What's it like to be a tour guide and fiction author in Salem, Massachusetts? I had these questions on the mind when I asked Rory O'Brien on the show. He's a fiction lover, native New Englander, walking tour guide in Salem, and the author of the Lennox series, a fictional cop procedural/thriller saga set in the witch city. Our conversation covered a whole wide range of topics, which you can check out via the questions below. Generally, we talk about writing Salem fiction, what it's like on the ground in Salem these days, and the many tensions that are at play in the Salem tourism industry. It's a fascinating conversation with an equally fascinating guest. Skip Intro: 00:04:40 How did Rory end up in Salem? 00:04:51 When did Rory start doing tours in Salem? 00:05:50 What is it like to be a walking tour guide in Salem? 00:06:10 What is Rory's tour like in Salem? 00:08:02 What is it like being in the Salem tourism industry? 00:09:58 What era of Salem's history is the most appealing to you? 00:12:20 What are some of the most common misconceptions about the Salem Witch Trials? 00:013:53 As a skeptical person and author, what enchants you about Salem? 00:15:38 What about Salem's history is so fascinating? 00:18:38 What's surprises you about Salem's history? 00:19:33 How are Salem's tour guides dealing with the Coronavirus? 00:21:06 What long-term changes are Salem's tourism industry seeing as a result of COVID-19? 00:22:32 How could tours operate safely in the age of the Coronavirus? 00:23:12 What's it like to do video tours of Salem? 00:24:05 Will there be more books in the Lennox series? 00:24:58 Was "Gallow's Hill" Rory's first novel? 00:28:16 What is it like being a fiction writer in 2020? 00:31:22 How does Rory approach writing the Lennox series? 00:34:35 Does Rory use real Salem crimes to influence his writing? 00:35:13 Which other authors are influencing the Lennox series? 00:36:45 Where do you love to take people in Salem? 00:39:49 Is there a tension between "authentic" Salem attractions and the more alluring, dramatic ones? If so, how does it manifest? 00:41:57 Why isn't there a great Salem history museum? 00:45:52 Where to find out more about Rory 00:48:53 For more about Rory, his blog, books, or to book a tour, check out https://www.roryobrienbooks.com/ Rory O'Brien's Books: Gallow's Hill: https://amzn.to/3oEIthm The Afflicted Girl (Sequel to Gallow's Hill): https://amzn.to/3oCetmt Find way more about all things Salem at https://tosalem.com/ Facebook: facebook.com/tosalemsite Instagram: instagram.com/tosalemsite Twitter: twitter.com/tosalemsite ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEsbVR_SpRQ

The creatures of folklore and myth absolutely captivate me. But it wasn’t until I got into exploring the world of the esoteric that I came upon perhaps the most startling realization about such beings: some of them are actually real. The term “fairy” appears in European folklore as a sort of catch-all term to describe a range of types of spirits. Some other familiar creatures from folklore that have, at times, been lumped in with fairies include goblins and gnomes. But generally these spirits are small in stature, humanoid, and wield magical powers such as enchantment and protection. My guest today is Morgan Daimler. Morgan has been thinking about fairies and their place in folklore, myth, and spirituality for a long time. She teaches classes and writes about Irish myth, magical practices, fairies, and much more. Her work includes Gods and Goddesses of Ireland, Fairycraft, Irish Paganism, and many more. I asked Morgan to come on the show because I was fascinated to learn how she views fairies as both mythological figures and ones incorporated in her own spiritual practice as a Wiccan. The conversation was absolutely enchanting and I very much hope you agree. Check out Morgan's work: Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk - https://amzn.to/2UZR29q Fairycraft: Following The Path Of Fairy Witchcraft - https://amzn.to/3dlxgLD Pagan Portals: Gods and Goddesses of Ireland: A Guide to Irish Deities - https://amzn.to/2YVfcms Pagan Portals: The Morrigan: Meeting the Great Queens - https://amzn.to/2YgPsSw A New Dictionary of Fairies: A 21st Century Exploration of Celtic and Related Western European Fairies - https://amzn.to/3fJAMkT Pagan Portals: Irish Paganism: Reconstructing Irish Polytheism - https://amzn.to/3ecVFV4 Find way more about all things Salem at https://tosalem.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tosalem?fan_landing=true Facebook: facebook.com/tosalemsite Instagram: instagram.com/tosalemsite Twitter: twitter.com/tosalemsite ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQhQABmCXwo