Go Tell Pumpkinrot to Write His Book

I've been in a funk about Halloween lately. Normally by this time I have some sketches and notes about my Halloween display. This year: nothing. Well, okay, that's not entirely true. I did come up with one guideline for myself. This year I'm trying to avoid using any humanoid forms. But apart from that I'm basically at the starting line.

Those of you who aren't into prop-building and yard haunts yourselves probably will wonder why it's such a big deal that I haven't started yet. The rest of you who share this strange hobby understand. These things take thought, planning, effort and, above all, time. Depending on your level of addiction, a single prop might take months to complete. I've read of folks who spend 9 months or longer on their setups. Granted, those are far more elaborate than mine, but when you factor in the mutations that my handful of monsters undergo during construction--either organically or due to some unexpected hurdle--it can easily take me the entire Spring and Summer just to prepare my humble display.

It can be a little discouraging to reach this point in the year and feel like you are behind schedule in a big way with no idea how to catch up. There's some temptation to bag out and resign to carving a few pumpkins and recycling the old props. That's when, for me and so many other Halloween and Horror enthusiasts out there, having a guy like Pumpkinrot around is invaluable.

Unless you're new here you know who Pumpkinrot is and you know that I hold both him and his work in very high regard. He's a quality cat who does exceptional work with prop building and Halloween displays. Not only that, his presentation of that display in photo and video form is unparalleled in the world of home haunting. The guy knows how to create atmosphere. He's passionate about perfecting Horror. To top it all off, he is a prolific blogger who often shares his knowledge, observations and opinions about Halloween, Horror and this peculiar little pastime called the yard haunt.

Within the past year or so, a series has emerged from his blog entitled "Haunt Theory". Every now and again he'll write a piece that discusses something about making your haunt more effective, ranging from the importance of small details like scattering dead leaves to more technical elements like the application of lighting. These posts read more like a manual for stage and set design than someone writing about their favorite hobby. The level of depth says so much about why his work is as good as it is. He really is that passionate and it's infectious. Reading his blog has helped me on many occasions, including my most recent bout of creative paralysis.

Some months ago I commented on one of the "Haunt Theory" posts (this one, in fact) saying that I would love to buy a book with those words on the cover. The thought of it genuinely excited me. There was an idea I'd never heard before: a book dedicated to helping people create amazing yard haunts and build awesome Halloween props, but with an approach more in line with that of a set designer or artist. A how-to guide from one of the best out there. I imagined something like a tabletop book with lots of nice, big photos in it. Then I started wanting it.

Well, there seems to be reason to be hopeful. That wish may actually have a chance of coming true. In the latest installment of the series (see comments), Pumpkinrot seems to have hinted that it's something he's actually considering.

Here's the thing: I need this book to happen. I need this book in my library. If I'm ever stuck on a prop but can't get online for some reason I need a backup plan. Any parent will tell you it's important to have a backup plan. So, I need to ask you a favor. I need you to go to Pumpkinrot's blog and tell him that you want him to write his book. Or tell him that you're doing it for me. That's okay, too. Just be polite. Polite but insistent. That would probably work best.

By the way, he didn't put me up this. I don't shill for anyone. This is completely my own self-serving scheme. If I had to guess I'd say this will probably embarrass him. But don't worry about that. Just complete the mission.

Photo credit: "Ghost Dead" and "Pumpkin Face" by Pumpkinrot.