10 Holiday Gifts to Give Your Horror Hound

It would be so much easier to get into the spirit of the holidays if there wasn't all of that pressure to buy gifts for everyone on our lists. It can be so stressful to pick out that perfect present for your loved one and stay in a realistic budget. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting something special and unique instead of heading for that gift card kiosk at the grocery store. Let me help! And it's still early enough that it can be delivered in plenty of time. These are suggestions for the Horror Hound you know who has everything.

1. Horror Inspired Candles: Get Fictional & Scent From Hell

There is something about burning a candle and reading a book. These two things go together, and when the candle is scented to match the mood of your horror book, that's even more of a winning combination. Get Fictional and Scent From Hell are both woman-owned businesses who make hand-poured, soy candles with great scents inspired by horror. Mother Horror's picks: Krampus (Roasted Apples, Pine, Warm Spice) or Christmasland (Gingerbread, Hot Spice, Tonka) from Get Fictional. Jack Skellington (Sandalwood, Cassia Root, Cypress, Cinnamon, Fig, Lavender, Neroli) or Don't Feed Him After Midnight (Eucalyptus, Mint, Cypress, Pine, Tonka Bean, Smoke) from Scent From Hell.

2. Horror Inspired Shirts: Crackers & Milk

Another woman-owned business. I learned about this t-shirt shop from my best friend, Ashley (@spookishmommy). She loves True Crime and this store has some clever designs so you can represent your True Crime junkie status. When I browsed the store, Crackers & Milk, I saw this tee which I thought a lot of my Horror Hound friends would love, since I wanted it too. "Y'all Need Satan." A timeless sentiment. 

3. Bones Coffee Company

I co-own a horror fiction monthly subscription service called Night Worms, and our customers love when we send Bones Coffee Company with their horror books. This month, we sent their limited edition flavor, White Chocolate Peppermint Bark. The packaging is perfect for Horror Hounds and the flavors are super yummy. Great for coffee drinkers who enjoy a morning or afternoon treat without having to go through some corporate drive-thru.

4. Engraved Bookmarks

Ask any reader and they will likely confirm that one can never have too many bookmarks. In my personal experience, I lose bookmarks all the time, or leave them inside a book and then can't remember which one it was. I have so many bookmarks at this point, I play a little game to pick one that matches my book either by color or design. It's fun. These wooden bookmarks, from The Bookish Den are stylish, artistic, and lightweight. Highly recommended. I have this design in black and I also own a coffin.

5. Haunted Hallows Tea Spoon

I have these spoons and I adore them. Pretty sure any coffee or tea drinker who puts anything (sugar, cream, honey) in their beverage needs a spoon to stir it with, and this ghastly jack-o-lantern design is so cool. They come in rose gold, gold, silver, and matte black. You can buy them at Lively Ghosts, and make sure to browse the whole website, there are some really unique gifts.

6. Ghost in a Jar

My sister bought me a Ghost in a Jar for my birthday in May, and when I posted it on Instagram the seller, StolzKraft, was flooded with purchases and custom requests. I had never seen anything quite like this little novelty gift. My sister knew I would love it! They also had some ornaments listed and it looks like they are currently out of stock since they are handmade items, but keep checking for shop updates to get your own little ghosty! Totally worth it. 

7. "The Best Horror of the Year Volume Thirteen" edited by Ellen Datlow

"For more than four decades, Ellen Datlow has been at the center of horror. Bringing you the most frightening and terrifying stories, Datlow always has her finger on the pulse of what horror readers crave. Now, with the thirteenth volume of the series, Datlow is back again to bring you the stories that will keep you up at night. Encompassed in the pages of The Best Horror of the Year have been such illustrious writers as: Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Stephen Graham Jones, Joyce Carol Oates, Laird Barron, Mira Grant, and many others."

These are a must! I really want to start collecting them but someone (hubby) needs to start my collection off with this one!

8. My Books Would Give You Nightmares Coffee Mug

I used to have this mug and then it broke and I haven't replaced it. I see it on #bookstagram all the time and I love it. You can find it on Society6.

9. Out of Print

Out of Print is THE website for book lovers. I found so many designs I wanted, but I narrowed it down to just one to show you. Buy this for that secret member of your ka-tet. They have socks too! Bookish socks are the best.

10. Kindle Unlimited

I love my Kindle Paperwhite and I love having Kindle Unlimited. I have access to so much horror and can borrow hundreds of books, mostly indie horror titles. My Kindle is always full, and I hear that authors get paid based on how many pages a reader devours, so it's beneficial to everyone in involved. Win/win.

About the author

Sadie Hartmann, “Mother Horror” reviews horror fiction for Cemetery Dance Online and Scream Magazine. She is a co-owner of a curated, horror fiction book subscription company called Night Worms. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, kids and Frenchie.