Witchcraft

In today’s episode we’re giving you a sneak peek at something that hasn’t been published yet, our upcoming Witchcraft collection. Out on the 20th of January, this anthology explores what it means to be a ‘witch’, including the rediscovery and reclaiming of that power, its links to nature and witchcraft mythology from around the world.

Featuring 

‘What Bones Remember’ by Buhlebethu Sukoluhle Mpofu (04.14), read by Amanda Benzecry. An atmospheric, folk horror story that offers a fresh spin on Baba Yaga, a witch-like character from Slavic folklore. Find this one Beyond & Within’s Witchcraft. 

‘The Witch’, was found in ‘Russian Folk-Tales’ by W. R. S. Ralston (37.58) before it appeared in Witches, Wizards, Seers & Healers Myths & Tales, read by Bea. A more traditional portrayal of a witch, seen in the likes of popular fairytales. 

Biographies 

Buhlebethu Sukoluhle Mpofu is a medical practitioner and author with hands-on research experience, having served as co-author on two peer-reviewed publications: ‘Are Cape Peninsula baboons raiding their way to obesity and type II diabetes?’ (2023) and ‘Advancements in Marburg (MARV) Virus Vaccine Research’ (2024). Her recent book Forgive, Love, and You: A Guide to Unburdening the Heart was published in 2025. You can find her on X/Twitter @shortbread00.

William Ralston Shedden-Ralston (1828–1889) was a British scholar of Russia and translator of Russian. He published translations of Ivan Andreevich Krylov’s and Ivan Turgenev’s works,as well as Songs of the Russian People as Illustrative of Slavonic Mythology and Russian Social Life (1872) and, of relevance to this volume: Russian Folk Tales (1873).

‘What Bones Remember’ is ©2026 Buhlebethu Sukoluhle Mpofu and appeared in Witchcraft (Flame Tree Publishing, 2026).

‘The Witch’ from Russia was first published in ‘Russian Folk-Tales’ by W. R. S. Ralston in 1873, but more recently appeared in Witches, Wizards, Seers & Healers Myths & Tales (Flame Tree Publishing, 2020). 

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Music is an extract of Sunbeams by Allen Stroud, from his Fractal Series album, licensed courtesy of fpl-digital 2025.

This podcast is hosted and sometimes narrated by Beatrix Ambery (also audio editor), Olivia Jackson (also podcast coordinator), Shilpa Varma and Nick Wells (also producer).

Chosen from hundreds of wonderful tales, short stories such as these are selected by our short window open submission process, giving opportunities to writers of all levels of experience, culture and location. Look out for our submission announcements, and see the full list here: flametreepublishing.com/gothic-fantasy-book-series-list.html

Our full range of thematic short stories, epic tales, mythology and folklore titles are available at all good bookstores, online and in retail, and at flametreepublishing.com

Flame Tree Publishing, Independent Publisher of the Year 2024, British Fantasy Society. Beautiful Books, Timeless Storytelling, Fresh Perspectives.

The Flame Tree Myth and Fiction podcast is created and © copyright 2025 Flame Tree Publishing Ltd.