Denise Alvarado was born and raised in the "Hoodoo Capital of the World," New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a ritual artist and independent researcher with a background in cultural anthropology and psychology and she has over 40 years experience in the conjure arts and mysticism. She is the author of several books, including the Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook and the Hoodoo Almanac 2012, coauthored with Carolina Dean and Alyne Pustanio. She is also the founder and Editor in Chief of Hoodoo and Conjure Magazine.