Yesterday was release day for my book, Hometown Cowboy, the fourth book in my Kellersburg series. Here are the other books in the series. Each book can be read without reading the others, but it is fun to revisit characters from the other books.
I remember in high school and college literature classes that we were asked to state the theme of a novel. I always hated that. How was I supposed to know what theme the author was getting at? When I write, I don’t necessarily have a theme in mind, but somehow a theme emerges. It’s like my whole writing process. I don’t know what will happen until I start writing the story. Themes develop despite my inattention to them. I’ve discovered the theme for this whole series is “new beginnings.” The main characters are looking to start over as they try to leave the troubles of the past behind.
Do you usually recognize the theme of a novel? Why or why not? Is it something you look for when you read? I will be giving away an ebook copy of either Four Little Blessings or A Match to Call Ours, winner’s choice, to one person who leaves a comment here. I will draw the winning name on April 29, 2021, at 9PM MST.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
I don’t look for a theme when I am reading but one or two usually stand out by the time I have finished the book and I am reflecting on the story and characters.
Congratulations on your new release! I don’t go in looking for a theme, and don’t always recognise one, but when I do it makes the reading experience much more satisfying.
I don’t go looking for a theme, though sometimes one will resonate with me by the time I finish, and other times it’s a little harder for me to pick something. I can agree with you about novels in high school! The authors did NOT write those books for us to pull them apart and dissect! lol!!
I am not a stickler for looking for a theme, and have realized that I may have missed out on some good books if I was!
Congratulations on your new reley!
I don’t look for a theme and I’m not sure I’ve ever really picked up on one in a book.
Congratulations on your new release! I don’t look for a theme when I see a book that I want to read, but as I read some of the books I will pick up on a theme. Have a Great rest of the week and stay safe.
Lori, yes, reflecting on the story and characters often reveals a theme.
Thanks, Milla. Recognizing a theme “makes the reading experience more satisfying.” That’s a goo thought.
Trudy, that’s exactly how I felt. I’m glad I’m not the only one!
Thanks, Paula Marie. I just like to enjoy the story.
Jessica, you are probably like me just enjoying the story.
Thanks, Alicia. Since I don’t start out with a theme in mind when I write a story, it is interesting to see one develop before I’m done.
I don’t really look for a theme in books. Sometimes I might be able to guess what the theme may be but its not the reason I read.
Sometimes I think I can spot the theme in the description
Definitely ☺
Congratulations <3
I have a hard time to pin point just one theme. There are always several (in my mind) that interwind with each other… I'm not looking for a theme – just enjoying the story!
Hi Megan, so true. We read to enjoy the story.
Hi Jcp, I think that is also true.
Thanks, Natalya. Enjoying the story is the most important part.
I’m with you when it comes to enjoying the story. I often fail to see the forest for the trees (so many beautiful trees! :) ). In something as large as a novel, it seems like it would not be hard to support multiple overarching ideas. I think the themes that do emerge, though, come from the motivations of the characters, their arcs and how they interact. I know that I have read books that seem to wander all over the place with no sense of continuity and that is very unpleasant. I think there is a balance in there somewhere, lol!
Do you have a strong sense of your characters when you write?
Hi Lincoln,
A story’s cohesiveness definitely will help to establish a theme. I would say definitely that I write a character driven story. The characters often dictate the direction of the story for me. When I read, if I don’t connect with the characters, I have a hard time finishing the book.
Sometimes I catch a theme. I just let myself become absorbed into the story. I feel as if the characters become my friends. I read for the fun of escape.
I pay more attention to the trope.
I not always look for a theme of a novel but sometimes I do because there are books I’m looking for or a series I reading. I love pretty much all books so that’s why not always do I look though.
Sometimes I notice a theme in books while other times I don’t. I often get caught up in the story that I don’t really pay attention to a theme. It’s kind of fun when I do discover one though and makes the story even better (if that were possible:! :-)
I think it depends on the book, sometimes I recognize the theme and sometimes I don’t