I often look to history for inspiration, not only when writing historical fiction but anytime I am thinking about the times, places, and people who have driven stories, good and bad, through time. There is a wealth of information and inspiration that can be learned from the past, as well as some hard lessons and sad truths in how much damage can be done when we close our minds and hearts to people and allow our biases and judgements to run away with us. It is a bittersweet story, but a powerful example of the best and worse of the human condition.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of spending some time in Salem, MA, exploring historical sites and digging into the history of the town with one of the area's historians, and the owner of Bewitched After Dark, Jeff, who led me through town, providing a candid history of the accused and their accusers and sharing little-known history not found in any textbook. I visited off-season, so the streets were uncrowded and the landmarks accessible. As it also happened to be the anniversary of the House of Seven Gables, I was even able to snap some rarely seen interior photos of the historic home! 

I've included some of my shots below to guide you through a brief but inclusive photo tour of Salem and some of the surrounding areas. It's a wonderful, spirited place brimming with history, magic, triumphs and tears--from the Old Witch Gaol and Burying Point, to the home that inspired a literary classic, to the final resting place of several authors who have shaped American literary history. Enjoy!

Wow! My head is still spinning from last week's release of The Isle of Gold. What an incredible debut release. I am so grateful for all of the support and excitement over the launch of this adventurous, empowering fantasy, and I finally get to answer one question that I've been asked over and over again: yes there is a sequel coming! 

In fact, The Isle of Gold is the first installment of the Daughters Jones Trilogy! Look for the next installment in 2019, and definitely stay subscribed for updates.

Every book needs a great soundtrack, and if you're just settling down with Merrin and crew, I'd love to invite you to listen to this one on Spotify, created by reader Samantha Walker. Thanks, Samantha! You've done an incredible job--this soundtrack is superb!

Do you NaNoWriMo? I'm trying it for the first time this year, using the time to write a novella that I am very excited to tell you about soon! If you're writing, I'd love to support each other. I can't figure out how to send a writing buddy link, but I'm writing as @sevenjanewrites!