For as long as I can remember, I’ve marked this magical stretch of the calendar with two literary traditions. I start in late October by revisiting Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It’s a ghost story as timeless as the crackle of autumn leaves underfoot, with its eerie woods, mysterious Headless Horseman, and that delicious sense of unease that lingers long after the last page. And when December rolls around, I find myself returning to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, a tale that reminds us all—ghosts included—that it’s never too late to change. Together, these stories frame the season, offering a masterclass in the power of holiday storytelling.

Autumn and the Art of the Story

There’s something about this time of year that lends itself to great tales. Maybe it’s the way Halloween’s ghouls and goblins invite us to explore fear in all its forms, or how Thanksgiving, with its themes of gathering and gratitude, reflects the beauty of connection (even when it’s messy). And Christmas? Christmas brings the promise of transformation—a chance to make peace with the past and look toward a brighter future. Each holiday carries its own kind of magic, its own lessons, and its own wellspring of inspiration for writers and creators.

Take Halloween. From Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to modern classics like The Nightmare Before Christmas (a story that wonderfully bridges Halloween and Christmas), this holiday has gifted us tales that explore the boundaries of the known and the unknown. Whether it’s a headless horseman chasing a hapless schoolteacher or a haunted jack-o’-lantern lighting the way, Halloween stories remind us that the dark isn’t just scary—it’s exhilarating.

Then there’s Thanksgiving, a holiday less populated with ghosts and ghouls but no less inspiring. Here, the stories shift to themes of family, tradition, and the complicated dynamics of human relationships. Movies like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles or novels like The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote tap into the bittersweet hilarity and heart of coming together with loved ones (and sometimes just surviving the ordeal).

And Christmas? Few holidays have inspired as many transformative tales. From the moral redemption of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol to the whimsical fantasy of The Polar Express, Christmas stories lean into hope, compassion, and the magic of belief. It’s no wonder I like to finish the season with Dickens’ classic—there’s something comforting about ending the year with the reminder that even the hardest hearts can soften.

The Power of Seasonal Stories

What makes these tales endure? Maybe it’s their universality. Halloween asks us to face fear. Thanksgiving calls us to reflect on what—and who—we’re thankful for. Christmas reminds us to hope, even when it feels impossible. Together, they form a seasonal trifecta of emotions that speak to something deeply human. As readers and writers, this time of year challenges us to explore those emotions, to look at the darkness and the light, to imagine ghosts of our own and what lessons they might teach us.

And isn’t that the magic of a good story? It captures the spirit of the season, whether it’s Ichabod’s flight from the Horseman or Scrooge’s tearful epiphany on Christmas morning. It reminds us of who we are, what we fear, and what we hope to become. And in the best cases, it leaves us just a little bit changed.

Wishing You Warmth and Wonder

So, as we step into this most wonderful time of year, I encourage you to find the stories that define the season for you. Maybe it’s Sleepy Hollow by firelight, or a rewatch of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Maybe it’s reading A Christmas Carol aloud to your family on Christmas Eve, as Dickens himself once did. Whatever it is, I hope it brings you the same joy and reflection it’s brought me over the years.

From my desk to your home, here’s wishing you a season full of chills, warmth, and wonder—and a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. May your holiday be filled with great stories, great company, and just the right amount of pumpkin pie.

Leif J. Erickson is a science fiction and fantasy author from a small farming community in west central Minnesota. Using his time wisely when he was a farmer, Leif developed many ideas, characters, and storylines to create over fifty unique first drafts and outlines for stories. From his start in a small town school, to college at North Dakota State University, back to his family farm, then to the bright lights of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and back to his small farming town, Leif has always had a love of writing.

When Leif isn’t writing he can be found with his wife hiking in state parks, canoeing local lakes and rivers, exploring local and regional ghost towns, experiencing museums, or simply reading or hanging out with friends and family. Leif draws on the local nature and ecology to find inspiration for his writing while he also asks what’s possible for technology and the human race, weaving them together for amazing stories that will stay with the reader for years to come. Leif looks forward to having many novel and story releases in the years to come.

You can see all of Leif’s Books here: Leif’s Amazon Author Page