Kate Dike Blair

Kate Dike Blair is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s cousin by marriage, as her great-great-great- granduncle John Dike married Nathaniel’s aunt Priscilla. In 2009 she discovered in her late father’s effects his research on their Hawthorne and Dike ancestors and their roles in the Henry Clay steamship disaster, and her quest for cousin Louisa’s true fate began. Using letters, lore, and information gleaned from historical houses and museums, Kate crafted a fresh take on her family’s history.

Kate grew up in Middlebury, Vermont. Her father owned the Vermont Book Shop, where she clerked while earning her Diploma in Theater Arts from the Wykeham Rise School, and her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from BU. She worked in several Boston book shops before receiving her Certificate of Medical Assisting.

In 1983 she helped launch the consulting firm Health Research Associates, taught spirometry, and assisted in hospital and private occupational health clinics.

She earned her membership in SAG-AFTRA in 2003, and now enjoys writing, consulting, and performing on stages and screens large and small. She resides with her family in Concord, Massachusetts.