In 1981, Cassandra Peterson conjured up the character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark—a dash of Elvis, a pinch of Vampira, and a generous helping of vaudeville comedy—for a local Los Angeles television show called Movie Macabra . She sported all black, with a giant raven beehive, cleavage for days, and a dagger on her belt, and had a cutting, dark sense of humor. Viewers couldn’t get enough: Before long, the show was picked up nationally and a goth icon was born.

For decades, Elvira has been a champion of the weirdos, outcasts, freaks, nerds, and horror fanatics, showing her audience that it’s not only okay but actually cool to be different. And now, just in time for spooky season (which can be 365 days a year, if you want it to be), the Mistress of the Dark has whipped up a new book,

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