The Hex of Hadley: A Tale of Mary Webster and Old Scratch The year was 1684. In the small, struggling settlement of Hadley, Massachusetts, Mary Webster lived a life defined by quiet, often weary, virtue. Her husband had passed three years prior, leaving her with little more than a modest cabin, a few hardy hens, and a deep knowledge of the local flora.  She was poor, and in Puritan society, poverty often signaled a lack of God's enthusiastic favor. Yet, she was pious, diligen

Writing historical fiction requires more than imagination. It demands careful research, attention to detail, and respect for the real people and events behind the story. My newest short story focuses on Mary Webster, a woman from 1600s New England who was hanged but survived. This remarkable event inspired me to dig deep into history and bring her story to life. Here, I want to share how I researched Mary Webster’s story, the methods I used, and why keeping an annotated bibli