Growing up, my mom and I called the month of October the High Holy Days. October was my Advent, each day a little colder and darker and sweeter as Halloween drew ever nearer. Last year was very difficult, and made more so but the ultra-depressing series premiere of The Walking Dead. Things were much better, this. This year, we celebrated the whole month (and my head cold) with a collection of Hammer horror films, re-watches of horror classics from the 1970s and -80s, and my attempted read of Dracula. (This was immediately forestalled by my receiving a Halloween gift of Batman: Arkham City.)
Also, I wrote these pieces for Tor.com:
Enjoy!