Costco Connection - October 2009

book pick

Every witch way

Novel explores family history in Salem

By Stephanie E. Ponder

FOR KATHLEEN KEN T, the Salem witch trials of 1692 are more than a black mark on America’s early history; they are a piece of her family’s history and a source of surprising revelations. Kent is a 10th-genera- tion descendent of Martha Carrier, one of the first women accused of being and hanged as a witch. Kent tells Carrier’s story, through the voice of her young daughter, Sarah, in this month’s Book Buyer’s Pick, The Heretic’s Daughter.

This first-time novelist seems an unlikely candidate to write about this part of her family’s history. Before she set out to write the book, her career included 10 years working for the New York Commodity Exchange and another 10 working as a defense contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense. The only writing she did during that time was writing reports, and there, she jokes, “creativity was not encouraged.”

In 2000, Kent, along with her husband and son, moved back to her childhood home of Dallas, and she decided to tackle the book. She believes her business background gave her the discipline she needed. She blocked off time on her calendar to write, turned off her phone and locked the door to avoid distractions.

Kent had first heard stories about Martha Carrier during her childhood. “My grandmother was proud and gleeful over how much trouble Martha got into,” Kent tells The Connection from her home in Dallas. “She told stories about the trial, but

Kathleen Kent

COSTCO HAS 50 signed copies of Kathleen Kent’s The Heretic’s Daughter to give away. For a chance to win, send an e-mail to give away@costco.com, with “Kathleen Kent” in the subject line. Or print your name, address and daytime phone number on a postcard or letter and send it to: Kathleen Kent, The Costco Connection, P.O. Box 34088, Seattle, WA 98124-1088.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES.

Purchase will not improve odds of winning. S weepstakes is sponsored by Hahette Book Group, 237 Park Ave., New York, NY 10017. Open to legal residents of the U.S. (except Puerto Rico) who are age 18 or older at the time of entry. One entry per household. Entries must be received by November 2, 2009. Winners will be randomly selected and noti;ed by mail on or before December 1, 2009. The value of the prize is $13.99. Void where prohibited. Winners are responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Employees of Costco or Penguin Hachette and their families are not eligible.

also about day-to-day stuff, such as how they fed the cow pumpkins to get sweet milk.”

Kent spent five years researching and writing the novel. Her research revealed several pieces of information that surprised her. First was the fact that so many people were arrested—more than 150 men, women and children. Of those, 19 men and women were hanged, and one man was pressed to death with stones.

DEBORAH FEINGOLD

She was also surprised by how remarkable a woman Carrier was.

Kent says her relative “never named another person [during the trials], which was a way to free yourself of the noose. She also stood up to the judges.”

Despite these characteristics, Kent says she didn’t immediately like Carrier: “She was a waspish, sharp-tongued woman.” But as the story progressed, so did her respect and the knowledge that she needed to tell a bigger story. And so she turned to Carrier’s 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, to relate the story of how Carrier, Sarah’s three older brothers and Sarah herself were imprisoned as witches. (All four children were eventually released.)

Carrier’s husband, Thomas, was such an impressive character that Kent’s next novel is about his life prior to coming to the colonies—he fought with Cromwell in England’s civil war against King Charles I—and after his arrival. History has it that Thomas Carrier was more than 7 feet tall, lived to be more than 100 years old and required two caskets to be combined into one for his burial.

“I was fascinated that such a forceful woman and singularly unique man got together,” Kent says.

One surprise that wasn’t revealed in history books or family lore is the continued appeal of and interest in the trials. “It’s a quintessential American story, yet it resonates outside of the country,” Kent notes. The Heretic’s Daughter has been published in more than 12 countries, and Kent often hears from readers who make analogies between the witch hunters and other groups. She suggests that the appeal lies in the themes of gossip being a social killer and freedom of speech being curtailed.

FRANCE FREEMAN

“It’s a dream come true,” says Kent of the publication of her novel.

“It’s immensely satisfying that I was able to publish this love letter to my family for their courage and fortitude.” C

MOST OF US know, more or
less, the story of the Salem
witch trials. For those who
want a refresher or a proper
introduction, I’d like to
recommend Kathleen Kent’s
novel, The Heretic’s
Daughter. Not only did Kent
devote years to researching
Salem and its surrounding
area’s history, geography
and speech, she is a direct
descendent of main
character Martha Carrier.
With loving detail Kent
tells the story through the
voice of Martha’s daughter,
Sarah. Readers can feel the
cold of the New England
winter, the damp of the
prison cell and the deter-
mination of Martha to not
betray herself or her family.
Kathleen Kent’s The
Heretic’s Daughter is
available in paperback at
most Costco warehouses
and at Costco.com.