Interview Sam Batrusis Author of Wicked Salem
Give a warm welcome to Sam Baltrusis, author of Wicked Salem: Exploring Lingering Lore and Legends, Released May 2, 2019.
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Sam and WIcked Salem!
What defines you as an author? As a person? Are they one in the same?
I’m a journalist turned author of ten historical-based ghost books, so I would say that I have a knack for uncovering hidden gems sometimes overlooked by history. As far as the paranormal, I’ve always been sensitive to ghosts. However, I consider myself a clairvoyant at this point of my journey and that sensitivity has helped me give a voice to the victims, and the villains, of the Salem witch-trials hysteria of 1692.
What inspired this particular story?
My first book on the Witch City called Ghosts of Salem did a great job at spotlighting the haunted locations associated with the Salem Witch Trials. However, after giving tours in Salem for years, I was overwhelmed with the misinformation that has been perpetuated by pop culture and even Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. My goal with Wicked Salem was to untangle the misinformation and focus on the individuals that shaped the city’s history over the past four-hundred years.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
I have good days where I get into the zone and I can’t stop writing. And then I have other days where I have to power through chapters. When I am have a good writing day, I just keep at it and try to accomplish as much as possible. When I’m dealing with writer’s block, I usually go out in the field and visit the location that I’m writing about. For Wicked Salem, I had so much fun visiting locations that were major players during the witch trials, like the Parson Barnard House in North Andover and the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers. When I take these road trips, I’m usually able to rekindle that excitement I need to finish the book.
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?
I definitely feel a connection with the innocent victims of the Salem Witch Trials. I’ve always felt close to Bridget Bishop, the first person to be executed and the only victim to be hanged by herself. While writing Wicked Salem, I interviewed some amazing living people who helped shape the city. I interviewed Laurie Cabot, the “official witch of Salem,” in the book and that discussion was amazing. Interviewing Laurie Cabot was a dream come true. I would say that profile in the book is my favorite chapter by far.
What inspired you to write?
I’ve been writing most of my life. When I was a teen, I was creative and knew that I was great at weaving together a narrative. I was inspired by my high school journalism teacher, Mrs. Reinschmidt, to keep writing. I needed that encouragement and haven’t stopped. My writing has shifted from journalism to writing books, but I find that books are just really long articles and I approach each chapter or section as if I’m piecing together several long-format magazine articles.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing for thirty years and writing books for ten years.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
I actually interviewed several of my friends from the paranormal and Salem communities. So, I was fairly transparent that I was working on a new book on Salem. My family has always been supportive. In fact, my step-father who passed on December 26, 2018, was so proud that my books are historical. He was a history major and really rubbed off on me growing up.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
Yes, I definitely identify with the innocent men and women executed for witchcraft in 1692. I have a history of challenging the status quo and so did many of those featured in my book, Wicked Salem.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
I genuinely care about Salem’s people … the living and the dead. Wicked Salem is for them. I hope I do them justice.
Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?
I give tours in Salem and Boston. I also lecture at local libraries and paranormal conferences. So, I love engaging with my readers. The ideas for my books usually come from those discussions.
Do you find it easier to write from a male or female point of view? Why?
I write historical, non-fiction books, so the goal is to be as accurate as possible telling the stories of people who have been dead for more than three-hundred years. Oddly, I tend to connect more with the women in Wicked Salem. There was an obvious patriarchy in 1692, but the women accused of witchcraft all fought and pleaded that they were innocent. I admire the strong women featured in my book.
Why do you write what you write? Ie. Contemporary, paranormal, suspense, etc.
I write paranormal-themed history books. Wicked Salem is about correcting the misinformation associated with the witch-trials hysteria of 1692. Over the past decade, I have noticed a shift toward untangling these historical inaccuracies, but we still have a long way to go. Will we ever be completely accurate? No, because we weren’t there. However, my goal is to take all of the pieces that we do know and weave together a cohesive narrative that not only educates and entertains my readers but makes the city’s “ghosts” proud.
A sneak peek between the pages of Wicked Salem.
What is it about the sleepy New England city that engenders itself to history’s witches, rakes and rogues?
Salem, Massachusetts suffers a bit of an identity disorder. There are two versions of the so-called “Witch City” that have symbiotically etched itself into the collective unconscious. There’s the iconic, blood-stained Salem that boasted a sadistic sorority of witch-hanging zealots in the late 1600s. And then there is the modern, witch-friendly spectacle that welcomes thousands of supporters into its coven of commercialism every October.
It’s a tale of two Salems.
As far as the paranormal is concerned, the city is considered to be hallowed ground. However, based on my personal experience as a local historian and tour guide, Salem has a love-hate relationship with its ghosts. Why?
“The city has a long history of not wanting to get wrapped up in commercializing its witch history,” explained Tim Weisberg, host of the radio show Spooky Southcoast and researcher with Destination America’s Haunted Towns. “It’s something they’ve only really embraced over the past couple of decades. There’s still a bit of an ‘old guard’ in the city that doesn’t want to see anyone capitalizing on witches, ghosts or things of that nature.”
As Salem’s on-air expert for the national Haunted Towns TV show, I helped Weisberg hunt for locations with ties to the witch trials of 1692. It was tough. “As they’ve let some of that guard down and television shows have come in, it’s been my experience that the ‘powers that be’ who control many of the allegedly haunted and historic locations have been disillusioned with the way productions have come in and treated its history,” Weisberg told me. “At least, that’s what I heard in the rejections I received from certain locations when attempting to get permission to film Haunted Towns.”
Known for its annual Halloween “Haunted Happenings” gathering, it’s no surprise that the historic Massachusetts seaport is considered to be one of New England’s most haunted destinations. With city officials emphasizing its not-so-dark past, tourists from all over the world seem to focus on the wicked intrigue surrounding the 1692 witch trials.
Originally called Naumkeag, Salem means “peace.” However, as its historical legacy dictates, the city was anything but peaceful during the late seventeenth century. In fact, when accused witch and landowner Giles Corey was pressed to death over a two-day period, he allegedly cursed the sheriff and the city. Over the years, his specter has allegedly been spotted preceding disasters in Salem, including the fire that destroyed most of the downtown area in June 1914. Based on my research, a majority of the hauntings conjured up in Salem over the city’s tumultuous four-hundred-year-old history have ties to disaster, specifically the one-hundred-year-old fire that virtually annihilated the once prosperous North Shore seaport.
Cursed? Salem is full of secrets.
My thoughts on the book – Review:
Sam Baltrusis explores the ghost lore and the people behind the tragic events that turned the “Witch City” into a hot spot that has become synonymous with witches, rakes, and rogues.
The author takes us back to the Haunts of Salem, MA as an exploratory follow up to his 2014 “Ghost of Salem.
The last portion of the books addresses the most colorful creatures that called Salem home. Like Harry Houdini, Nathaniel Hawthorne and the terrible Sheriff George Corwin. Yeah, kinda had to leave the light on due to tales of George.
Okay I’ll admit it, Salem, MA is still on my bucket list to visit over Halloween someday. Armed with this information, I’m excited!
If the history of Salem, MA, intrigues you, or if your interest is piqued by the Salem Witch Trials, this is the book for you! Happy Reading!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged ghosts, Haunted History, Haunting, Local History Salem, Sam Baltrusis, Wicked Salem by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
A Witch’s Journey the Beginning
In the continuing Sunday series of the behind the scenes look at my books, A Witch’s Journey, available in e-book, print and audio book has center stage today. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Kate Tyler the gal that narrated A Witch’s Journey. She is a hoot and a talented artist!
Take a moment to sit back and relax, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about A Witch’s Journey, Kate Tyler and what it take to turn a book into an audio book.
A Witch’s Journey is not only about magic and love between two people, but the dedication of a witch – wildlife rehabilitator and a compassionate former Navy SEAL with physical and psychological scars of his own. Their journey begins with building a wildlife rescue and rehab center, her life-long dream. Along the way, they discover the healing power of love and family.
Wildlife rescue and rehab are causes close to my heart. Incorporating them into this book was my way of bringing attention to the needs of those people dedicated to preservation of wildlife for future generations. Weaving magic into the story added and fun and intrigue to the plot. Remember the magic to happily ever after.
The title was meant to convey Pepper’s journey of redemption from being outed as a witch in Salem, where she’d worked at a wildlife sanctuary, and had to leave town. To creating her own wildlife rescue and rehab in a Lobster Cove, Maine, where the town embraced her.
Breaking news! A Witch’s Journey saga continues! I am hard at work on the third book in the series. This one will encompass the journey of Gwen (Pepper’s best friend) and Brock (who we met in A Witch’s Holiday Wedding) and their adventure in Salem, MA. Stay tuned!
Buy Links:
Amazon, The Wild Rose Press, Barnes and Noble Itunes Kobo
I own a copy and have listened to the audiobook, A Witch’s Journey, a paranormal romance. I am participating in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions in support of Kate Tyler the sponsor of this tour. She’s the fantastic narrator of A Witch’s Journey. I can honestly say that Kate’s narration of A Witch’s Journey brought the book’s characters to life. A story of wildlife rescue and rehab, magic, second chances, and the love of family and friends. What better way to forget your trials and tribulations than relax and listen to a feel good audiobook? A Witch’s Journey will whisk you away from your ordinary world into a romantic fantasy adventure that you’ll never want to end. Pepper and Lathen’s journey begins with building a wildlife rescue & rehab center in the small town of Lobster Cove. Along the way, they discover the healing power of love and family. I highly recommend this book!
Best-selling author, Tena Stetler, has an over-active imagination and writes award-winning paranormal romance novels. She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. Colorado is home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle.
Her books tell stories of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Well, okay there are a few companion animals to round out the tales. Travel and adventure flourish in her novels. Any winter evening, you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot Chocolate and a bowl of popcorn.
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Kate Tyler is an audiobook narrator and producer with several published audiobooks available on Audible, iTunes and Amazon. A background in drama and a successful career in voiceover, Kate lives with her family in San Diego and enjoys swimming, running, cycling and stand up paddleboard.
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- How did you wind up narrating audiobooks? Was it always your goal or was it something you stumbled into by chance?
- Great question! My son, Drew, was 15 and ½ last summer. That’s a tough age for a kid entering summer because it’s a little too young for a summer job, and a little too old for a summer camp. We wanted to come up with something that we could do together during the summer to keep him busy, that would be fun and interactive, where he could earn a little side-money and something that might look good on a college resume! We searched Google for something he could do and among the suggestions we found narrating audiobooks. Since he and I both have a background in stage theater and improv, we thought it might be fun. I’m an avid audiobook listener and thought it would be fun! We ordered some equipment online and it came on a Saturday from Amazon. Drew had everything set up that night and we were off and running the next day, auditioning for books!
- A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theatre. Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career?
- Yeah, that’s what most people think. Yes, I’m in theater and so is my son. It definitely helps, but it’s absolutely not essential. Since I’ve been in this world, I’ve gotten to know a lot of narrators and many of them would describe themselves as introverts. I’m an extrovert so I found that funny. But when you think about it, you’re all alone in a small room when you work, so it works well for people who are naturally introverted. Kind of cool, right?
- Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
- Oh yes. I love audiobooks. I listen every week if not every day to something awesome on audio. I re-listen to stuff. I even follow a few narrators when I really like their voice. If I love a voice, I’ll check out everything they’ve done and if it appeals to me, I’ll grab it. I travel a lot for business and pleasure and I listen in the car, on trains, on airplanes and so on. I definitely listen when I’m working out. Nothing can make five miles go faster than a few good chapters of a zombie thriller!
- Is there a particular genre you feel unsuited for? Have you ever declined a project because you didn’t think you were right for it?
- So, yes. I’ve declined projects. Most people think it’s all acting, but there are some things I just don’t want to narrate because I just don’t believe in them. If there is a self-help book that gives advice I just disagree with, I’d turn it down. Narrating self-help is different from acting in that it’s your voice trying to convince someone of something. If you don’t believe it yourself, you’ve got two problems. One, you won’t like saying it. Two, it will come through as fake to the listener. All bad outcomes. So it’s best they find someone else. That could be true for other narrators with other touchy subjects like politics or religion too.
- How closely do you prefer to work with authors?
- I like to get to know the authors and what they are looking for. It’s the dream in their head we’re trying to make happen, so I want to try to get as close to that as possible. And, selfishly, I’m a sucker for applause and encouragement. So if my author loves my voice and they are telling me how much they enjoy how I’m doing a certain character, that’s a huge bonus for me. I love working with an author who is not shy in telling me when they are loving what I bring to the book!
- Has anyone ever recognized you from your voice?
- Um. No. A big no on that one. I guess it could happen, but I’ve actually gifted some of my audiobooks to friends and family and they’re like: “Are you sure that’s really you?” I think they mean it as a compliment, but with family you never can tell!
- Have there been any characters that you really connected with?
- Oh sure! You spend a lot of time with a book and voicing the characters. So a lot of what you bring to it is your own personality. It happens more often than not that you are feeling the emotions right along with the character. In Witchs’ Journey there were some exciting parts and some scary parts and some dreamy parts. You end up feeling all of those as you bring voices alive.
- Do you read reviews for your audiobooks?
- Absolutely! Reviews can be very important for the success of an audiobook. I encourage listeners to leave reviews. Whenever I see a book with one or two reviews I check out the reviewers page. Does it have one review or many? If there’s only one review, I tend to wonder if it was just the author’s mom who wrote something nice. Reviews from reviewers who read 30+ books a year are key. They really know what they like and the reviews are more deep than “I liked it a lot.” It’s been fun to get reviews that say things like: “I will definitely listen to Kate Tyler again!” That way I know I’ve done my job right.
- What type of the review comments do you find most constructive?
- I like reading reviews that give a taste of the story. Some sort of recap of what they thought the book was about. Once they’ve done that, then I want to see their impressions about how well the story was put together, and how well the narrator did the voices or characterizations.
- Who is your “dream author” that you would like to record for?
- Well, gee, I’d say Brene Brown, because I love her, but she usually does her own stuff which makes a lot of sense. If you know her, you know you want to hear her voice reading her material. And she’s very captivating to listen to. Not all authors can read their own material, but she is very talented and makes the book come alive.
- What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
- Oh, no. I think listening is equally as valuable as page turning. In fact, there are statistics that show that people who buy a book has about a 10% chance of reading it cover to cover. Audiobook listeners generally listen end to end about 80% of the time. If your goal is to get your story or message into a person, audiobook wins hands down. Not only that, page-turners are usually different people than listeners. If you want to reach a larger audience, you have to consider that. Making it available in different formats makes it accessible to a larger group of people. And after all, isn’t that the point?
It was wonderful having you with us today Kate. I loved your narration of A Witch’s Journey. It was spot on with the dream I had in my head. Please feel free to stop by anytime. A Witch’s Journey Audio book a must listen in your audio library!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Witch's Journey, Audiobook, ghosts, Kate Tyler, Lobster Cove, magic, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler, wildlife rescue, Witch's by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Colorado Hauntings – Happy Halloween
Celebrating a spooktacular Halloween all month on My Say What Blog, so today is the final haunting article about Halloween. What’s not to love about Halloween? One day out of the year you can dress up and pretend to be anything you want and people don’t think you’re crazy. Okay, well, not as crazy as if it wasn’t Halloween!
One of the highest haunts in Colorado is the Stanley Hotel at an altitude of over 7,500 feet. Bawawawa! You know the one that claims to be the 
inspiration for Stephen’s King’s The Shining (REDRUM – MURDER) . The Hotel was built in 1909 by Freelan and Flora Stanley of Stanley Steamer fortune. Originally, they came to Colorado in an attempt to alleviate the symptoms of Freelan’s tuberculosis. They fell in love with Colorado and purchased property and built a home. The Stanley was built as a summer resort for guests Freelan and Flora entertained during their extended vacations in Colorado.
It’s believed Flora haunts the hotel to this day, enjoying one of her favorite pastimes of playing the piano late at night when no one is around. Tales abound of visitors claiming sounds of revelry occurring in the empty ballroom. Room 217 is purported to be haunted by the ghost of a long-term housekeeper. If you gain her favor, she’ll help you unpack. If not…. Well…. It is the room allegedly occupied by Stephen King at one time. Inspiring The Shining?
I don’t know about that, but the hair on the back of my neck stood up as I took photos of The Stanley Hotel outside in broad daylight.
Want to know more about haunted places in Colorado? Click on the link.
Speaking of Hauntings!
Did you know, most present day Halloween traditions are traceable to the ancient Celtic day of the dead? Halloween consists of mysterious customs, but
each has a history, or at least a story behind it.
Take wearing costumes, and roaming from door to door demanding treats. This behavior can be traced to the Celtic period and the first few centuries of the Christian era, when it was thought that the souls of the dead were out and about, along with fairies, witches, and demons. Offerings of food and drink were left out to placate them. As the centuries wore on, people began dressing like these creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This is where the practice of trick-or-treating began. To this day, vampires, witches, ghosts, and skeletons are among the favorite costumes.
Our Halloween also retains activities from the original harvest holiday of Samhain, such as bobbing for apples and carving vegetables, (pumpkins) as well as the fruits, nuts, and spices for cider associated with the day. Although at my house, hot chocolate is pretty popular, since Halloween almost guarantees the first snow of the year.
Looking for a fun Halloween Read? A Witch’s Journey is full of meddling ghosts, shapeshifters, sexy witch, a ruggedly-handsome Navy SEAL. An exciting story of redemption, wildlife rescue and Halloween festivals. Available at Amazon.com, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. And I let you in on a little secret. A Witch’s Journey is available in audiobook, so grab yours! After you’ve read A Witch’s Journey, you’ll want the sequel, A Witch’s Holiday Wedding, also available in audiobook Amazon.com, 
Well, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to don my vampire costume, custom fitted fangs and pull up a stool in the shadows. With a candy bowl beside me, I sneakily turn on the fog machine. Out of the mist, I’ll greet the little trick or treaters or scare the bejeebers out of the older ones with bats hanging over head and screeching on my command. Won’t you join me? Happy Halloween!
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Posted in For Fun, Holidays, My Say What Blog and tagged All Hallows Eve, Colorado, ghosts, Halloween, Haunting, Lobster Cove, shifters, Stanley Hotel, wildlife, Witches by Tena Stetler with 35 comments.
Exciting 99 cent sale – A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING
Click on cover to read more and purchase!
Its Sunday and A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING is on sale for 99 cents. What more could you want only a nine days from Halloween and the Holiday season fast approaching? Download your copy today!
After she set her glass down, Lathen brushed a couple strands of hair out of her eyes and searched her face. “Are you all right?”
“I’m tired, my wedding is in a couple weeks, I have ghosts fighting over who is going to do what. Guests that have no idea the place is haunted and… Your family and pack, my parents, Gwen… To top it all off, the head of my clan, who is a ghost, is sitting in front of me wanting to know who is coming to the wedding and whether the ghosts will be outed. How could I possibly be all right?”
“When you put it that way.” Lathen chuckled. “It sounds just a bit… I don’t know…crazy?” His right eyebrow winged up. She saw mischief sparkle in his eyes. “We could still elope,” he offered.
Available at: Amazon, Kobo, The Wild Rose Press, and Barnes & Noble
My celebration of three years of being a published author continues. Check back for more sales!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Witch's Holiday Wedding, ghosts, Ireland, magic, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
