It’s everyone’s favorite time of year- Halloween!! Or, uh, some people call it “fall”, I guess. That’s lame. This is the best time of year, because the weather gets cooler, the bugs go away, the leaves change colors, and there’s pumpkin flavored/scented EVERYTHING. So, get out your flannels and fuzzy socks, because you’ll be in the Halloween spirit in no time after reading these!

This was a given. But, as one of the most noteworthy horror authors out there, he deserves a spot at the top of the list. Some of his most famous works are The Shining, Carrie, It, and 'Salem's Lot. These are a great way to introduce you to King's intense imagery and amazing talent for storytelling. Once you're done with a few novels, you could even check out the movies! Many are online (ahem, Netflix) for free.

2. Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz writes novels that are less "horror" and more "creepy/thriller". His most famous works are definitely the Odd Thomas series (the first of which was made into a movie a few years ago). Fans also enjoy Fear Nothing and What The Night Knows.

3. Ramsey Campbell

Often called "Britain's most respected living horror writer", Campbell has been writing for over 50 years, and two of his novels have been made into films. A personal favorite of mine is The Hungry Moon, and Incarnate is another fan-favorite. Ghosts and Grisly Things and The One Safe Place are also excellent reads to introduce you to this author!

4. John Grisham

John Grisham is a living American author that writes mainly psychological thrillers, one of his most famous being A Time To Kill written in 1989. A personal favorite of mine is The Chamber, and people I've spoken with also enjoy The Firm.

5. Thomas Ligotti

Regarded by his peers as a "recluse" and a "cult figure", Ligotti writes some of the genre's weirdest novels; however, he has won awards for his writing, and has received a great amount of praise. Two fan favorites are Songs of a Dead Dreamer and The Nightmare Factory; I also enjoy Noctuary.

Classical Bonus: Our good friend Poe.

If after reading some of these, you're still not in the Halloween spirit, you can always come back and read some of the works by our old friend Edgar Allen Poe, perhaps the world's most famous horror writer, right next to Stephen King. Any discount book store near you, such as Half Price Books, will have a copy of something along the lines of "The Essential Works of Edgar Allen Poe" for just a few dollars. It's a must-buy.

Happy Hallowe- or, Fall!