Winter Fox on Dog Mountain Witch, His First Historical Fiction with Local Roots

SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Join us on Wednesday, October 29, from 5:30- 6:30 p.m. at the Southwest Harbor Public Library to hear from Southwest Harbor author Winter Fox on Dog Mountain Witch, his ninth novel, and his first historical fiction with local roots. Books will be available for purchase and signing at this in-person only event.

Dog Mountain Witch, a novel of 19th Century Maine, is the true story of Sally Somers, the last witch executed in New England, in 1832. Most historical sources place the last execution of witches in New England in 1692, in the wake of the Salem Trials. Yet, 140 years later, Sally Somers was killed on Fernald Point in Southwest Harbor. Fragments of her story are tucked away in the historic records room of the Southwest Harbor Public Library and, if taken at face value, constitute an execution that took place without trial or jury. A misunderstood victim of prejudice and jealousy, Sally’s execution is a subject of local lore, oral history, and contradicting facts.