A few days ago, as part of marking the start of the 2022 celebration of Women in Horror Month, I mentioned our SWC Horror Bites imprint—but what is that, exactly? Well, put basically, “short tales to appease your monstrous hunger for suspense” is how we describe this digital-chapbook series that reprints classic horror fiction that you may or may not have heard of, but which you should definitely introduce yourself to.
White Fell: The Werewolf was our launch title for the imprint. Originally published in 1896 as The Were-wolf, it was written by renowned author, artist, and suffragette Clemence Annie Housman, and is regarded by scholars as perhaps the first feminist werewolf story. In it, a beautiful woman named White Fell wanders into a snowbound village—and into the hearts of twin brothers, one of whom immediately becomes smitten by her. The other brother, however, soon grows suspicious of the enigmatic White Fell. Where did she come from? Why does she always carry an ax? And is her sudden appearance somehow related to the recent sightings of a bloodthirsty wolf in the area? He may come to regret being so inquisitive…
Our other title (so far) is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving’s legendary tale of the Headless Horseman that has captivated readers ever since its first publication in 1820, in Irving’s collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. In the 200 years since it’s become the quintessential Halloween story, as well as the basis for countless movies, TV shows, comic books, and other pop-culture adaptations. When schoolteacher Ichabod Crane arrived in Sleepy Hollow, New York, he had dreams of marrying beautiful socialite Katrina of the wealthy Van Tassel family, only to lose his head (both figuratively and literally!) when he encountered the horrific Headless Horseman one fateful night!
White Fell: The Werewolf and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow are digital exclusives available for download right now, so visit their respective product pages for ordering information.
