He was only 10 years old at the time, but as the now 30-something Boyle recalled, "It was an experience like no other."

Discussing that memorable trick-or-treating night, Boyle (right), now a Denville resident, said, "A bunch of us gathered after hours of running from house to house for candy. We settled in at my home on St. Johns Avenue. We huddled around the television and watched the movie ‘Halloween’ from the horror genius, John Carpenter. That film left an indelible mark on me and helped feed my addiction."

He continued, "That night set the stage for what I am today, in a sense."

What Boyle is today is a published author. His book, "Blood Works" came out in February and is available online through all of the major retailers including Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

The horror anthology, published by Arctic Wolf Publishing, contains stories that "involve ordinary people stepping into danger," said Boyle. "I try to take a simple fear and show the reader its darkest side, by pushing the boundaries of what can happen if that given situation escalated out of control."

Since that Halloween many years ago, Boyle has been drawn to the horror genre, because, as he said, "I enjoyed the unmatched adrenaline rush. The nail-biting suspense and the raw ‘in-your-face horror’ kept me wanting more and more films. So every chance I had, I’d watch films that made my palms sweat and my heart pound like a drum in my chest. It became my routine on many nights and weekends as a kid, and still is to this day. All who know me often joke about my allegiance to horror cinema, and to the genre as a whole."

It is one thing to enjoy a particular genre of movie or book, but another thing to enter that world.

Boyle recounted how he crossed the threshold from fan to contributor, saying, "Around two years ago I started to wonder if there was something I could do in the horror world that I would enjoy. Was there a contribution I could make? I knew if I had the opportunity to create some kind of artistic expression that was horror related, it would be a real treat. So I thought long and hard, and came up with an idea. What if I tried to write? I was nervous at first just thinking about it. First of all, I was not a great student in high school and I don’t recall being an exceptional English student. I did not have a college education and my whole life I had been in the landscaping field."

Boyle continued, "I knew I had the passion. So, I got out of bed one morning and told myself I could do it. No excuses. I started writing during my breaks at work and late at night until the early hours of the morning. No matter how tired I felt – I stayed with it. I’m the type of person who makes a commitment and sticks to it."

Eventually, Boyle started submitting his work to genre magazines. He did not have any success at the beginning, but remained committed to his goal, vowing to never quit.

"Time flew by," he said, "and the short stories were piling up. I was so excited that I put words and sentences on paper, and that so many tales were actually completed. The concepts were coming to me nonstop. Then, I became familiar with MySpace. That [Web] site really helped me network and leak my name into the writing world. Slowly, I found many friends on the network that were authors, publishers, and filmmakers. I started posting excerpts from my stories online and quickly received feedback and encouragement from others. Opinions poured in from beginners and veterans alike."

In December, Boyle submitted his book to Arctic Wolf. Now, as a full-fledged author, the 1988 Parsippany Hills High School grad is busy with the other aspect of writing life, book signings. Upcoming appearances include Mara’s Café and Bakery in Denville on Sunday, March 30, from 4 to 7 p.m.

"Blood Works" is just the beginning of what Boyle hopes will be a long association with the world of horror. To that end, he continues to work at his craft.

"I try to write something every day; a word, a sentence, a character’s name, a title. That’s where it always starts for me. I then close my eyes and imagine the whole scene in my mind looking through my mental projector. When it works, I write it. And when it fails to achieve what I envision, I delete it. I have fun with each story I construct and never once do I put undue pressure on myself. I put down on paper what I feel and what comes natural. Most of all, I just try to have fun!"

And, in a case of life coming full circle, a Canadian filmmaker, David Jackson, has adapted one of Boyle’s stories into a screenplay. Filming of "Blindsided" begins production this spring. Who knows? Perhaps one Halloween, a child somewhere will watch this movie and be totally enthralled. Perhaps, that child will grow up to be a horror author, too.

For additional information about Boyle and his book, visit www.myspace.com/davidbfear and www.authorsden.com/davidboyle.