Name: Dad (Signed) · Date: 10/30/15 15:18 · For: Chapter 1

I can believe the false accusations calling her a witch, but I do not see why she would be left behind as a ghost. Still an interesting story.

Author's Response:
Hi, Dad,

You’re asking why she was left behind as a ghost. It didn’t have anything to do with the fact that she had been accused of being a witch. It was because of her failure to acknowledge and confess that it was wrong to harbor so much anger. At the time of her death, she still wanted to keep her anger, and was not repentant of it.

The holding of a grudge has a toxic effect on one’s soul. I have heard it said, and perhaps you have also, that holding a grudge is like allowing your adversary to live, rent-free, inside your head, and that plotting revenge is like taking a dose of poison and then expecting the other person to drop dead.

People are capable of holding grudges for decades. I once read about an old man who had had a falling-out with his brother when they were both in their twenties and had never spoken to him since. When asked if he didn’t think that it was time to bury the hatchet and be friends with his brother again, the old man replied, “Nope.” “Why not?” asked his questioner, and the old man said,”I’d ruther be mad.”

In my story, Mairi Alpin finally realized what was holding her back, and what she had to do. At least, that’s my own take on it. Other authors may choose to take their ghosts in other directions, since nobody really knows.

Name: Fynnsmom (Signed) · Date: 10/30/15 13:02 · For: Chapter 1

The burning and hanging of alleged witches is one of the events that I do not understand in history. It's hard to admit that humans were so ignorant at one point. I've often wondered if a ghost makes peace with his or her past, do they move on and cease to be a ghost. I always hope that they have a chance to go beyond their ghostly existence.

Author's Response:
Hi, Liana,

Thank you so much for reading my story and leaving a review. Yes, the history of the persecution of so-called witches is distressing to think about. There was a whole lot of superstition and belief in magic in the British Isles at the time of this story. In 1563 there were laws enacted (superseding earlier laws) about the punishment of witchcraft, but by 1735, the people in a position to make laws were of the opinion that it was impossible for anyone to ‘turn humans into animals’ or ‘fly through the air’, or do the other magical deeds ascribed to witches, so the new Anti-Witchcraft Law of 1735 was aimed at charlatans who cheated gullible people of their money by claiming to be witches, although they could not actually perform any of the magical deeds that people paid them money for. A big change in just 150 years.

I too have wondered about ghosthood: why do some deceased individuals appear as ghosts to the current residents of houses or proprietors of pubs, while other deceased persons are never seen floating wispily around? What are the ghosts trying to accomplish by their brief but repetitive appearances? Since some ghosts, such as centuries-dead royalty in the Tower of London, have hung around for a very long time, do ghosts ever move on, and if they do, what determines that? There are so many ghosts in the Potterverse (although few of them are named) that these questions become intriguing to consider.

Name: SilverDoe_IsoBell (Signed) · Date: 10/29/15 20:24 · For: Chapter 1

That was a beautiful piece of writing. Did you do much research for it?

Author's Response: Hi, Georgie,

Thank you so much for saying that this story was beautiful. I’m glad that you enjoyed it. Yes, I did do a fair amount of research for it and probably should have done more, because the bit about the accuser getting to claim a bit of the convicted person’s estate is something I just made up, and I’m not sure it was ever true. Still, the sources say that the main motivation for false accusations during this time seems to have been economic.

It was fun to read about all the different medicinal plants, even in a place like Scotland, which is not noted for lush and varied growth. And I got some good inspiration from a Public Broadcasting documentary about ghosts in England, the haunted buildings, and the people (seemingly ordinary, sane people) who encounter the ghosts.