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

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