If you “Google” Locusta, you’ll discover she was ultimately executed for her crimes. This is a nod to Paracelsus who is considered the father of toxicology and was also beginning his work around this time period. In the novel, Lavinia, also references a “Swiss-German peer”. I decided to place the story in two fictional shires so I could craft my own little world within 1500’s England, and provide creative freedom for Lavinia to influence local peers.

During this time period, the priest was a powerful official at the local level and the historic practice of “indulgences” helps bolster why Lavinia may (falsely) think she can simply go to confession to be forgiven for mortal sin. The exact year is open within the book, but I imagine it to be ~1520s.

Inspired by the notion confession could provide a source of false permission, I lifted Locusta’s inspiration out of Rome and placed my novel at the height of the Catholic church in England. My main character, Lavinia, believes she can continue to murder because confession forgives the sin. Of course he was talking about minor offenses, but as a matter of reductio ad absurdum, I applied this concept to a murderer. But after awhile the guilt wears, it becomes easy to commit the sin again. Often we realize our actions are incorrect and then feel guilt and performance penance. It is mixed with the product of my own imagination and those familiar with Locusta will recognize bits of history but still be surprised by the twists and turns.Īs a story formed in my mind, my priest gave a sermon about how easy it is to fall into a cycle of sin and penance. My plot is inspired by Locusta’s life, but is not a replication. There is not much known about Locusta, which incited my imagination. I imagined the challenges Locusta must have faced and wondered if her gender ended up being an asset in a field where surprise would provide an advantage. As a female engineer, I relate to the challenge of going against traditional female stereotypes. The fact the first serial killer was a woman struck me and the more I read about her, a story began to weave in my mind. Locusta was a female poison assassin from Rome (Gaul) and is considered to be the first serial killer.

Locusta was a female poison assassin from Rome (Gaul) and is c …more Fall 2016 I read an article about forgotten females from history that profiled Locusta. Pohlkamp Fall 2016 I read an article about forgotten females from history that profiled Locusta.

Apricots and Wolfsbane by K.M. Pohlkamp