Variations on a Theme

I was recently lent a book by Michael Ward called “Planet Narnia”. In it, he theorises that CS Lewis themed each of the Narnia books around a different planet in the medieval cosmology, which includes the sun and the moon. For instance, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has Jupiter as it’s theme which is all about kingship.

Now, I can’t say that I read it all. It is not a light read, but a scholarly work, so I ended up skimming through it, but I was intrigued by the concept, especially as the Narnia stories have been accused of being a “hodge podge”. I know some people don’t agree with Ward, but the fact that Lewis might have sat down and planned the stories with all this detail in mind is quite something.

It made me think of my own stories. I will be the first to admit, I am not a plotter. I am a die-hard pantser and can’t seem to work any other way. But even I can detect themes in my writing, albeit not even close to Lewis’ visionary works. In one way, it was a surprising discovery, because I certainly didn’t start out with a theme in my mind. As I have said before, my stories begin with a picture in my head which sends me down a rabbit hole of possibilities. I think the reason they emerge is because my writing is very much character based, third person limited. I get to know one person intimately and follow them on their journey of discovery and change.

No matter whether you are a suburban housewife, a Zulu warrior, or a trainee wizard, there are many lessons to be learnt through life. Reez, the main character in my Masters of Zelannor trilogy, has several lessons to learn throughout the books as we watch him grow from a child into a powerful leader. Whether it is the nature of family, fear and loss, the dangers of pride and arrogance, or simply how to be a better husband, the reader can experience them all.

The Infilling* is a dark story about selfishness and greed, and how it corrupts. The Mage Wars* looks at the seductive influence of power and the divisions that are created when it is pursued. My new series, The Saga of the Nine Realms* has at its heart a main character who desperately wants to find his place and purpose in the world.

I think the best stories are ones that resonate with us. It is probably why the most popular film online during the first lockdown was Contagion, about an illness that kills millions of people around the world. Suddenly, we were living in a world where such a thing was not just science fiction, but very likely. We wanted to understand it and, more importantly, we wanted solutions, to see a happy ending, to survive.

I wonder what your favourite books are, that you go back to over and over again? Why do you like them so much? Chances are they speak into the deep places in your heart and soul.

While I was writing Master and Apprentice, I sat by the side of my dying mother every day for two weeks. Even though she was barely aware of my presence, I read the book out loud to her, editing as I went. She didn’t get to hear the end of the story. Later, when I wrote about Reez’s mum dying, the experience I had made it’s way into the narrative, but in a different way. I was with my mum, holding her hand when she took her last breath. Yet I still had regrets and wondered if I could have made different choices or spent more time with her before dementia took a firm hold.

That small segment became part of a much bigger theme for the book, that of loss. How do we cope when all the things we rely on are taken away from us? What kind of person do we become?

Whether by accident or design, a story needs a theme. It can be big or small, global or personal, good versus evil or finding a place called home. The theme is the heart of the book, the part a reader connects with and relates to. The reason they come back again and again. That is what I want for my readers.

I would love to know which books remain on your favourites list and why!

*Work in progress