In keeping with our Halloween theme, Crescent Blues decided to ask the experts.

M.D. Lake, writer: I never sit in front of a window in a dark room, because I'm afraid a passerby, a total stranger, will take it into his head to fire a bullet into the window, not meaning any real harm. The thought of being killed by a jerk really bugs me, especially when he'd undoubtedly only get probation.

John Carpenter, director: I'm afraid of what everyone here is afraid of. Everyone in this room is afraid of the same things. We're born afraid. We're afraid of the loss of our loved ones. We're afraid of disfigurement, death and the unknown.

P.N. Elrod, writer: Willful ignorance. Blind prejudice. Drivers with cell phones. The evening news. People asking me where I get my ideas. The stuff at the bottom of my fridge.

Bernie Wrightson, artist: What scares me is not knowing where the rent money is going to come from. Maybe developing a very suspicious, persistent, painful lump. Something awful happening to my kids. No monsters, because I know there are no monsters, except when the lights are out, and the wind is blowing, and I don't want to step out of the bed, because I know something's going to come out from under there.