About us
Underbelly Press is an online literary magazine that covets pieces oozing the raw, unfiltered heart of dirty realism. Our lens is not only focused on one genre: we're on the hunt for all things experimental and innovative. As long as it exposes the underbelly of existence, we want to hear it.
Here at Underbelly Press, we believe that every piece has its place and your story deserves to be told. Whether you're a newcomer to the writing scene or an established writer, everyone is welcome to submit.
Underbelly Press offers a platform for voices craving to be heard, and for readers with a taste for all things gritty and raw.
Meet the team
Editor-in-Chief & Founder
Lucy Huddleston
Lucy is a Literature & History graduate based in Lancashire. She is currently finishing her Masters in Publishing and has a cat called Maple. Her favourite books include A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin and The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter. You can find her reading, playing video games, and baking.
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Senior Editor
Ellen Darbyshire
Ellen is an English Language & Creative Writing graduate and award-winning writer based in Manchester. She is a Content Marketer and has a cat called Porridge. Her favourite books include Self-Help by Lorrie Moore and Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. You can find her people-watching, writing, and collecting postcards.
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Find out more about Ellen
Assistant Editor
Raine Dalton
Raine is a History graduate with a Masters in Holocaust & Genocide Studies based in Cheshire. They are a secondary humanities teacher and have a dog called Jaffa. Their favourite book is Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge. You can find them doing crochet and completing cryptic crosswords.
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Underbelly Press blossomed in 2024 from a desire to take a risk and step outside of a comfort zone. What began as an independent dissertation project has quickly grown into a gritty, unfiltered platform based in North West England.
Inspired by the desire to embrace the uncomfortable and the overlooked, Underbelly Press is dedicated to championing voices that often go unheard. We seek out the stark, unembellished truths of human experience that resonate with the working class and marginalised soul.
As a new and independent literary magazine, we want to celebrate emerging and established writers who share our passion for authenticity and dirty realism, and ultimately offer a voice to those who are often left on the margins. Our small team is made up of working class creatives from the North West of England who hope to provide opportunities without barriers.