Summer 2023


Issue Number
Release Date
ISSN

11
1 – 7 – 2023
2753-4103 (Print)
2753-4111 (Online)


Editors

Chief Editor
Nonfiction Editor
Fiction Editors

Art Editor
Drama Editor
Associate Editors

Amber Kennedy
Linda Arrighi
Bruna Gomes
Ned Vessey
Catherine Cooper
Lara Morgan
Tod Barnbrook
Keelan Blagg
Doriana Dyakova
Ashlynn Theo


Cover Art

Daphne Fauber

Lantern Pain


Featured

Kyle Derek McDonald

Excerpt from ‘The Blessed’


Poetry Contributors

Jack Granath
Timothy Resau
Fran Tabor

Maia Joy

Undoing
November Beach
Conversation with a Poet too Modern
free form


Fiction Contributors

Terri Brown-Davidson
Chris Neilan
Arda Mori

Sensation

Ash at the Astoria
Cough Syrup


Artwork Contributors

JC Alfier
Charlie Finesilver

Daphne Fauber
Mirjana Miric
Goran Tomic

Autumn Window
Fanta Toure and the Donkey Cart Ride
Lantern Pain
Herald
The White Stork
When Hopper drove into Constable


Nonfiction Contributors

Caitriona
Lev Raphael
Dana Cabalza

Real Coke
Words & Music
Changing Woman


Drama Contributors

Valerie Garmling

Richard Manley

Rising From the Ashes
Tracks

“A picture is a poem without words” – Horace

In this editor’s letter, I want to shine a light on the art and photography section of Spellbinder. The marriage of textual and visual art has been central to our mission since the beginning. Whether we consider William Blake’s intricate illuminated books, the longstanding tradition of comics, or the Pre-Raphaelite group’s depiction of literary subjects from Arthurian legends, there is evidently a long history of written and visual art inspiring and influencing each other. Linda’s stylised digital art, interspersed throughout our issues, has vividly illustrated a number of textual works which we have published over the last two and a half years. Parallel to this, we have always kept the art section separate, to give it pride of place for our talented contributors.

We have remained open to the inclusion of all two-dimensional visual art forms within this section, including copies of paintings and prints, as well as digital drawings and photographs. From Inga’s monochrome comic strip ‘Who Are You (Who Am I)’ [Issue 1], to Despy’s innovative collages [Issue 3], to the cityscape photographs of Manarola and Paris [Issue 4], to the richly coloured digital illustration, ‘Sea Rise’, showcased on Spellbinder’s cover [Issue 6], to Gianluca’s tremendously detailed pencil work, ‘Conversazioni’ [Issue 8], our publications have been filled with incredibly mesmerising pieces of art.

Our selections reveal the diversity within two-dimensional art and the incredible potential of mixed media, technology, and traditional practice for contemporary artists. In all of the work we publish, we can see a story unfolding, a narrative between the pencil lines and the framing of the camera lens. Landscapes, portraits and abstract subjects have filled our pages and they have made us think; they have transported us to other worlds; and finally, they have captivated us with their beauty. We hope that those who read Spellbinder enjoy exploring the artworks as much as we do, and we plan to continue to provide and expand our platform for visual artists alongside our talented prose writers, playwrights and poets.

Speaking of poets, this issue sees the return of our Featured section, with the inclusion of an extract from Kyle Derek McDonald’s epic poem, The Blessed. Kyle is a prolific actor, composer and writer among other pursuits, based in Toronto. He is one of the creators of the production company, Mightier Productions, which is home to a number of screen and stage works, including operas. We are delighted to feature part of Kyle’s epic, which is skilfully composed in Sesta Rima, in our Summer 2023 Issue.

Thank you, as always, to all of you who contribute, follow, read and support our publication. We are immensely proud of our community, one that celebrates art and the diversity of its forms, creators and audience.

Amber Kennedy, Editor in Chief


We have created a playlist inspired by the Summer 2023 Issue. Feel free to play it while reading the issue:

Poetry shortlist – Summer 2023

Bryce DelayneyTired
Jacqueline KnirnschildThe Trail Behind the Baseball Field

Fiction shortlist – Summer 2023

Inna CapangpanganWitch in the City
Laura Wolf BenzikerPickup Dropoff

Drama shortlist – Summer 2023

Tom LavagninoThe Sound Man
Eugenio PoliskyTssssssp