Issue #7 October 2019 - The Book Smuggler's Den

Most fears are basic: fear of the dark, fear of going down in the basement, fear of weird sounds, fear that somebody is waiting for you in your closet. Those kinds of things stay with you no matter what age. – R. L. Stine

Copy of Back to School Sept 2019 Issue — Click to download your copy!

Growing up I was like most kids and couldn’t wait for Halloween night to come. Not because of the scare and gore, but because of the candy! I always had so much fun preparing my costume weeks in advance. I wanted to be something you don’t see walking down the costume aisle at the party store. How many kids do you know of who wanted to be the Energizer Bunny for Halloween? Needless to say, I always wanted to be something fun. The thought of dressing up like a witch or some masked creature never appealed to me. Nor did haunted houses, corn mazes, or scary movies for that matter.

As I grew older, I realized there is a difference between watching something scary and reading something scary. When I discovered R.L. Stine, I was shocked at how much I enjoyed his books. Scary, yet entertaining. This is unlike some horror films that are too graphic for me where I have trouble falling asleep weeks after I watch it.

Now I enjoy reading and writing thriller and horror novels the most. With Halloween upon us, I was curious to find other authors who enjoy coming up with creepy tales that haunt the mind. You submitted and we loved what you wrote! Thanks to all of those who contributed to this month’s magazine.

As an adult, I’m not really one for Halloween anymore. So there will be no silly costumes or attend any parties this year. Rather, I think I’ll be hand out candy to the kiddos, answering the door between reading chapters of my latest scary read, Stephen King’s, Salem’s Lot.

Happy Halloween!