As the ancient festival of Samhain approaches and Halloween events are still underway, I’d like to draw your attention to HELLEBORE, a publication founded in 2019 by writer and editor Maria J. Pérez Cuervo, with art direction by Nathaniel Hébert. It is a small press devoted to British folk horror and it gets its name from the Hellebore plant. Hellebore has the power of altering perception. It is thought to be one of the main ingredients for the witches’ flying ointment and it’s also known for opening up portals to the Underworld (and the subconscious).
As Samhain heralds in the darker half of the year, the magazine descends into darkness to explore its associations with folklore, myth, and legend in The Darkness Issue. I am pleased to have contributed a short article ‘In Search of the English Vampire’ to this. It is beautifully produced, a dark visual delight. The issue also includes work by Alice Vernon, Icy Sedgwick, Chris Esson, Verity Holloway, Keri O’Shea, and Rebecca Lambert. Cover image by Nona Limmen. Do think of treating yourself this Halloween. You can purchase it for £7.25 here. You won’t be disappointed!
