OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
HANNAH
RELEASING SPRING 2026
My current project turns to another woman whose life has been caught between fact and legend: Hannah Duston. Much like Grace and Betty; Hannah’s story has reached us in fragments, through court records, sermons, gossip, speculation, investigations and folklore; leaving us with more questions than answers.
Hannah Duston has been cast as both heroine and villain, she was celebrated for her survival and condemned for her violence. What intrigued me is the person within those contradictions: a woman of flesh and blood navigating fear, loss, captivity, retribution and the brutal choices she had to make during that time.
This project, Hannah: one woman’s quest for vengeance and freedom, continues my effort to re-examine history through the lens of lived experience. My goal like my previous historical novels is to a give voice to those whose lives have been flattened into symbols.
As a biographical novel, this is my narrative account of her life and her family, with a wider look at her relationships, the attitudes and perceptions during that period. 1697 Puritan life was a harsh existence where the church and men ruled, and women had no voice.
With; Hannah, I hope to invite readers into a deeper reflection on the complexities of early life in Puritan New England, and on how the stories we tell about the past continue to shape the present.
The Seasons of Grace and Betty: a life interrupted, my first two biographical novels are works of fiction that uncover the human side behind these historical figures from my childhood.
These women have made a profound contribution to a history, controversy, and pop culture. They also have walked on the same soil as I did throughout New England. My books are in an essence a tour through the past; bringing emotions and vivid details to their lives and environment during their time.
DAVE O. DODGE
Traveler | Inn Keeper | Writer
Dave O. Dodge is an experienced travel writer, international tour guide, and natural storyteller who has transformed his many talents into the art of novel writing.
His debut novel, The Seasons of Grace (2021), offers an imaginative and unauthorized backstory to Peyton Place, reexamining the life and legacy of its author, Grace Metalious.
His second book, Betty: A Life Interrupted (2024), reveals the untold story of Betty Hill, a New England woman whose extraordinary experience became one of the first widely known claims of extraterrestrial abduction. The novel was released in February 2024 and is now available on Amazon.
Dodge’s current project turns to another enigmatic figure in New England history — Hannah Duston. Caught between fact and legend, Hannah’s story has survived only in fragments: court records, sermons, gossip, speculation, and folklore. Portrayed as both heroine and villain, she was celebrated for her survival and condemned for her violence. Hannah is set to release in the spring of 2026
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DAVE O. DODGE
Behind the Author
Dave O. Dodge is an American author, travel writer, and innkeeper based in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. Best known for his historical fiction, Dodge crafts compelling narratives inspired by the people, places, and untold stories of his native New England.
In addition to his literary work, Dodge is an experienced travel writer and international tour guide. Together with his husband, he owns and operates Ochenta y Dos, a boutique bed and breakfast and spa in Mérida. His diverse professional background spans the visual arts, marketing, and public relations—fields that continue to influence his creative storytelling and eye for detail.
Novels:
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The Seasons of Grace (2021): A reimagined look at the life of author Grace Metalious, offering an unauthorized backstory to her groundbreaking novel Peyton Place.
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Betty: A Life Interrupted (2024): This work delves into the extraordinary life of Betty Hill, a New England native whose account became one of the first widely known claims of extraterrestrial abduction.
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Hannah: (in progress): Dodge’s current work turns to another woman whose life has been caught between fact and legend — Hannah Duston. Much like Grace and Betty, Hannah’s story survives only in fragments: court records, sermons, gossip, speculation, and folklore. Cast as both heroine and villain, Duston was celebrated for her survival and condemned for her violence. What captivates Dodge is the woman behind those contradictions — a figure of flesh and blood navigating fear, loss, captivity, retribution, and the brutal choices demanded by her time.
Born and raised in New Hampshire, Dodge remains deeply connected to his New England roots, which provide the emotional and historical foundation for much of his writing. His work is recognized for peeling back the layers of real events and complex figures, blending fact and fiction with empathy, curiosity, and a keen sense of place.
Betty: a life interrupted is now available!
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September 2021
The Seasons of Grace is an unauthorized tale of Grace Metalious and her desire to tell the stories that no one dared to tell before that time. From small-town life in New England to the hustle and bustle of New York City and to the unforgiving film studios of Hollywood, Grace’s story unfolds.
This is a classic scenario where art imitates life and so does this story. The young author is coping with literary and financial successes without realizing it. She was creating her own Peyton Place where she herself had to live. No novel had achieved greater recognition than her first; one out of every 29 Americans had read Peyton Place. They dog eared the pages, underlined passages, stuffed it in the back of a drawer or concealed it from the prying eyes of others. It was a true sensation, and the legacy continues to this day.
The Seasons of Grace is a fictional account based on the author’s life; sometimes dark, sometimes shocking, but always authentic.
February 2024
Betty: A Life Interrupted, is a historical novel of Betty Hill and her extraterrestrial life set during the turbulent 1960's. Betty and her husband Barney, were a well-established interracial married couple living in white New Hampshire. They were the very first documented case of an alien abduction by extraterrestrials while driving through the White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire.
Their story begins with a late-night drive and continues through multiple investigations from government agencies, months of forensic hypnosis, critical response from the public, and multiple strange occurrences throughout their lives. The couple went on to be the reluctant face of the UFO phenomenon that was sweeping the nation and now she is considered the 1st lady of alien abductions during that sensational time and continues today.
Dave O. Dodge
The beauty of writing is that it can be a solitaire task, until someone actually reads the words you have written. Then the process and the product is exposed; emotions of self doubt and fear of failure begin to surface… Like my protagonist, Grace, as a writer, I too struggle with those feelings.