By CRYSTAL GUILLORY

Seasons shriekings dear readers!

By now you have wandered aimlessly through various malls to search for that right gift for family members. You have stayed alert in these travels, so you avoid fearsome creatures such as the survey taker or the aggressive perfume salesperson. You have ingested so much mall food that you begin to think that "bourbon chicken" is authentic Chinese cuisine.

As the hours go by, you start to notice yourself shuffling along and only speaking in monosyllabic words due to the exhaustion. You keep searching through each store, getting more frustrated by the moment. The hours grow late and you start to get this feeling of overcoming dread.

Is it any wonder why the holidays tend to stress out a person so much? Have no fear readers, once again this writer will show all of you the most interesting presents to give the creatures on your gift list this year.

First, let's start with DVDs, since that seems to be on nearly everyone's wish list. The first item I would like to mention is a very special DVD from the good people (I hope they won't mind being called that) from Creepy Classics that should bring back memories to many readers. I am talking about the widely popular "Monster Kid Home Movies" which contain 30 films created by fans such as Bob Burns, Frank Dietz (Disney artist), Kerry Gammill (artist), and Bruce Tinkel (Frankenstein And Me's director).

You never know, by showing this to younger children they could be inspired to be the next generation of monster kid filmmakers.

Another idea for a DVD purchase (which you can get from Creepy Classics) is the "Bela Lugosi Collection," which has five of Bela's best roles in this package. The movies include The Black Cat, The Raven, and Murders In The Rue Morgue, which have finally been released on DVD. This is sure to make the Lugosiphile on your shopping list a happy one indeed.

If your tastes run for the subtle horror of Val Lewton I do have great news, a collection of some of his best works will be released on DVD this year. "The Val Lewton Collection" (which you can pre-order on Creepy Classics as well) contains such classics such as the original Cat People, I Walked With A Zombie, The Leopard People, and Isle Of The Dead. This collection contains quite a few extras which includes a documentary on Val Lewton himself.

However, I do believe the most requested DVD this season will be the tin box collector's edition of the original King Kong (1933). This edition will be full of items such as trailers, documentaries, and other movies such as Mighty Joe Young and Son Of Kong. This also can be obtained from Creepy Classics).

If someone on your list grew up watching the antics of Count Gore DeVol, they will be ecstatic when you give them the latest DVD from the Count.

If there’s a person on your list who has no more room for another DVD, but attend different monster film shows, you may want to purchase a pass for next year's Monster Bash. Other shows to consider buying pre-reg for are Cinema Wasteland and Monster Mania.

Music is also a popular item on people's wish lists during this time of year. One gift I can recommend that will make your recipient shiver with delight is the latest offering from Midnight Syndicate, "The 13th Hour". This ghoul obtained the CD a month ago and found it to be an eerie delight. Imagine the face of your relatives when the enchanting tunes start to play on your CD player during the family gathering this year! Seriously, this CD will be part of your Halloween celebrations (or any spooky holidays for that matter) for years to come.

Another group that has released a CD is one that I am familiar with…well, at least with the keyboardist. The horror punk group Boney Fiend has released their newest CD this year that should keep most creatures rockin'. How could you go wrong with a title like "Me And My Monsters," after all?

No doubt some of you have someone on your list with a green thumb (which I hope they got treated for) and you were just about to buy them something like a Chia pet. I am so glad you are reading this article before you make that horrific mistake! Imagine the look on their face when they open the box to receive this item from DuneCraft! To those of you who have fans of The Little Shop Of Horrors on your list, here's the chance to give them their own Audrey Jr.!

The printed word is also a popular gift idea to many on shopping lists this year. I can personally recommend The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova as an interesting read. To those not familiar with this novel, it is an interesting twist on the "Dracula" story. Another book I would like to recommend is one that should be on every fan's reference shelf: The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana by Jess Nevins. This book explores many of the fantastic literature (both famous and obscure) of the Victorian era and it is a must for many science fiction/fantasy fans. If know someone who yearns for the fun adventure stories of another time, I can also recommend the "Hale Harlay And Co. series" by the author Edmond Larose. There is two books in the series so far but more will be forthcoming.

Okay, I have been droning on and on but I am leaving out a very important part of the season--toys! Yes, your intrepid writer has found some gifts that should make the youngsters squeal with delight! First off, who wouldn't want to give a loving home to one of these darlings? These precious figures will be the start of many family discussions this holiday gathering!

You could go the semi-traditional route and give them a truly unique creature to snuggle up to at night. Then again, why should children be the only one to receive toys this year? I would think there would be several people on your lists that would love this particular doll for different reasons. Just be sure you aren't the reason they want such a gift!

On the subject of Voodoo, the tee shirt company, SighCo, created this tee shirt celebrating a fictitious but (un)lively bar. This will definitely bring a smile to the face of the undead fan on your list this season. For other zombie fans on you shopping list this company also has a cool tee shirt.

SighCo has also designed a tee shirt and the profits from that will be used for as a fundraiser for the Katrina survivors. Ten dollars from each "rebuild" tee shirt sold will go to Louisiana relief agencies such as the Power of Hope Fund, Humane Society of Louisiana, and Tipitina's New Orleans Artist Relief.

Another place selling tee shirts for the recovery effort is the microbrewery Abita and they have created a special brew to sell as well! If a tee shirt from a microbrewery isn't your recipient’s style, why not a tee shirt from Save Our Cemeteries? Part of the sales from these ghoulish tee shirts go towards the restoration of many of the historical cemeteries that was damaged in the storm. Even if a tee shirt is not their style, a donation to this organization (or any of the ones I mentioned in this paragraph) in their name will be a lovely idea.

Speaking of lovely ideas, that brings me to my favorite part of the article (no, not the end!)--gifts for the special ghoul in your life. After all, doesn't she deserve something truly special for being dragged to one monster film show after another? What about your turning the study into a classic monster shrine? Well, fellows, I do have some wicked cool suggestions for you all!

First off, we know ladies do love sweet smelling soaps ( I know I do) so these herbal soaps will take her breath away (). Another great company with lovely soaps (and other beauty items) is Spellbound Soapworks. These products will have a bewitching effect on the enchantress in your life.

If your mate has more herbal soap and beauty products then she knows what to do with, you may have to go with the old standby--jewelry! I am certain your ghoul will be speechless when you surprise her with this lovely necklace. Be sure to have her close her eyes as you put that necklace on her on Christmas morning. If you add the matching ring, she will scream with delight! Once again your gift will be the topic of conversation amongst her group of fiends.

If by now you are still puzzled as to what to give a person, then purchase a gift certificate. Places such as the aforementioned Creepy Classics or Cinema Wasteland do sell those so that should make your shopping easier.