October Suits Book-Lovers
By LindaAnn LoSchiavo for Behind the Pages
Ten Dates to Celebrate
October 1 is National Pumpkin Spice Day
Pumpkin spice, with its fragrant blend of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice, conjures up the arrival of autumn. As coffee shops, bakeries, and markets roll out seasonal treats and even pumpkin spice logoed merchandise, curl up with a warm pumpkin spice latte and dive into books with moody autumnal settings— cozy mysteries, paranormal romances, poetry—or Hallowe’en-themes.
Random Acts of Poetry Day is on the first Wednesday in October
In 2024, National Random Acts of Poetry Day falls on Wednesday, October 2. The season’s fall foliage, jack-o'-lanterns, bonfires, and trick-or-treating memories offer a rich harvest of inspiration. Celebrate by revisiting timeless poems such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s "Autumn Song," James Whitcomb Riley’s "When the Frost is on the Punkin," James Wright’s "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio," Grace Paley’s "Autumn," Annie Finch’s "Final Autumn," and Kenn Nesbitt’s light-hearted "Hallowe’en Party." Then, grab a blank notebook and craft your own autumnal verses.
October 6 is National Mad Hatter Day
In 1986, as a hat tip to old-fashioned fun, a group of computer technicians in Boulder, Colorado, created Mad Hatter Day—a celebration of whimsy and absurdity. The date, October 6th, nods to the "10/6" label tucked in the Mad Hatter’s hat in "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland." Embrace the madness by donning your favorite Victorian bonnet or homburg, and losing yourself in Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, complete with Sir John Tenniel’s iconic illustrations that have brought the Mad Hatter and other vivid characters to life since 1864. A Hallowe’en costume might be inspired by The Mad Tea Party or other chapters.
October 10 is National Walk to a Park Day
While the weather remains warm, take a moment to enjoy fall’s panorama and savor the beauty of local parks and green spaces, which offer so much—especially to urban dwellers. It goes without saying that you’ll bring along a book or two to enjoy al fresco.
National Haunted House Day is on the second Friday in October
In 2024, National Haunted House Day is celebrated on Friday, October 11. Edgar Allan Poe is often credited with inventing the "haunted house genre" with his gothic masterpiece, "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839). Since then, countless eerie narratives have followed, with Shirley Jackson’s "The Haunting of Hill House" (1959) famed for its oppressive atmosphere and psychological terror.
As National Haunted House Day approaches, it’s the perfect time to revisit classics like Poe, Jackson, or the unsettling "The Amityville Horror: A True Story" by Jay Anson (1977). Curiously, one aspect of the genre remains less explored: the gothic haunted house poem. These eerie verses capture the same spectral essence but in poetic form:(a.) "Low Barometer" by Robert Seymour Bridges [1844 – 1930]https://poets.org/poem/low-barometer(b.) "Don't Monetize Those Poltergeists" by LindaAnn LoSchiavo https://www.timberghostpress.com/blog/dont-monetize-those-poltergeists-by-lindaann-loschiavo#/(c.) "Footprints in the Snow"by LindaAnn LoSchiavoVideo-Poem:https://youtu.be/zqWC36R4fM4 For those inspired to craft some new haunted house poems, my article in Writer’s Digest Magazine offers spooky tips and will be available on September 21, 2024 (no paywall).
October 16 is National Dictionary Day
Etymologist Noah Webster, born in Hartford, Connecticut, on October 16, 1758, spent 27 years completing his first dictionary. He studied over two dozen languages in order to trace the origins of words. In his honor, expand your vocabulary by adding unfamiliar words from your reading list or incorporating them into your next book review.
October 17 is Black Poetry Day
Established in 1985, Black Poetry Day honors Jupiter Hammon, the first Black poet published in the U.S., born into slavery on October 17, 1711, in Long Island, New York. Despite his circumstances, Hammon was educated, learned to read, and had access to the manor library. Celebrate this day by visiting a local library and exploring works by Black poets like Jessie Redmon Fauset, Robert Hayden, Wanda Phipps, Arna Bontemps, and former U.S. Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks.
October 23 is National Horror Movie Day
If you're in the mood for an exciting fright, National Horror Movie Day is perfect for enjoying the thrill of a sensational horror film. But which is better: the book or the film? Which version gives you nightmares? Consider "The Shining" by Stephen King (1977) versus Stanley Kubrick’s cult classic (1980) or "The Woman in Black" by Susan Hill (1983) versus Herbert Wise’s British teleplay for ITV (1989). But since that horror film remake starring Daniel Radcliffe in 2012 was such a flop, it’s a strong argument for sticking with Susan Hill’s gothic ghost story in paperback.
National Frankenstein Friday on the last Friday in October
In 2024, National Frankenstein Friday falls on October 25. Founded in 1997 by Ryan MacCloskey of Westfield, New Jersey, this commemoration celebrates Mary Shelley, who, at 18 years old, began writing her iconic novel "The Modern Prometheus" in 1816. Mary Shelley's creation, Frankenstein's monster, has since become a cornerstone of horror, inspiring countless adaptations and a lasting legacy. This day offers a chance to honor Mary Shelley’s influence and explore the works of contemporary female horror writers who are shaping the genre today.
October 31 is All Hallows’ Eve
Hallowe’en festivities often revolve around classic traditions: trick-or-treating, costume parties, parades, apple bobbing, pumpkin carving, lighting bonfires, and sharing ghostly tales around a campfire. But for book lovers, there’s an even richer way to conjure the eerie spirit of All Hallows’ Eve—by diving into the right books. Here’s a curated reading list that will cast a spell over your imagination. *
A Hallowe’en Reading List
Ten Riveting Reads for the Spooky Month
"Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems" by LindaAnn LoSchiavo, winner of The Chrysalis BREW Project’s Award for Excellence [Wild Ink Publishing, October 1, 2024; paperback 76pgs; ISBN-13: 978-1-958531-87-7].
"Hallowe’en: A Fantasy in Three Acts" by Ken Werner, originally published privately in 1981 [Anthology Editions, September 10, 2024; hardcover 65 pgs; ISBN-13: 978-1944860639].
"Hallowe’en Cupcake Murder" – a trio of cozy mysteries written by Carlene O'Connor, Liz Ireland, and Carol J. Perry [Kensington Cozies, July 23, 2024; mass market paperback 384 pgs; ISBN-13: 978-1496740274].
"Hallowe’en Collection Treat: 600+ Chilling Macabre Classics, Supernatural Mysteries, Gothic Novels & Horror Thrillers" – featuring works by Algernon Blackwood, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, Wilhelm Hauff, Henry James, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Theodor Storm, Jules Verne, et al. [Good Press, December 11, 2023; Kindle, page count unknown; ASIN: B0CQCW5HGL].
"Hallowe’en Tales and Games"written by Ethel Owen and illustrated by Eleanore Mineah Hubbard, originally published in 1928, with 13 eerie selections, reissued in a new facsimile edition [Commonwealth Book Company, Inc., December 1, 2023; paperback 128 pgs; ISBN-13: 978-1948986700].
"Horror Stories for Hallowe’en" by Tony Walker [Classic Ghost Stories Podcast, September 20, 2023; paperback 296 pgs; ISBN-13: 978-1739559632].
"Kaleidoscope Hallowe’en: Part 3" by Michael Frost Beckner [Montrose Station Press, LLC, September 24, 2024; Kindle, page count unknown; ASIN: B0D94Y346M].
"Messengers of the Macabre: Hallowe’en Poems" by LindaAnn LoSchiavo and David Davies [Audience Askew, October 18, 2022; paperback 51pgs; ISBN-13: 979-8841254102].
"Podcast: Hallowe’en Daily" by Hallowe’en Daily News, featuring audio highlights from our library of exclusive interviews with icons of horror, industry innovators, and cultural creatives who live and breathe all things Hallowe’en every day, like us. Listen for free on Audible or Amazon Music’s webplayer.
"The Witch Queen of Hallowe’en" (Immortals After Dark series) by Kresley Cole [Valkyrie Press, March 26, 2024; paperback 182 pgs; ISBN-13: 979-8989376223].
BIO
Native New Yorker and Elgin Award winner, LindaAnn LoSchiavo is a member of the British Fantasy Society, HWA, SFPA, and The Dramatists Guild — and a spooky Scorpio who loves Hallowe'en.
Current books: "Messengers of the Macabre: Hallowe'en Poems," "Vampire Ventures," "Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems" [Wild Ink, October 1, 2024], "Apprenticed to the Night" [UniVerse Press, 2024], and "Felones de Se: Poems about Suicide" [Ukiyoto Publishing, 2024].* "Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems" won The Chrysalis BREW Project’s Award for Exellence on July 23, 2024. * Book Review + Award LINK: https://thechrysalisbrewproject.com/2024/07/23/book-review-always-haunted-halloween-poems-by-lindaann-loschiavo/
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