Dust & Dark  a new horror fiction magazine to launch in 2025

Dust & Dark, a new print and digital magazine specialising in short horror fiction, is to launch in 2025.

The quarterly title will feature stories from an array of talented authors exploring the uncanny and unsettling, with a focus on chilling, atmospheric horror.

Editor Owen Duffy says the Dust & Dark will offer deliciously dark tales for readers.

“Our focus is on stories that get under your skin and stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page,” he says.

“We aren’t interested in straightforward shocks or gratuitous gore. We’re all about inventive, stylish, original stories with strong characterisation, tight pacing and immersive settings.

“We also absolutely see horror as part of the speculative fiction family. We’ll feature stories which explore a range of ideas and issues, open us up to new perspectives and look at the world from slightly sideways angles.”

Owen argues that dark fiction can be a powerful way for authors to explore challenging themes.

“Horror has always been a way for people to confront their anxieties,” he says, “and we want to showcase work that addresses some of the fears facing the world at the moment.

“From conflicts to climate change, inequality to extremism, the fraying social fabric and the unchecked incursion of technology into our lives, there’s no shortage of inspiration for frightening stories right now.”

Owen has previously worked as a journalist and communications professional, including at the BBC and The Guardian. He has also co-authored and edited two respected books on tabletop games. He currently works as the public relations officer for a global humanitarian organisation.

One important goal for Dust & Dark, he says, is to showcase a range of voices in the genre.

“We’re keen to provide a platform for a diverse lineup of authors,” he says.

“We especially encourage submissions from writers of colour, LGBTQ+ authors, disabled people, neurodiverse people and anyone from a background historically underrepresented in publishing.

“It’s obvious to us that a broad selection of voices and perspectives can only make for a richer experience for our readers.”

The magazine is set to launch following a Kickstarter campaign in November. The campaign will seek funding for the first issue, with print and digital editions available.

“Crowdfunding the first issue makes sense for everyone concerned,” Owen says, “for the magazine, our authors and our readers.

“It gives us a chance to prove there’s a community out there that’s hungry for these kinds of stories, and to build a stable foundation where we can pay authors a fair rate for their work. But it also lets us prove ourselves to our backers. It’s a low-cost way for people to check us out, get a feel for the magazine and hopefully decide that it’s something they want to support with an ongoing subscription.”

Story submissions will open in September. To be notified when submissions go live, sign up for updates at https://dustanddark.com/. You can also follow Dust & Dark on Bluesky.

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