Issue #2
"The Pride Issue"
Horror is the embodiment of queer expression.
Now pause, and read that again.
Horror is the embodiment of queer expression.
These portraits have been woven together to create the genre as a whole. It is one that has remained a home for those who might not feel welcome in other communities; Horror has allowed us weirdos to relish in the joy of the macabre together.
Without queer stories, there wouldn’t be a genre; at least not how we know and love now. I’ve said it before…horror is healing. It's an outlet for folks who have been ostracized from society and who are quite literally living in a constant state of fear. When the queer experience is disrespected and delegitimized through harmful narratives, the genre becomes unsafe. These matters are so incredibly important to us here at Nightmare Curator and why this month’s issue lives so near and dear to our hearts. We are so excited to share incredible insight from veteran and up-and-coming authors, artists, and creators.
May we collectively continue to fight to keep horror safe for all.
We truly hope you enjoy this month’s issue!
Stay Spooky!
- Elli Wade, editor-in-chief
Click the cover above to
check out the issue!
pride interview panel with some of our favorite horror creators!
Ashleeta Beauchamp
creator of “Peek-A-BOO!” mag,
burlesque performer, and model
Hi there! My name is Ashleeta. I'm a burlesque dancer and “smut peddler” from Hollywood Ca.
I love to incorporate horror into both of these expressions of my creativity. A lot of my burlesque numbers are based on horror movie characters like Grace Jones in Vamp and Desiree Dupree (Angela Bassett's character in American Horror Story). I also feature horror movie characters as playboy style models in my magazine Peek-A-BOO!
Bridget Rose
book reviewer, @weirder_the_better
Hey! I'm Bridget, known as @weirder_the_better on Insta. I'm based just outside of Philadelphia and I do book reviews and recommendations. Horror is obviously my favorite genre to read but I also have a soft spot for sci-fi, fantasy, and literary fiction. If it's weird, count me in. You'll find a wide range of genres on my shelves, so my book recommendations definitely reflect that.
Christina Marie
extreme horror book reviewer, @grindyourbones
Hi! I’m Christina Marie and I have a big mouth and an even bigger personality! I use it to yell about my favorite horror authors and books!! I’m an extreme gal, with extreme taste in books, music, and movies. My reviews are generally not traditional in the sense that I mostly “yell” (my reviews are short and in all caps) about how a book made me feel rather than summarizing the book and discussing what I liked/disliked. If you want coherent thoughts, I’m not your girl. I’ve also gotten into making reaction videos on tik tok for some of the books I’ve read.
Hailey Piper
Bram Stoker award-winning author of “Queen of Teeth”
Hi, I'm Hailey Piper. I'm a horror author (except for that one dark fantasy novel). I tend to write stories that are weird and queer, and I like to approach my work with an eye toward empathy. A few of my titles include my cosmic horror trilogy The Worm and His Kings, last year's small town horror novel A Light Most Hateful, and my Bram Stoker Award-winning horror romance Queen of Teeth.
Phrique
author of drag giallo,
“Gig of the Damned: Slay the Competition”
My name is Phrique and I’m brand spankin’ new around here. Even though I only have one novel under my belt, I feel that my voice is very unique & niche within the genre. This is the one time in my life I think that being the outsider…the freak if you will, plays in my favor. I love an obscure death scene, and I will meticulously research mine to make sure they pass my stringent plausibility test. Once I have those nailed down, I’m going to jam as much comedy, references, and absurdity in between them. I consider myself a mental maximalist, so if I see a spot for a joke…I’ll squeeze in three. I write for myself first, and write a story that I would want to read. Finding out others enjoy it, gel with it, and pick up ALL of what I’m putting down has been a very enriching and cathartic experience. It pushes me to keep pumping more of my lil abominations out into the world.
Xero Gravity
podcast co-host of blerdy massacre, horror movie reviewer,
and media personality
What’s up, what’s up! My name is Xero Gravity. I'm a genre journalist, event producer and media personality based in NYC with a focus on horror, sci-fi and dark fantasy. As a Black queer woman, I could never find enough film analysis from a lens that reflects my own, so I felt the urgency to do the work myself. I know very well that many marginalized communities share the same fandoms, and horror/sci-fi can even provide a healing agent (which deserves much more attention than it's currently granted). When I decided to start my genre commentary and reviews, I figured if I can share my thoughts, maybe I can provide comfort, entertainment, and a community for folks with the same frustrations on intersectionality in horror that I had a decade ago. If only one person felt represented by my commentary on horror media, I'd still be ecstatic.