NG: Hi Dave, it was a pleasure to meet you in person to discuss your visit to Salem and your award-winning novel, Tituba: The Intentional Witch of Salem. And a double pleasure to talk over coffee at my favorite Salem coffee shop–Jaho! 

DT: Thanks for inviting me back, Nancy. My first stop was a book-signing at the Salem Witch Museum. As always, Rachel Christ-Doane and Jill Christiansen were hospitable hosts who provided everything I needed, including a spot in the garden to meet museum visitors. The Witch Museum is a great place to visit for those new to the historic Salem witchcraft accusations.

I sold a good number of books, and I used a “secret” conversation starter trick one of my writer friends gave me. I asked if anyone wanted a free bookmark, and that opened the door to friendly discussion. It was interesting to meet a young woman from Wisconsin who found the museum was to be an eye-opener. She was surprised to learn how suspected witches suffered during Colonial days.

NG: You also spoke to the Salem State University History Club. Tell us about it.

DT: At the invitation of Dr. Margo Shea, the club advisor, I got to speak about how fiction writers can dig deep into the motivation of characters lost to history, like Tituba. The students were interested in how a fiction writer digs deep beneath the surface to create realistic characters. It’s important especially for our majority white culture to understand that people of color share every human, and humane characteristic as everyone else does. I got the chance to do that with my novel.

NG: You and your partner, Karen, visited the Peabody Essex Museum. PEM is hosting a temporary exhibit about the Salem Witch Trials. Did you see it? Any takeaways you’d like to share?  

DT: Yes, we enjoyed our visit to the PEM, which is much more than the Salem Witch Trials exhibit. I thought the presentation was carefully and factually created and gave insights into what happened back in 1692. I especially liked the artifacts that they had from those times.

(NOTE: There’s an interesting virtual tour here: https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/the-salem-witch-trials-1692 )

NG: Are you thinking of writing a sequel about what happens toTituba after the trials?

DT: Yes. It’s in the works. 

NG: Is there someplace online where we can learn more about you and your book?

DT: Sure, at my website, www.davetamaniniauthor.com readers can: 1. Sign up for my not too frequent newsletter. 2. Use the links on the home page to the various places online and in shops where Tituba is available. 3. See future events that have been scheduled at the Events tab. We’re working on several possible new Salem events for 2022. 4. Did I mention signing up for my newsletter? 

Thanks again, Nancy. I hope your new paranormal mystery novel, Dream Stalker continues to do well. I enjoyed reading it.