In Goode Vibrations of the Dead River Valley, Pennie's journey takes her far beyond her hometown of Portland. What inspired you to set this second novel in the rugged landscape of northwestern Maine?
I had heard about the flooding of the Dead River Valley back in 1950 and thought it might be interesting to explore this history for Book II of the Goode Vibrations series. When I visited the Dead River Area Historical Society in 2024, my fascination with this area grew tenfold. Not only did I find out that my husband is related to some of these rugged settlers, but I also learned Benedict Arnold led an army through this river valley wilderness at the outset of the Revolutionary War.
Pennie's ability to sense vibrations and glimpse the past continues to develop in this novel. How has she changed since readers first met her in Goode Vibrations of the Wresting Place?
Pennie is coming to terms with her supernatural ability, and instead of fearing it, she begins to embrace it. Her dreams become more layered as her spiritual connection to the river valley grows, enriching her ability to “see” into past lives.
The Dead River Valley has a rich and complex history, including the flooding of entire communities. What drew you to this particular chapter of Maine's past?
My own intuition about the area led me down this path. The Dead River Valley lies in the shadow of Mount Bigelow and near the towns of Kingfield and Rangeley where I skied growing up. Something about this rugged mountain landscape pulled me into its core and its history.
Historical events and forgotten voices play an important role in both novels. What responsibility do you feel historical fiction carries when bringing overlooked stories to modern readers?
Personally, I believe I have a responsibility to tell the true history of a place. I’ve read other historical fiction novels that perpetuate stereotypes or change the true history in service to the fiction. As a Maine writer, with generations of my family rooted here, I have an obligation to tell our true history, out of respect for our ancestors and founders.
Pennie's visions take her as far back as Benedict Arnold's expedition through the Maine wilderness. What was the most fascinating aspect of researching this remarkable journey?
I never realized how many men and women sacrificed their lives on this journey through the Maine wilderness, and what a heroic leader Benedict Arnold was for his troops. History remembers Arnold as a traitor, but after learning how many expeditions he led and battles he won, I now understand he was much more than the black and white “traitor” portrayed in history. On our nation’s 250th anniversary, it seems more appropriate than ever to explore these stories of our founding to reveal the real stories of men and women who fought for our freedom.
The natural landscape of Maine feels almost like a character in its own right throughout the series. How important is setting to your storytelling process?
Setting is absolutely a character in my novels, and one that influences the people in Pennie’s world. Only by understanding the challenges of living in the wilderness and the river valley, can readers appreciate the lives of the people who settled there, what they fought for, and what they’re still fighting for today.
This novel explores both historical injustices and contemporary questions about individual rights and personal freedom. What connections did you hope readers would draw between past and present?
The idea of individual freedom is central to the story. Pennie’s relative, Fremont, fights against the power of the corporation to save his hunting camp, mirroring the struggles of the families who fought for their property before the valley was flooded. By seeing into the injustices of the past, Pennie and the other characters learn to navigate the present.
As a writer, what have you enjoyed most about developing Pennie as a recurring character rather than telling her story in a single novel?
I’ve enjoyed watching her personal development, moving away from her hometown of Portland to expand her world view and become more in tune with her abilities. In Book III, Pennie is moving to another location in Maine to learn about its history, serving as both archive and oracle.
Following the success and award recognition of Goode Vibrations of the Wresting Place, did writing the second book bring any new challenges or expectations?
To let the story and characters from that region tell the story they wanted to tell, I had to understand the long history of the area and the challenges the settlers faced. By doing so, I opened a portal for the characters of the past to shine a light onto the present.
Looking back at Pennie's journey across the first two books, what aspect of her growth has been the most rewarding for you to write?
Writing about Pennie’s evolution from a passive observer to an active participant in her own life has been rewarding. In each book, she is developing her own sense of self, becoming more confident in her abilities. Overcoming fear is perhaps the most challenging aspect of her journey to write, but also the most satisfying.
A heartfelt thank you to Amy Safford for taking the time to share the inspiration behind Goode Vibrations of the Dead River Valley and the remarkable history woven throughout the novel. We wish Amy every success with Pennie's continuing adventures and look forward to discovering where her extraordinary journey through Maine's past will lead next.
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Goode Vibrations of the Dead River Valley
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx