Adriana Mather is the debut author of the chilling new novel How to Hang a Witch. She not only writes teen fiction based on her family history but also acts, appearing in the recently released film Honeyglue. Her first novel will appeal to fans of Beautiful Creatures and Bates Motel, featuring a cast of intricate characters and a haunting setting. Read Adriana Mather’s latest and experience the magic of Salem, the curse of the Mather family, and the supernatural world that is much closer than one might think.

 

What inspired you to write a teen fantasy involving the Salem Witch Trials?

My ancestors came over on the Mayflower, lived in Sleepy Hollow, and survived the Titanic. They have everything under their belts from failed inventions to the first American-born presidency at Harvard. But nothing tops the infamy of my ancestor Cotton Mather who instigated the Salem Witch Trials. In HOW TO HANG A WITCH, I explore that piece of my family’s history and bring it into present day with a pinch of magic and a good old-fashioned mystery.

 

Do you relate to your main character, Samantha Mather, in any way? If so, in what ways?

I relate to her tenacity and to her humor. She was an amazingly fun character to write because of her big mouth and wild decisions. Although, admittedly there were times where I couldn’t control her. I have a weakness for big-hearted, flawed characters who create tornado-sized messes.

 

Since your family, the Mathers, were involved in the witch trials, what aspects of the novel are true to your family history?

A great deal of the history in my book is accurate. But the Salem Witch Trials and Cotton Mather are so complex, there was no way I could capture it all in a fictional modern-day story.

 

Was there a lot of research involved in writing How to Hang a Witch?

Tons, and it was a blast! I think I could research the Salem Witch Trials for the next twenty years and still learn new and creepy things. There is just so much richness and complexity there. My favorite part, though, was going to Salem. That town is like living breathing history, and I (not surprisingly) got myself into all sorts of haunted situations that had me sleeping with the lights on.

 

What books, movies, or other forms of pop culture have influenced your work the most?

It’s not so much a specific book or movie and more that I work in entertainment. Besides writing, I act and produce. And those things have shaped how I tell stories. My writing is dialogue heavy. Plot is definitely a driving factor — every scene must inform it in some way. Also, I see the story in my head as a visual, like I’m watching a movie. Scenes often play in my thoughts while I’m trying to go to sleep.

 

What does a day away from writing look like for you?

It could be anything from lounging with a sea turtle in Hawaii to shaving my head for a movie role to simply walking my dog in my pajamas and eating pizza in bed. My schedule is ever changing, and I do a ton of traveling. But there are two things that are constant…morning coffee and My Pirate (my fiancé). And as it were, every single day he brings me coffee in bed and we sing a coffee song we made up…badly and out of tune.

 

If you were not a writer, what profession might you have?

Ha! Wildlife photographer. I like animals more than I like people.

 

If you had the opportunity to live in any book, which would you choose and why?

Peter Pan. Magic, flying, fairies, adventure!

 

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, which artists help inspire you while writing?

I don’t. I’m not sure whether it’s years of acting or just a weird brain, but I immediately start to memorize the song lyrics to whatever I’m listening to. So it’s hard for me to concentrate.

 

Are you currently working on writing another novel? If so, what details can you share with readers?

I’m editing the sequel to HOW TO HANG A WITCH. It’s the same characters, same Salem, and same witchery. Only instead of ghosts from the Salem Witch Trials, it’s ghosts from the Titanic (another piece of my family history). And it’s called HOW TO SINK A SHIP. Dun dun dun!

 

In conclusion, what advice do you have for teen writers?

Whatever you do, be unstoppable. There is no right or easy way through a creative profession. Don’t get caught up in rejection or in praise; just keep moving forward. Also, I advise donuts and a sense of humor.