BEWITCHED BY HALLOWEEN

From an early age, I was captivated by folklore, magic, and the idea of Halloween, something my worn out Casper and Hocus Pocus VHS tapes can still attest to. Growing up just an hour from Salem, Massachusetts, I visited often, and with every trip I fell deeper in love with the strange little city where haunted attractions blurred with historic architecture. I took it all in: tales of the olden days that seemed too crazy to be true, legendary monsters that felt too terrifying to be fake, and the imagination that lacquered my brain.

The kitsch and fantasy I found in Salem sparked a lasting appreciation for creativity, ingenuity, and immersive storytelling, all of which I bring into my everyday writing. But I also apply this whimsical thinking to my hobbies. These days, I don’t just learn about monsters, I make them.

Whether I’m casting my body with latex, crafting a suit out of faux candy, or molding facial appliances, I use Halloween as the ultimate excuse to build with my hands and lean into tactile projects. When we’re young, drawing and sculpting are more commonplace. As time goes on, these pastimes often fade into the background. So I have this running promise to the kid who loves the idea of Halloween that when October comes around, I’ll think of those childhood memories and I’ll sketch, paint, create, daydream and never fully grow up, even if only just for the season.