This October, we're diving into the fascinating story of Margaret Jones—the first woman tried for witchcraft in Massachusetts—through Andrea Catalano's debut novel The First Witch of Boston. Josh and Sarah explore this gripping historical fiction that sheds light on a witch trial that happened decades before Salem, in 1648. Discover why this lesser-known story deserves your attention and hear from the author herself about bringing Margaret Jones's tale to life.

October Witchcraft Season: Josh and Sarah kick off the spookiest month with increased witchcraft content
Pre-Salem History: Learn about Massachusetts witch trials that occurred 44 years before the famous Salem trials
Margaret Jones's Story: The 1648 execution that changed colonial history
Author Interview: Exclusive conversation with debut novelist Andrea Catalano
Chart-Topping Success: How this historical fiction novel reached the top of Amazon charts
Historical Accuracy Meets Fiction: Why Margaret Jones's story was "ripe for telling"

First Massachusetts witch trial (1648)
Margaret Jones execution
Pre-Salem witchcraft persecution
Colonial Boston history
Historical fiction as a vehicle for forgotten women's stories
Andrea Catalano's research and writing process

The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano

Genre: Historical Fiction
Subject: Margaret Jones, executed for witchcraft in 1648
Amazon bestseller with positive critical reception

If you're interested in:

Witch trial history beyond Salem
Colonial American history
Women's forgotten stories
Historical fiction
October/Halloween content
Witchcraft history

Witch trials, Massachusetts history, Salem witch trials, Margaret Jones, 1648, colonial America, witchcraft history, historical fiction, Andrea Catalano, The First Witch of Boston, Boston history, pre-Salem witch hunts, Halloween podcast, October episodes, women's history, forgotten history

Join Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack every week for your dose of witchcraft history. Subscribe to The Thing About Witch Hunts for more fascinating stories about persecution, superstition, and the women who were accused.

Perfect listening for October, Halloween season, or anytime you want to explore the darker corners of American colonial history.

⁠Buy the book: The Last Witch of Boston, Andrea Catalano⁠

Buy the book with John Winthrop transcriptions on Margaret Jones: Witch Hunting in 17th Century New England by David D. Hall

Halloween Episodes on The Thing About Witch Hunts Podcasts

The Thing About Salem YouTube

⁠The Thing About Salem Patreon

⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts YouTube⁠

⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts

Support the nonprofit End Witch Hunts Podcasts and Projects

Author Andrea Catalano on Her Novel The First Witch of Boston