Fourth Anniversary

Since our last birthday on the 1st October 2023…

Spellbinder contributors from 2024 have identified with 18 national identities from 6 continents; some of them have dual nationality. These are American, Australian, British, Canadian, Chinese, Indian, Irish, Italian, Swedish, Singaporean, Brazilian, Indonesian, Iranian, Latvian, French, Kenyan, Dutch and Swiss.

Statistics

ACCURATE FOR THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE 1st OF OCTOBER 2023 AND MIDNIGHT ON THE 30th OF SEPTEMBER 2024

  • Print copies sold: 90 (410 in Spellbinder’s lifetime)
  • Website subscriptions paid: 20 annual subscriptions (68 in Spellbinder’s lifetime) plus 18 monthly subscriptions across 6 individuals (no lifetime data as this was a new initiative this year)
  • Number of staff members: 12
  • Published poems:  14
  • Published scripts:  6
  • Published nonfiction pieces: 9
  • Published fiction pieces: 6
  • Published artworks: 14
  • Total number of contributors: 49

  • Featured contributors: 3 (Velora Venn; Jeannine Hall Gailey; Ugo Galli).
  • Other magazines promoted in our promo pages: Issue 13: The Passionfruit Review; Last Leaves Magazine; Wireworm Magazine. Issue 14: Ghost Light Lit; The Red Megaphone; Wishbone Words Magazine. Issue 15: Gone Lawn; Flash Frog; Moss Puppy Magazine. Issue 16: The Fantastic Other; Prose to Print; underscore_magazine.
  • Contributors featured in our celebrate success pages: Issue 13: Danielle Gilmour; Douglas Jern; Oliver Brooks. Issue 14: Richard Manley; Matt Thomas; Jason Zeitler. Issue 15: LJ Ireton; Candice Kelsey; Kaylon Willoughby. Issue 16: Daniel Hinds; Douglas Jern; Rebecca Kane.

Timeline

Awards

  • Poetry prize: “Driving around at night”, Jerrod Schwartz. This poem is part Lynchian apparition, part whimsical seaside body horror. Each element a perfectly measured abjection, nested between punchy structural devices and cinematic scenery. The first-person voice is both intimate and omniscient, thriving in the nonsensical surrealism of this delicious work. A great contemporary piece, both rooting itself in popular culture and crossing into a fascinating, personal subconscious. Published in the Summer 2024 Issue. Picked by Doriana, Co-Poetry Editor.
  • Fiction prize: “The Jellyfish’s Daughter”, Probert Dean. This piece is a superb retelling of the myth of Medusa in such an expansive, heartfelt, and transformative manner that continues to evoke the heart of the original. Readers familiar and unfamiliar with the myth will find themselves compelled by this empowering, bittersweet story of reclaiming your sense of self and forging your identity in deepest adversity, as the narrative blends the mythical with reality to truly revoice a story for modern audiences that will inspire you to pay a closer attention to what you’re truly looking at the next time you stare into the eyes of history. Published in the Autumn 2024 Issue. Picked by Ashlynn, Fiction Editor.
  • Nonfiction prize: “Crash Test Dummy”, Rose Mason. This effective and impactful creative nonfiction piece deals with the author’s anxiety about driving. The past and present are skillfully intertwined throughout it, and the author’s introspection is contextualised within a broader reflection on gender and the death of a well-known actress. The deadpan and effortlessly cinematic writing style also accompany the themes well, making this piece memorable and enjoyable. Published in the Winter 2024 Issue. Picked by Linda, Nonfiction Editor.
  • Art prize: “Weighing Down”, J.S. Dorothy. Submitted for the theme of ‘People,’ this painting is striking and evocative. Its blue tones and simple composition evoke a feeling of loneliness and sadness, but not without hope. When I first saw the painting, I immediately felt a sense of kinship towards the person represented in the painting which I feel again and again upon looking at this painting. Published in the Winter 2024 Issue. Picked by Linda, Art Editor.
  • Drama prize: “Cherry Blossoms and The Other Side”, Dennis Mullings. A combination of two short plays that touches on grief and remembrance. Short and sweet, yet moving and impactful. This piece evokes the longing and grief that comes from losing someone close, in this case, a family member. Yet, it balances the more sombre feelings with a more bittersweet ending. This emotional balance is handled well, and the contrast of the two settings lets us see both sides with each part lending subtle references to the other. It made itself into a very compelling and interesting piece. Published in the Summer 2024 Issue. Picked by Lara, Drama Editor.

What’s next for Spellbinder?

As we do every year, we are eager to reflect on the successes and limitations of our publication and find ways to improve our platform and expand its reach. We are so pleased to see our social media community growing every year, and in our fifth year of operation, we aim to have 10,000 followers on X and 5,000 on Instagram. In 2024, we were delighted to host our first art competition through our Instagram channel. Before the end of the calendar year, we are hoping to give our writers the same opportunity by hosting a writing competition as well, but more expanded across all of our channels. Moreover, a new initiative in the past year has been the establishment of a our monthly newsletter circulated via email. As this is a new dimension of Spellbinder, we are eager to discover how we can use this to provide engaging content for everyone who follows the magazine; we are hoping for a large increase in signups to our mailing list over the next few months. Lastly, on a more personal note for our team, as the Editor-in-Chief, I want to continue giving everybody who volunteers their time to keep the magazine running opportunities to develop their skills, contribute their ideas and manage their own projects in relation to the publication. I will be putting a particular emphasis on this initiative this year so that everyone can thrive in our wonderful community.