Denise Alvarado (1960) was born and raised in the rich Creole culture of New Orleans, Louisiana. She has studied indigenous healing traditions from a personal and academic perspective for over four decades. She is the author of numerous books about Southern folk traditions, including The Conjurer's Guide to St. Expedite, The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook, the Hoodoo Almanacs, the Voodoo Doll Spellbook, Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual and more. She is the Editor in Chief of Gumbo Ya Ya, the Hoodoo Almanacs and the Journal of American Rootwork. Her provocative artwork has been featured on several television shows including National Geographic's Taboo, The Originals, and Blue Bloods. She is a rootworker in the Louisiana Hoodoo tradition, a spiritual artist, and teacher of southern conjure at Crossroads University, crossroadsuniversity.com. Visit her websites: creolemoon.com and voodoomuse.org for a little sweet tea and conjure.