Fiona McGier, EroticRomance Author

Subtle themes in my books? Yup!

9/19/2020

This month's Round Robin question: Most novels have an easily understood point to make to the reader--do your stories ever have more subtle or
intuitive themes? Of course they do. Because there's a little bit of me in every book I write. Not only have I raised four kids, I've also been a teacher for many years, so I just can't stop myself!

In my six Reyes Family Romances, I often deal with family themes, and the ramifications of the actions we take, on the ones we love--or at least are related to. There's a scene at the end of Love Therapy that has a man on his deathbed, trying to make amends to his three children that he ignored their whole lives, especially after he divorced their mother to go chasing after ever-younger women. That scene is so intense that a loyal reader told me she cried while she read it. I'm not surprised. I cried while I wrote it! We all need to make sure the ones we love know how we feel. while they're still alive to enjoy hearing those words. And forgiveness isn't something you do for the other person--it's something you do for yourself, so you can let your grudge go, freeing you from having to carry it inside of you.

In my most recent series, since people live with their families on the grounds of the Northwest Maine Academy, there are often family issues that arise. Toward the end of When a Wolf Howls, the first book, the heroine Saoirse, runs back home to her parents, convinced that she married too quickly, and that she's not cut out to be the wife of a pack leader. Without sharing too many particulars of her situation, she cries on her mom's shoulder. Her mother, who raised ten kids, listens, then dispenses sensible advice. And when Saoirse's father gets her alone, he also shares a story from his life with her mom, making her realize that all relationships take work, and that the rockiest moments can be overcome, if the two people involved love each other.

In my newest book, Worth the Wait, once again family issues are an important element of the story. In one of the four romances in this book, Grant, the blond hunter from Canada, is trying to woo Monique, the fiercely independent Black widow of a pack leader who lost during a challenge. She's been raising her three kids by herself for the past five years, but her oldest is her only son, and he's stopped talking to her almost entirely. So even though her wolf wants her to mate with Grant as much as his wolf wants them to, she won't allow it, because she fears the ramifications on her family. Saoirse is not a mother yet, but she helped raise the seven siblings that came after her, while their parents worked to provide for them. She offers advice, including the fact that girls are easier to raise than boys, because when they're upset, girls will tell you all about it--sometimes more than you want to hear! But boys will obey the unspoken rules of our patriarchal society, and keep things bottled up inside of them. Monique has to learn to trust Grant's instincts, as he attempts to create a relationship of his own with her adolescent son using the sci-fi books they both enjoy as the bridge between them.

What do the other authors on this blog hop think of this topic? Read on--
I know I will!

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-22c
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com

Bob Rich link

9/19/2020 02:58:29 am

"there's a little bit of me in every book I write."
So true -- except it's probably quite a big bit.
I think this is at the heart of our topic.
:)
Bob

Fiona McGier link

9/19/2020 11:35:48 am

You're right, Bob. I've tried to explain this to non-authors who think that what I write about must be true of me. Um, no--do you expect Stephen King has a yard full of his murder victims buried? Or that Stephanie Meyers drinks blood? If not, then why assume that the romances I write about are mine? They're not--they're fantasies. But the world-view--the advice my characters give each other? That's the part of me that's in there.

Skyewriter link

9/19/2020 07:57:08 am

Since were all have families, both those we are close to or Sally when we are estranged it's not surprising to find that relationships are a theme in many books. Good point.

Fiona McGier link

9/19/2020 11:38:11 am

Thanks for stopping by, Skye. And yes, we do all have families, whether we are still a part of them or not. Some of my characters have been estranged from their families for various reasons. It's been said that a family is a group of people who love and support you. They can be related--or not. Some of my werewolves were thrown out of their own families--so they seek out people like them to become their new family--their pack.

Robin Courtright link

9/19/2020 10:28:14 am

Enjoyed your explanations of your stories' themes. Family is always important and this theme often holds subtle messages.

Fiona McGier link

9/19/2020 11:40:08 am

Hi Robin--thanks for popping by--and for another interesting topic. When I write, I don't just write about my lead characters. I write about the people who surround them also--the supporting characters. I often get so fond of them that I end up writing books to give them romances also--that's why I've written so many series'!

Connie Vines link

9/19/2020 12:04:30 pm

I must agree," there is a little bit of us in everything we write." And family does provide so interesting people and situations you could never make up.

Fiona McGier link

9/19/2020 01:12:20 pm

Hi Connie--thanks for dropping in. Mining our own lives and the people we know and love, is part of what gives our characters realism. No one has to know who or what inspired you! And sometimes it's best that no one guesses either. LOL.

Helena Fairfax link

9/19/2020 01:12:19 pm

Fiona, I liked your comment about growing to love your characters. That's how I feel, too, and I feel sad on finishing a novel. I love how the theme of families runs through your novels. This is something we can all relate to, in some way or another. Thanks for an interesting post. It's been great hearing everyone's different take on this topic.

Fiona McGier link

9/19/2020 03:39:24 pm

Thanks for coming by, Helena. I think that's what I like the most about answering prompts--seeing what different "takes" other authors have on them. As for growing fond of characters, sometimes I think I'm done with a series, but then some of them, old friends by now, start whispering in my ear about another idea--and that becomes another book in the series.

anne stenhouse link

9/20/2020 03:44:05 am

Hi Fiona, Families must be the richest hunting ground for the writer. Love the way your young characters have to learn they're not inventing the wheel - ie relationships before they were born had problems, too. anne

Fiona McGier link

9/21/2020 01:53:52 pm

HI Anne, thanks for coming by. I've had "discussions" with editors who felt that parents weren't needed, or that their insights were "superfluous" to the story. I told them the parents insights were something the readers needed to read, to understand the characters. That's part of why I don't write in 1st person--too limiting.

Victoria Chatham link

9/23/2020 07:18:56 pm

You are so right about letting go of a grudge. Holding on to one is debilitating and a waste of energy. Much better to let it go and live your life.

Fiona McGier link

9/26/2020 12:29:48 pm

Hi Victoria, nice of you to drop in. Yes, my mom's family had a tendency to hold grudges forever. They'd nurture them like prized orchids, making sure to reinforce their sense of hurt often, so they never forgave anyone. It wasn't pretty to watch--so I decided long ago that I wasn't going to be like that. Holding a grudge is heavy work--and steals too much energy that you could be using for other, more enjoyable things. And that person isn't losing any sleep over what you're upset about--only you are. Let it go!

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