The Blood in the Roots

By Pheylan Blue Martin

A midnight escape from the Salem jail during the infamous Witch Trials. A gas canister recovery mission in the middle of WWI warfare. A high-intensity motorcycle race on a dusty Virginia racetrack. A mysterious nineteenth century seance in the hills of central Vermont. These are just some of the captivating scenes found within the pages of author Pheylan Martin's debut collection of short stories, The Blood in the Roots.

A genealogy and history enthusiast, Martin has spent many years exploring the dusty records and archives of his ancestral history. He has delved into historical society collections, buried boxes in his family's attics, old journals and letters, and official archives overseas. In these carefully crafted stories, he takes pieces of historical fact from his family tree and brings them to life, creating vivid fictional personas and thrilling adventures to expand upon them. Each story features uniquely styled illustrations by one of seven contributing artists (including the author himself), all lovingly created to match the feel of each narrative and further the worlds Martin has envisioned.

With eight vastly different but equally gripping stories, The Blood in the Roots covers a wide swath of subject matter. It offers something for lovers of history, fiction, genealogy, and adventure, and is sure to leave readers with a curiosity about what could have happened in the lives of those that came before them.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0H9Y37KLQ
• ISBN13: 9798234149183
• Release Date: July 2026
• Publisher: Firebox Press
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"