NH native author to host book signings for new novel about Hannah Duston

New Hampshire native Dave Dodge's newest book is about a historical — and recently, controversial — New England figure.

“Hannah: One Woman's Quest for Vengeance and Enlightenment” is an historical fiction novel that tells the story of Hannah Duston, a Puritan woman from Colonial Massachusetts who was captured with her infant child by the Abenaki tribe of Quebec in 1697. Shortly after her capture, members of the Abenaki tribe killed her baby in front of her.

While in captivity, Duston and two other captives killed and scalped 10 Abenaki people in their sleep, then escaped. Six of the people they killed were children.

Duston returned to Massachusetts, with the scalps, and was considered a hero. The capture and attack occurred on an island on the Merrimack River, which is now Boscawen, where a statue of Duston stands today. Duston was the first American woman in history to have a statue built in her honor. The statue has been displayed, in Boscawen, since 1874.

Dodge’s last two books told the stories of New England women whose morality and historical significance are widely debated. Continuing the theme, Dodge decided telling Duston’s story would be his next project.

“There’s stories in New Hampshire’s history that are important, that I want to tell,” Dodge said.

Though Dodge traveled the world during his freelancing career, his novels all tie back to a person or event from Granite State history.

“I always say writers should write about things that they know. I know New England, and New Hampshire, as my home," Dodge said. “My thing is writing about New England women whose stories are considered controversial, where New Hampshire is a big part of their story.”

Dodge discovered his writing aptitude when he was 13. While working at his father’s country store in West Franklin, it was an older writing tool that sparked his passion.

“I found an old typewriter in the store, and was like, ‘This was going to be my new thing,’” Dodge said.

Dodge spent his childhood writing stories for fun, and after graduating from Franklin High School, Dodge worked in public relations and as a travel writer for magazines based in Arizona, and Texas.

After retiring, Dodge and his husband Patrick moved to Mexico, where they currently live. There, they run a bed and breakfast and spa, Ochenta y Dos, in Mérida.

They were forced to close shortly after opening, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during the pandemic Dodge rediscovered his love of writing.

“I didn’t go to college, but during the pandemic, I found an old paper I wrote about Grace Metalious in a creative writing night course that I took,” Dodge said. “I decided to turn that into my first novel.”

Dodge published his first book “The Seasons of Grace” in 2021, a historical fiction novel about the upbringing and literary career of Metalious, a Manchester native and the author of the 1956 New York Times bestselling novel, “Peyton Place.” Dodge’s second historical fiction novel, “Betty: A Life Interrupted," was published in 2024, and tells the story of Betty Hill, of Portsmouth, who, along with her husband Barney, in 1961, were some of the first Americans to claim they were abducted by aliens.

Dodge’s writing process for "Hannah" involved a year of research before he began the manuscript. Dodge then spent five weeks in a cabin in Costa Rica, writing the first draft, followed by two months of additional drafts and editing.

Dodge’s goal with this novel is to tell Duston’s story, without including his personal stance on how she should be remembered.

“In my book, I don’t make a judgment call on whether she was right or wrong,” Dodge said. “We have no idea what actually happened that day in 1697, so this book is a biographical novel based on my research.”

A statewide debate about the statue centers around the fact it shows Duston holding scalps. Some consider this a portrayal of violence and brutality against Native Americans.

In the fall of 2025, Rep. David Nagel (D-Gilmanton) began an effort to have the statue taken down, filing a legislative request for its removal. His request received pushback from people, including members of the Abenaki First Nation at Odanak in Canada, who believe the statue should remain.

Growing up in Franklin, Dodge remembered seeing Duston’s statue, and being intrigued by her story. Dodge doesn't think the statue should come down.

“We shouldn’t remove history, we should interpret it,” Dodge said.

Dodge will host several book signings for “Hannah: One Woman's Quest for Vengeance and Enlightenment,” including at Arianna’s Tea Shop in Bristol, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 13. To find out more, visit daveododge.com.