It Started with Dracula with Jane Congdon

"I hadn't intended to write about my childhood, or even spend five minutes thinking about it. All I wanted was to see the land of Dracula, to find out what it was really like."

With that single purpose in mind, Jane Congdon set out alone for Bucharest, Romania, at age 59. Myth met reality as she toured the villages and castles of Dracula's homeland with a guide. What she didn’t expect was an inner journey through her own past.

It Started with Dracula: The Count, My Mother, and Me

As a young girl, Jane Congdon loved movies about Dracula. They ignited a dream in her to see the castles and forests of Transylvania, but first she had to face the monster that lurked in her very own house—a mother whose thirst was more frightening than a vampire’s.

It Started with Dracula is Jane’s spellbinding tale of finally taking the trip of her childhood dreams to the land of Dracula. Her journey to a country that reminded her of home unleashed childhood memories and triggered an inner journey that was completely unexpected.

Through the prism of Dracula's legend and the Transylvanian countryside, Jane connects with the girl she had been and puts her childhood into perspective. Along the way, she sees her mother in a new light and learns to heal the wounds of her past. It Started with Dracula is a story of expectations and surprises; survival, forgiveness, and hope.