Cornish Pirates and Vengeful Spirits!

Avast me hearties!

I decided it was high time to write a White Haven Witches book about pirates, because Cornwall has such a rich smuggling history and some fabulous characters to write about. Helena, Avery’s ghost ancestor, has been missing too, and I thought it would be cool for her to be trapped by some sort of vengeful spirit, and pirates seemed perfect. And from those murky and vague beginnings, the plot of Vengeful Magic was born.

Cornish Pirates

I started by researching the pirate trade in Cornwall, which had been going in some form or another since the seventeenth century. But it was during the mid-1700’s that it really took off, fueled by the ruthless taxation of the British crown. Of course smuggling was a worldwide issue, especially in the Caribbean – Pirates of the Caribbean anyone? However, I am not a pirate expert and claim to know only a little bit about it.

For my purposes I focused on that period when smuggling was rife – the mid 1700’s to 1800’s, when some of Cornwall’s most colourful characters existed, and found plenty of websites to explore. Smuggled goods included vast quantities of brandy, gin, tea, rum, tabacco, spices, and silks, and generally the whole community was involved, because everyone profited in some way. They were able to get away with it because there weren’t many revenue men – for a while.

I read about John Carter, the ‘King of Prussia’, who operated out of a cove in the south of Cornwall, which, even to this day, is called Prussia Cove. He and his brothers were active for years, but John mysteriously disappeared in 1807. However, apparently he was an honest rogue, and I needed someone with a more bloody history.

I found Cruel Coppinger, a man who was known for his violence, so much so his men were known as the Cruel Gang. According to legends he really did arrive in the middle of a storm, absconding with a young woman he forced to become his wife. Lovely! He landed at Morwenstow on the north Cornish coast, but for my purposes I had him moving south to expand his operation.

Cornwall now capitalises on its smuggling past, and the museums I mention do exist, as do many pubs and restaurants that reference the subject. Jamaica Inn is very famous, and is the source for the novel by Daphne du Maurier, a suitably grim, dangerous and wildly romantic tale. Jamaica Inn was remote and isolated so it was the ideal stopping place on the way to Devon and beyond. The Charlestown Shipwreck Treasure Museum and Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling and Fishing are also real.

I also decided to make good use of Zephaniah Job, the accountant to the smugglers who lived in Polperro, another real life character. I shamelessly plundered his history and used it for my own ends, and had a lot of fun doing it!

White Haven Witches Characters

For the first time I told this story using the points of view of many of my main characters, and loved it! I’d wanted to do this for a while, especially after using this method in my White Haven Hunters spin-off, but was wary of changing things so late in the series. A few readers had said they would love to hear from the other witches, so I consulted my readers in my newsletter group and my Facebook group, all of whom were very enthusiastic about the idea, so permission granted, I got on with it!

I have to confess that I had the most fun with Reuben and Caspian, especially the role play scene, which if you’ve read the book, you’ll know exactly what scene that refers to. I won’t say anything else here, but I hope you enjoy(ed) it, too. I cannot wait to explore more of the characters in the next book.

I left things fairly open with some devious witches at the end, so book 9, as yet untitled, will pick up from there. All being well, it will be out in February 2022. I’m working out my schedule now.

It also has all the characters we love growing even more. I couldn’t put the book down.

Amazon Reviewer

If you haven’t read it, check out this page for the links. The book is on all retailers, and early reviews are great! https://tjgreenauthor.com/books/vengeful-magic/

I literally did not sleep because I could not put it down.

Amazon Reviewer

If you have read it, thank you, and feel free to comment below xx