Marblehead Author Releases New Novel

Marblehead author, Patricia Goodwin has released a new novel, Dreamwater, the sequel to her novella about Marblehead legends, When Two Women Die, available now at Amazon.com and Spirit of ’76 Bookstore, Marblehead.

“At the end of When Two Women Die, one of my characters, nine-year-old Ned Low, was kidnapped by pirates.” Remarked the author. “I knew I would have to follow him to some very dark places if I were to write a sequel, and, in fact, I struggled with that. I did not write this story lightly, but I told the truth about what would have happened next.”

Pirates were not the sort of jolly, reckless fellows we have been shown by Hollywood and other stories. While it may be fun to imagine thieves with hearts of gold, cute, generous, friendly and fair, pirates were none of these. Marblehead’s own Philip Ashton, who was captured by the real-life pirate Ned Low, said that the smiles of pirates did not mean they were not about to torture you. In fact, real pirates reveled in torture. Ashton endured so many hardships at the hands of Ned Low and his crew that he purposely marooned himself to get away from them. Every instance of torture or violence described in Dreamwater has been historically documented and attributed to pirates or slave traders.

Dreamwater is the story of Ned Low’s terrifying journey in 1692 from the Caribbean to Marblehead where his mother Rosie and the girl he loves have been arrested for witchcraft. Ned makes his way using his own strength and wit, along with some advice from a few psychic friends on the islands and at home in Marblehead. Though Ned is eleven years old, Dreamwater does not read like a young adult book. Life was hard in 1692 and children often took on adult responsibilities earlier than they do now. Ned accomplishes a lot of good things, but he does so through violence and cunning, making him a kind of villainous hero.

Dreamwater is a unique thriller inspired by the history and beauty of Marblehead. It is a stand-alone novel that does not depend on having read the previous book. 

Like the layers of past and modern life we experience every day in Marblehead, Dreamwater travels back and forth in time, from 1692 to 1995 where modern characters are also struggling to make their dreams come true: Peter Treadwell is trying to come to terms with his young wife’s sudden death, while his daughter sees and speaks to her mother’s ghost; his son Pete wants to study ghost hunting, but finds himself caught up in internet dangers; Jo Simmons just wants to enjoy her new business and her new husband, but she is being stalked; Cassandra is working very hard on understanding reality as well as she understands her psychic visions.

We’ve learned a great deal about how to live since the 17th Century. Now we have someone to call when we are in trouble. But, we still struggle.

As ever, Marblehead emerges as an extraordinary place. A place of almost paranormal loveliness, a place of history, of magic, a place where people still strive, but a place where many, rich and poor, have divined how to live, how to find their dream and how to make it real. The author commented on her choice of setting. “I know writers who write about Minnesota the way I write about Marblehead, but, for me, it will always be Marblehead that is the most beautiful and fulfilling place to live.”

Patricia Goodwin is a poet and writer who has published many works of non-fiction and fiction, as well as poetry. To find out more about the author, please visit patriciagoodwin.com.

Dreamwater is available online at Amazon.com in both Kindle and paperback, and at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore, Marblehead.

This press release was provded by the author.