Some people spend their lives chasing a passion from the very beginning. For me, it came later. After serving in the military, studying biology and microbiology, and teaching for over two decades, I did not expect to become a novelist one day. Yet here I am, stepping into the world of fiction with my debut novel, Amulets for Salem. People often ask why I chose to write magical historical fiction, and the answer lies somewhere between my scientific background and my lifelong curiosity about the unseen.
History has always fascinated me because it reveals who we are and how we came to be. The Salem witch trials are one of the most haunting chapters in American history. They reveal how fear can override reason, how suspicion can destroy communities, and how knowledge in the wrong hands can become dangerous. When I began writing Amulets for Salem, I wanted to explore this time period not only as a historian might, but also as a storyteller. Facts provide us with structure, but fiction allows us to imagine what it felt like to live through those events.
Adding the supernatural to that history was not about turning the Salem trials into fantasy. It was about capturing how the people of that time understood the world. In a society where illness, bad weather, or even an unusual birthmark could be blamed on witchcraft, belief in the supernatural shaped daily life. By weaving elements like familiars, amulets, and astral projection into Apollina’s story, I was able to show how real the unseen felt to them, and how easily fear of it could be weaponized.
Coming from a scientific background, this might seem like a strange choice. Science is about evidence, testing, and proof. However, I have always believed that science and storytelling are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they meet at the same point: both seek to make sense of the unknown. My training in biology and microbiology helped me ground the herbal remedies, tinctures, and healing practices in Amulets for Salem. Plants like lavender, yarrow, and willow bark were real tools used for centuries. What some saw as magic, others might recognize today as early medicine. That overlap between fact and belief is where my fascination lies.
Writing this novel later in life gave me the freedom to fully embrace that fascination. I no longer felt the need to choose between logic and intuition, or between fact and imagination. In many ways, Amulets for Salem became a bridge. It connects the truth of history with the possibilities of fiction. It connects scientific knowledge with the allure of the mystical. Most importantly, it connects readers to the lives of women who carried wisdom that the world often tried to silence.
Choosing to write magical historical fiction was my way of honoring both parts of myself, the teacher who values facts and the dreamer who wonders about mysteries. Through Apollina’s journey, I hope readers can feel that same balance of history and imagination.
If you are drawn to stories that combine the weight of real events with the wonder of the supernatural, I invite you to read Amulets for Salem. It is both a reflection on our past and a reminder of how much courage it takes to keep wisdom alive. Get Your Copy On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1969868244
