Spellbinder is an independent, self-sustained quarterly literary and art magazine that celebrates and provides a platform for artists, dramatists, poets, and writers of both fiction and nonfiction.
Spellbinder’s Story
Spellbinder was founded in 2020 by a group of students in Durham, England. Since then, our team has grown to include editors from around the world, all generously contributing their time to maintain this literary and artistic platform.
Today, Spellbinder is led by co-Editors-in-Chief Tatianna Kalb and Effy Kousteni, and we’re deeply grateful to all the volunteers who make the magazine possible.
Since our foundation, we have published writers who have gone on to win Second Prize in the JLPP International Translation Competition (Douglas Jern); become a finalist in the Colorado Book Award (Morgan Liphart); win Best New Voice: Fiction in the Benjamin Franklin Awards (Jason Zeitler); a winner of the Pomegranate Poetry Theatre Prize in the Poetry Plays Festival (Daniel Hinds); the second-prize recipient in the Casa Africa Objectivo Africa Photo Competition (Mike Wheeler); winner of the Ceylon Literary Arts festival’s Future Writers Programme (Hafsa Rizvi); and third-place in Evocative Emotion’s Clash of Quills contest (Vatsan).
A few of our writers have also been published by Alien Buddha Press (Anna Nguyen; Candice M. Kelsey); Cranthorpe Millner (R. N. Cogley); Penteract Press (Teo Eve); Brigids Gate Press (SJ Townend; Richard Leise); Red Hen Press (Joanne Skerrett); Polyphony Press (Jason Zeitler); Silver Bow (Matt Thomas); Boats Against the Current (Candice M. Kelsey); Ellipsis Imprints (LJ Ireton); Shadow Spark Publishing (Douglas Jern); Smith & Kraus (Rebecca Kane); Nymeria Publishing (Tinamarie Cox); Written Off Publishing (Quigley Cryan Brockbank); Broken Sleep Books (Daniel Hinds); Skyhorse Publishing (Carolyn Schlam); and Orison Books (Vishwas Gaitonde).
One of our dramatists’ work has been performed at the Q.E.D. Astoria arts venue in New York City (Christopher Woods); another’s has been shortlisted for the Shelagh Delaney New Writing Award (Quigley CB); another was one of six national winners for the New Play Fest 2024 hosted by the American Association of Community Theatre (Richard Manley); and another was a finalist in the Del Shores Foundation Writer’s Search 2023 (Kaylon Willoughby).
The work of our artists has been exhibited at The Alchemy Experiment in Glasgow (RUNA); The Box Gallery in Jersey City (DARKRECONSTRUCTION); the ANCA Gallery in Canberra (henry hu); the City Museum of Heppenheim (Kristine Narvida); and the Saint John Arts Centre (Jackie Partridge).
Spellbinder regularly promotes our past contributors’ achievements in Celebrate Success pages in each of the Spellbinder issues.
Spellbinder’s Prize Nominees
Committed to supporting our past contributors beyond publication in the magazine, Spellbinder nominates contributors for the Pushcart Prize.
Pushcart Prize 2022 (Aimee Lowenstern; Jocelyne Lamarche; Rishika Pandit).
Pushcart Prize 2023 (Danielle Gilmour; Douglas Jern; Oliver Brooks).
Pushcart Prize 2024 (Jerrod Schwartz; Probert Dean; Rose Mason).
Spellbinder’s Ethos
Spellbinder is a safe and supportive space for writers and artists from all backgrounds, cultures, and traditions. We publish work that explores the world with imagination, empathy, and depth—from poetry and prose to visual art and hybrid forms. Our community values curiosity, care, and inclusivity, and we stand firmly against all forms of discrimination and bigotry.
Spellbinder’s Mission
The editorial team is particularly committed to promoting the work of emerging writers. However, we also welcome submissions from previously published creators and regularly feature established artists and widely known voices in each issue.
Spellbinder’s Style
The magazine seeks to capture originality and innovation as they emerge in the artistic and literary worlds. Spellbinder looks for work that tests and expands the boundaries of media, form, and convention, while also engaging in a dialogue with the textual and visual traditions that inform them. The editorial team particularly enjoys submissions with unusual themes, compelling perspectives, and inventive ideas.
Spellbinder’s Events
The Spellbinder anniversary party celebrates the achievements of our contributors by awarding the most outstanding submission in each genre category. Throughout the year, Spellbinder also hosts a range of events, including Spoken Word Showcases and Writers’ Workshops, often in collaboration with other magazines and creative organisations.
Spellbinder’s Platforms
Spellbinder produces online content through its blog, Spellnotes, which is also available on Medium. The magazine also publishes regularly on its social media pages:
