Visiting Old Friends: Writing Down Salem Way

Witch House in Salem, MA, which looks remarkably like James’ house.

As I said in this post, it’s hard to believe it’s been five years since Her Dear & Loving Husband was published. For those of you who have been following me, you know that I’m finally working on the new Loving Husband tale, Down Salem Way.

I know conventional wisdom says to write as many books in a series as you can, but I’ve found that, for me at least, it’s best to write whatever it is that’s in my heart to write. Perhaps that’s not the best business model, but it works for me. When I finished writing the final book in the Loving Husband Trilogy, Her Loving Husband’s Return, I felt that James and Sarah’s story was complete. I already knew the next two novels I was going to write—That You Are Here and When It Rained at Hembry Castle. As a result, I had my writing planned out for the next two years since I write about one novel a year.

The Witch Dungeon Museum in Salem, MA.

Then a funny thing happened. I kept getting emails from Loving Husband fans who asked for the story to continue. For a while I said no, the story was pretty well wrapped up at the end of HLHR, but then I began to wonder myself if there was more to James and Sarah’s story. When I wrote Her Dear & Loving Husband, I was fascinated by what I learned about the Salem Witch Trials. Though the novel goes into that sad time in depth, I felt there was more to know about Salem in 1692 than I was able to touch on in the context of that one book. Perhaps a continuation of James and Sarah’s story could allow me to focus once again on the witch hunts.

I’ve been writing historical fiction since 1994, and it has been a dream come true to write a story of everlasting love that resonates with readers around the globe. I was thrilled that readers loved James and Sarah so much they wanted more. If I were a good business-minded author, which I’m not, I would have written Down Salem Way as soon as I had the idea so I could get it out right away and capitalize on the success of the Loving Husband Trilogy. But I already had my mind—and most importantly my heart—set on writing That You Are Here and When It Rained at Hembry Castle. I took the less traditional route and decided to carry through with the two novels, and then, after they were written and published, I would work on Down Salem Way.

The Friendship, which is docked near Pickering Wharf, where Olivia’s shop The Witches Lair is located.

There were a couple of challenges along the way. First, I’m back in college full time both taking and teaching classes. I’m glad I made the decision to return to school because I needed a new challenge, but it does take time away from writing fiction. The second challenge was the fact that When It Rained at Hembry Castle was more difficult to write than I expected so it took me two years to write instead of one. With That You Are Here and When It Rained at Hembry Castle both out in the world, I was finally able to turn my attention to Down Salem Way.

I’m about halfway through my “shitty first draft” phase, and even though most of what I’m writing in that first draft will never see the light of day since it will be completely revised by the time the book is published, it’s still a joy watching the story start to take shape. At first, I saw Down Salem Way as a prequel to the Loving Husband Trilogy, and in a way it still is. I thought the story would only take place in Salem during the time of the witch trials, but then I realized I needed to keep the past and present storylines readers have come to love. As a result, Down Salem Way has become both a prequel—an insight into James and Elizabeth’s lives prior to the madness of the witch trials—and a sequel as we follow James and Sarah in their new lives in California. The whole gang will be there–Olivia, Jennifer, Chandresh, Timothy, and Howard. And what would a Loving Husband story be without Geoffrey?

Although it’s been a long wait for James and Sarah fans, it’s been a good thing for me that there has been some time since I finished writing Her Loving Husband’s Return and started Down Salem Way. Now I’m as excited as Loving Husband Trilogy fans to see what’s next for James and Sarah. For those of you who have been patiently awaiting the new Loving Husband story, you’ll be happy to know that the book is right on track for an October release—just in time for Halloween.

If you’d like to read my posts about my research trip to Salem, MA, click here. A number of you have already signed up for updates about Down Salem Way. If you’d like to join the mailing list, click here.

Filed under: Down Salem Way, Her Dear & Loving Husband, Her Loving Husband's Curse, Her Loving Husband's Return, Historical Fiction, Writing Tagged: Down Salem Way, Her Dear and Loving Husband, Her Loving Husband's Return, historical fiction, The Loving Husband Trilogy, writing historical fiction