Laurie Lico Albanese, author of HESTER, a reimagining of the story behind THE SCARLET LETTER, joins the podcast to talk about her latest work of historical fiction. The story focuses on Isobel Gamble, a seamstress who moves from Scotland to Salem, Massachusetts in the early 1800s. Laurie says her heroine’s “gift is her curse, and her curse is her gift,” who is descended from an accused witch and ends up crossing paths with Nathaniel Hawthorne. She talks about the research that went into writing the book, shares advice for writers on approaching historical fiction, her own relationship with embroidery, and discusses what her character of Isobel has in common with singer Billie Eilish. HESTER is available in hardcover and audio from St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio, respectively. For more on the author, visit: https://www.laurielicoalbanese.com/