October Nights
Macabre Monday is made for October
T.S. Eliot once designated April as the cruelest month — carrying spring’s hope of promise and renewal that contrasts with the modern world’s barrenness and emptiness. Where April teases life and light, October foretells death and darkness.
October sees leaves fall from their perches amid the trees. Vibrant forests turn into legions of towering naked giants with misshapen limbs. Animals retreat into hibernation. Warm sunshine yields to icy moonlight as winter stretches forth elongated fingers and conquers territory anew.
Here at Macabre Monday, October is a time to celebrate the horror genre. Time to watch our favorite scary movie and curl up with our favorite scary book. We want to frighten and terrify. We seek to remind you that maybe it isn’t all a dream or just a figment of your imagination. Maybe there really is a monster lurking in the basement, in your closet, or under your bed.
A monster patiently waiting for you to close your eyes …
Join us throughout October to celebrate the horror genre. Share your favorite scary stories in our weekly newsletter, chat threads, or on Substack Notes. Spotlight your favorite authors and give them a little love — especially if they are not well-known or only have a handful of subscribers. Let’s make this spooky season the best yet.
The Weekly Digest
A selection of last week’s Macabre Monday posts from our team.
Gather around our campfire as we highlight memorable stories, poems, articles, and notes from last week’s Macabre Monday offerings:
Beware the woman in the lake!
shared The Dock, an engrossing story about a sinister urban legend.
Our own
explored the cost of bionic enhancements in animals in Signs and Wonders, a surreal and creepy sci-fi/horror tale that ends with a frightening twist.
The third and final book in the Dracula’s Ghost series will be headed your way soon.
announced Dracula’s Ghost—Apocalypse will be published in early 2025 and offered up a preview for fans of the series.
- shares his thoughts on an upcoming remake of the classic horror film Nosferatu.
Fresh off the presses from
is the second installment of the Semyaza Cycle. Daughters of the Black Moon chronicles two siblings battling for their lives against acolytes of a dark ancient order.
Scary stories drawn from your memories? That’s the terrifying concept fueling this series of micro-fiction tales from
.Finally, check out A Tempest — a wicked tale from
about an Onyro named Nari and the consequences of unchecked rage.
I'm ready for October! I have so much lined up: Bloody Mary, Halloween candy, a 50 year old cold case, pumpkin bakes...and tomorrow I've got a trunk murderess.
Yes! October is the best for horror. I think we're going to start "The Terror" in a week or so!