Julie Ballantyne Brown: Author

A very cool, creepy, tree in the Charter Street Cemetery, Salem, MA

As you know, I’m in the process of writing Traveler 3 and it’s no secret that Salem, Massachusetts, is going to play an important part of the story. I’m also working on another historical fiction project that is based in Salem during the time of the famous Witch Trials. It involves research on my family (ancestors) who lived there during that time. (They were not accused of being witches, just to be clear.) To make that happen, I heading to Salem for a short three-day trip on Saturday.

It’s important to me that I have the correct details when when writing about times and places of the past. I want to walk where my characters would have walked and see where and how they would have lived. Going to Salem will not only allow me to walk where my ancestors did, but will let me plot movements for Tommy and Nick as they… well, you’ll have to wait for that part.

The John Ward House in Salem, MA

For those that don’t know, Salem is a beautiful city in Massachusetts, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It was a very important port in the British colonies and after we became the United States. It’s claim to fame for many years were the ships that came in and out of the harbor, carrying supplies to and from the West Indies. There were even pirates!

The Witch Trials, which happened in 1692, gave Salem a bad name for a very long time. I’ll post more about the trials in later blog posts.

Now, I’ve been to Salem several times. I try to get there at least once a year for the past few years, usually for family research and because I really love the area. Boston, with all of its Revolutionary history, is just a short train ride away. This time, though, will be very focused on Salem and all of its fascinating history.

I plan to post each day that I’m there. I’ll even be posting some vlogs as I go through town.

Stay tuned!

Winter Island, Salem, MA