Writers Talks begin at Sarah Orne Jewett House

SOUTH BERWICK - Join Andrew Vietze on Tuesday, Feb. 10, for an author’s perspective on "Boon Island: A True Story of Mutiny, Shipwreck, and Cannibalism!"

Vietze kicks off the “Friendship in Books”: Writers Talks at the Jewett House in South Berwick, a four-part monthly series at the historic home of 19th century author Sarah Orne Jewett.

For Vietze, inspiration struck in the true story of the wreck of the Nottingham Galley. After the British merchant vessel went down off the coast of southern Maine, its crew endured a month on Boon Island in the winter of 1710 without any provisions. Four men died, and the remaining 10 were forced to eat one of the bodies in order to survive. When rescued, Captain John Deane told one storywhile his crew told another, a much darker tale of mutiny, betrayal, and attempted murder. Where did the truth lie?

Writers Vietze and Stephen Erickson turned this fascinating history into the award-winning book. Boon Island won a gold medal at the Independent Publishers Book Awards, was a Book of the Year Finalist at the IndieFab Awards and garnered much critical praise. Publishers Weekly called it “a maritime whodunit rife with twists and turns and high drama.” The Portsmouth Herald found it “superb. . . both well-researched history and a page-turning mystery that begs to be a motion picture.” The book was a June, 2014 Amazon best seller and was featured on the Travel Channel’s popular program “Monumental Mysteries.”

“Friendship in Books”: Writers Talks at Jewett House will occur on the second Tuesdays of each month, through May, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Sarah Orne Jewett House and Visitor Center in South Berwick. To a friend, Jewett wrote, “I am sure that you must like a great many other books since you like these stories of mine. And I am so glad, because you will always have the happiness of finding friendships in books.” In this intimate series at Jewett’s childhood home, you’ll hear readings from contemporary writers, and learn what inspires them. 

Admission is $7 for Historic New England members, and $10 for nonmembers. Registration is required. For more information call 384-2454. Refreshments will be served.

Sarah Orne Jewett House Museum and Visitor Center is located at 5 Portland Street, South Berwick, and is one of 36 historic properties owned and operated by Historic New England, the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive regional heritage organization in the country. For more information please visit www.HistoricNewEngland.org.