Ici, on a changé d'heure, le soir tombe plus vite. Et il n'y a rien de plus délicieusement macabre qu'un soir qui tombe sur un cimetière hanté, même si ce n'est pas un vrai cimetière.

Halloween in Vienna

For today's countdown to Halloween post I come back to my very first post of the month, when I shared the picture of a display window in Vienna. Because the display was gorgeous, for one, also because I was so glad to see that Halloween is getting traction on the continent. Austria is a great place to celebrate Halloween, I thought, but I also always thought Austria and Vienna especially are great places for old fashioned horror stories. It has been in the past, of course, I know of at least one anyway. Because of the architecture, the history, the atmosphere (not to mention the music), the city deserves its own critters and iconic supernatural villains. When I was in Vienna, I could not help but imagine what I could do with the setting, imagining malevolent presences and hapless victims. What do you think? And do you know of any horror stories, old or new, set in Vienna?

Fear the Witch

For today's countdown to Halloween post, another witch, because Halloween is truly their season. You might remember last year, I blogged about a scary witch on a lawn. Well, the witch is back, by a bonfire that has not been lit just yet. There's no cauldron yet either, but I suspect she is preparing the fire to cook something, or... someone. Seriously, there are some great Halloween props that could be used as inspiration for horror stories. This is one of them.

Vampires, sorcières, zombies, etc.

Photo prise par mon père il y a quelques jours. Je partage parce que c'est vraiment superbe. Bon, il y a une faute à zombie et je crois que les autres créatures devraient être écrites au pluriel, mais bon. C'est une belle danse macabre (je vais d'ailleurs en partager une bientôt). Alors donc, morale de l'histoire (de la photo?): on fête l'Halloween proprement au Saguenay.

The Season of the Witch

For today's countdown to Halloween post, a meme I saw a few days ago, which I thought looked so good I had to share it. Halloween and the month of October is truly the season of the witch. I also find this autumnal picture both beautiful and eerie. It looks like a perfect setting for a horror story. And witches make for great antagonists in horror stories, although maybe seldom used these days. Because we now find them sympathetic characters? I don't know, but I wouldn't want to cross path with one. I did write a scary story about a witch, if it gets published, I will tell you where you can buy it. Until then, watch this image and give yourself a good chill.

Aquila about Halloween

For today's countdown to Halloween post, something that came to the post for Wolfie. Because my son receives the best mail. He is very fond of Aquila Magazine. For October, they really outdo themselves with their issue. It's of course all about Halloween. It has a few spooky stories (although not so scary, as it is after all for children), a lot of fun and games, a lot of information about both the holiday and spooky folklore. I must confess, sometimes I get envious of his childhood. In any case, if you have children, please buy yourself a copy of this month's issue of Aquila.

September Witches

 I am not the only one thinking about Halloween already: my father took this picture recently, someone is my home town of Chicoutimi has decided to go grand for Halloween and to start early. But September is, after all, Halloween eve. I also read somewhere (in this book, to be more specific) that one of the dates for witches' sabbath is the 23rd of September. So here it is, I think that's what it was. Do you see the witches, raising the dead and greeting the dead? Ghosts and skeletons, there's even a ghostly Jack O'Lantern in the background. I love this display. Anyway, I must remember to do something special every 23rd of September to remember that witches gather on that date.

Beware (and enjoy) Walpurgisnacht!

Tonight is Walpurgis Night, as you may know (especially if you have been following this blog). Walpurgis Night is like Halloween, but set at the tale end of April. It is maybe not as atmospheric (partially because it's not autumnal), but it Walpurgis Night is a reminder that you can be spooky any time of year. In my situation and I suspect more spooky minded people, it is also an important step in the long countdown to Halloween. So I will try to read some scary stories before the end of the evening. Otherwise, please beware if you go out: there's going to be ghosts, goblins, devils, witches and other scary creatures roaming around.

Halloween explained to children

Halloween is here and before it is over, I wanted to share with you two pages from Charlie Brown's Fourth Super Book of Questions and Answers. A friend of mine had it and thought little of the book (or Halloween). I was fascinated by the book and had been wanting it since then. As it is out of print, I am sharing it here today.

Rowan Trees (against the Forces of Darkness)

For today's countdown to Halloween post, I thought I would mention a weapon against supernatural forces that is seldom seen or used nowadays in horror stories. If at all. I am talking of course of the rowan tree. This one on the picture (dating back from 2009) is of the family's rowan tree. I mentioned it before, here and here. Because in mythology and folklore, rowan trees are meant to provide protection against malevolent beings, particularly against witches. So I could easily see rowan trees used to protect homes against witches, devils and ghosts and its branches, leaves and fruits be essential elements of protective magic. Maybe also turn the branches into blunt weapons. To top it off, with its fiery colours in autumn, rowan trees add great seasonal atmosphere for Halloween stories. So they should be featured in horror fiction. I guess I might have to be the one reintroducing them.

The Weird Sisters

I am sharing another picture taken by my father during one of his walks. This time, it is three witches, who of course reminded me of the Weird Sisters in the Scottish Play. By the way, it's a great play to watch come Halloween.

L'Halloween à Chicoutimi

 Photo prise par mon père lors d'une de ses promenades. C'est tout pour le moment.

Beware the Witch

My father went on a walk recently and he took a few pictures of some lawns decorated for Halloween. This photo is maybe my favourite. I just love that witch! She is so deliciously scary.

Spooky Jack

 My wife bought me this door sign on the cheap a few days ago. She knows me so well: I love this. We might use it on the door during trick or treat, but until then it is on my desk. I love, love, love this Jack O'Lantern. Everything about him is so perfect: the wicked smile, the bats in the background, the witches (warlock?) hat, the mix of ochre and black. I might use it as a model for one of the pumpkins wewill carv, as I think it is perfectly scary. We are now in the middle of October. Time goes way too fast.

This Is Halloween

 For today's (and this year's first) countdown to Halloween reading suggestion: This Is Halloween, by James A. Moore. "Ten Tales of Terror" as the cover says. Not all of them are explicitly set round Halloween, but many of them are. And many of them feature the sinister Bedlam Woods, where a ghostly witch and her monstrous offsprings dwell. Relatable characters are mercilessly sent to and through hell, and neither critters nor ordinary humans are devoid of moral ambiguity. Moore is great at turning familiar places and traditions into unsettling backdrops. I also loved how original his monsters often are: you have undead made of bones, shadowy female spirit that haunts and attacks its preys like lightning, a blobby shape-shifting fiend who puts on a human skin and walks among them as a... but I don't want to give too much away. This is the perfect seasonal read. Preparing this post, I learned that Moore sadly passed away in March this year. I am sad to discover a new horror writer as of late, but this will not be the last book of him that I will read. This post is a posthumous homage.