Helen JR Bruce

Helen JR Bruce is a folklorist and author whose work is rooted in the folklore of Dartmoor and the wider British Isles. She is the author of the folkloric faerie tale trilogy beginning with Heat of the Hunt, followed by Lie of the Land, which explore themes of the Wild Hunt, the dark fae and black dog legends set against the landscape of Dartmoor. She is a resident writer for Witch magazine and has had a short story published in Gramarye, the journal of the Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction.

Helen studied English Literature at the University of Westminster and was born and raised in Essex. Her love of Dartmoor began on a school trip to Grimspound, and she has returned to the moor many times since, drawing on places such as Hound Tor, Princetown and the Dewerstone as inspiration for her writing. She runs a Facebook group called Dark Fae, Black Dogs and Wild Hunters.

She has researched Black Dog folklore for close to twenty years, tracing the stories from their roots in the pagan Wild Hunt through to modern interpretations. Helen leads guided folklore walks on Dartmoor, including a Black Dog walk taking in Hound Tor, the ruined medieval village and Bowerman's Nose. She is also Communications Officer for the Dartmoor Preservation Association.

Helen is available for tailor-made talks on folklore and traditional oral storytelling, including appearances at signings and events.