Nathaniel Hawthorne amid gorgeous fall color in Salem, Massachusetts.

It’s the first weekend in October and that means Halloween is on its way. Time for some pictures to get in the mood.

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an author a some of the most unnerving works of literature, including the House of the Seven Gables. I’m a particular fan of his short stories, including “Young Goodman Brown,” “The Minister’s Black Veil,” and “Rappacini’s Daughter” — all have the creepy town feel for which he’s so well known.