tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post1768742738611087849..comments2024-03-28T05:34:42.670-05:00Comments on MAKE MINE MYSTERY: A Theme Runneth Through ItMorgan Mandelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-74331630721103867002014-04-09T10:56:15.594-05:002014-04-09T10:56:15.594-05:00I seldom start out with a special theme in mind, b...I seldom start out with a special theme in mind, but as I write, often more than one arises. Good post.Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-87025085082810140242014-04-08T09:43:21.394-05:002014-04-08T09:43:21.394-05:00I love theme discussions, Marilyn. When a book clu...I love theme discussions, Marilyn. When a book club focuses on the book's theme, the discussion turns out so much richer. Your book sounds so enjoyable. Allistair West is a name right out of a Christie mystery.Kathleen Kaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16500241341014235792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-33917195987984429292014-04-08T09:03:22.622-05:002014-04-08T09:03:22.622-05:00Sandy,
Your theme was at work, impacting your stor...Sandy,<br />Your theme was at work, impacting your story.<br />I often have to write to find out more about my characters.Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-75000240672396447212014-04-07T18:50:48.610-05:002014-04-07T18:50:48.610-05:00Interesting post. I find theme hard to nail down, ...Interesting post. I find theme hard to nail down, even when I have my story firmly in mind. In my most recent book, I didn't realize what the theme was until I had finished the first draft and was reading it over.<br />Sandy Codyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824301408180614516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-4493910239549805422014-04-07T15:18:06.743-05:002014-04-07T15:18:06.743-05:00Vonnie,
Good point. As I said, the theme should be...Vonnie,<br />Good point. As I said, the theme should be a ballast. It gives the story a steady foundation.Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-81899155181021432872014-04-07T14:53:12.017-05:002014-04-07T14:53:12.017-05:00Interesting points, Marilyn. And the theme has to ...Interesting points, Marilyn. And the theme has to be constant too, not suddenly jettisoned for another one, which I've seen a bit lately i.e. the family theme and mystery theme need to run concurrently and be equally strong.Vonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07092475086889028716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-63099538228260285072014-04-07T14:07:02.611-05:002014-04-07T14:07:02.611-05:00Jacqueline,
I agree with you. We've mysteries ...Jacqueline,<br />I agree with you. We've mysteries that run the gamut<br />from literary to comic. Something for everyone.Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-70393733793431383542014-04-07T14:05:05.054-05:002014-04-07T14:05:05.054-05:00Marja,
I love stories that involve the past and un...Marja,<br />I love stories that involve the past and unsolved mysteries. Sooo intriguing.Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-24855240271100798202014-04-07T14:04:01.692-05:002014-04-07T14:04:01.692-05:00Hi Linda,
Thanks for stopping by. I agree, themes ...Hi Linda,<br />Thanks for stopping by. I agree, themes certainly generate ideas for books.Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-47650354830271473992014-04-07T13:23:28.828-05:002014-04-07T13:23:28.828-05:00The great thing about mystery writing today is the...The great thing about mystery writing today is the diversity of themes in the literature. Authors are increasingly creative.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-79798697578428940072014-04-07T11:55:06.811-05:002014-04-07T11:55:06.811-05:00I try to present unusual themes and places. For in...I try to present unusual themes and places. For instance, in Old Murders Never Die, the place is a ghost town and the theme is, well, history, an unsolved mystery and a mysterious cowboy, among other things. Thanks for asking.<br />Marja McGrawMarjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09528164359512905392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-43237937134703262562014-04-07T10:39:25.100-05:002014-04-07T10:39:25.100-05:00Hi Marilyn. Themes are great for authors because a...Hi Marilyn. Themes are great for authors because a theme can generate ideas for books, and they are great for readers because author's themes can help the reader find books and series they are interested in. I often choose authors because of their themes, whether it be mysteries with a connection to historical themes like Steve Berry's books, or a particular type of location. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17418989253523002362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-84924723660152858142014-04-07T09:34:38.960-05:002014-04-07T09:34:38.960-05:00Helen, Pat, Amy, Nancy, and Sharon,
Thanks for sto...Helen, Pat, Amy, Nancy, and Sharon,<br />Thanks for stopping by and telling me what themes you write about. Thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Amy, Nancy, and Sharon--I like what you say about family not always being your blood relatives but people who are important in your lives. I always felt that them was so well portrayed in Wally Lamb's "She's Come Undone."Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-49673921247015720172014-04-07T09:22:39.641-05:002014-04-07T09:22:39.641-05:00Like Amy Bennett, I am dealing with what is family...Like Amy Bennett, I am dealing with what is family, and it's not always blood relatives. Betrayal, abandonment, and trust are huge issues in my books. An interesting post, Marilyn, and one I concur with heartily.River Glynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17128604193981808617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-80229834358602735972014-04-07T08:40:53.199-05:002014-04-07T08:40:53.199-05:00Great post, and a subject I've been mulling ov...Great post, and a subject I've been mulling over of late. <br /><br />I seem to repeat the same themes: being true to oneself, doing the right thing (especially when it's hard), following your dreams, and realizing the importance of the family you've created for yourself, even if it's not the family you thought you were supposed to have.Nancy DeMarcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00541156981472896868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-46743996995597800382014-04-07T08:12:04.276-05:002014-04-07T08:12:04.276-05:00The recurring theme in my Black Horse Campground m...The recurring theme in my Black Horse Campground mysteries is family... and not necessarily blood relations. Both parents of Corrie, the campground's owner, are deceased, yet she finds family among her friends and employees. Most of the characters have some sort of "broken" family, but together they bond to form a family of friends (or "framily", to quote a current cell phone plan commercial) and this is what helps Corrie solve the mysteries that come her way.Amy M. Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943829899085139497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-14476058222472360222014-04-07T07:57:49.644-05:002014-04-07T07:57:49.644-05:00Marilyn,
Great post and I love your books!
Theme ...Marilyn,<br />Great post and I love your books! <br />Theme is very important to me. Although my Malone Mystery series deals with some serious issues (a serial killer, a missing child, etc.), the overall theme I hope to convey is one of hope. If my characters can overcome the obstacles I give them and come out better for it, we all can!Patricia Gligor's Writers Forumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16801554698484928100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-54509791568924260972014-04-07T07:52:07.825-05:002014-04-07T07:52:07.825-05:00I agree about themes. In my Emma Winberry mysterie...I agree about themes. In my Emma Winberry mysteries, my protagonist is a senior, has a sixth sense, and talks to her Guardian Angel. But, sometimes the Angel takes a day off and Emma gets in trouble. My readers love the Angel theme. <br />Helen Osterman, OTP authorHelen Macie Ostermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07641297625446597665noreply@blogger.com