Happy Birthday, H.P. Lovecraft

Everyday when I fire up my computer and rifle through my email, I always look forward to what the Writer’s Almanac has in store for me. I find that reading a poem before I start my work day gives me a bit of peace and centers me before I launch into the busy work day.

Thanks to today’s entry, I was reminded that today is H.P. Lovecraft’s birthday!

I must be honest, I didn’t know anything about Lovecraft before I started working here, but in the three years that I have been the acquisitions editor in charge of all things paranormal, I have learned a bit about him thanks to working on The Dream World of H.P. Lovecraft by Donald Tyson. I am forever amazed at the creativity of people, but I am especially amazed when a person can create the Cthulhu mythos and bring it to life with words.

As you can read about in the book mentioned above, Lovecraft had a difficult childhood and suffered from night terrors. It’s often said that people write what they know, so one has to think “What happened during his night terrors to make him dream up that?”

Lovecraft’s works has gone on to influence many in the horror, sci fi, and fantasy writers of today.

If you need to brush up on your Lovecraft, the Lovecraft Necronomicon Primer is an excellent start.

If you want to dive into the Necronomicon, this grimoire is the first in a series of books to enlighten you with the magical world of Lovecraft.

If you’re a fan of Lovecraft, celebrate his birth by reading one of his amazing works.