Often in interviews I’m asked about the theme of Dauntless. Interviewers probably don’t realize
that this is a slightly odd question for a novelist to answer. Novelists should think about plots and characters. We’re not supposed to focus on themes or messages when writing books. They should arise
subtly and organically. It is better to focus on questions than on answers. I
admit…for some of my books I did have a theme, or at least a question, in mind
from the beginning.
But for Dauntless, it really did arise naturally from the
plot and characters as I wrote the story. Dauntless came to me as the very first prologue scene
playing in my mind like a movie. A female Robin Hood type character using her acrobatic,
cat-burglar type abilities to rob a passing wagon. And so the story began to
unfold. The backdrop, King John’s England in 1216. A sort of historical
dystopia with an evil ruler, a corrupt government, and a civil war. Why did
Merry become a thief? I decided her father tried to assassinate the king, and
so the king tried to decimate everyone in the castle and the surrounding villages, but
the children alone escaped, and Merry became their leader.
This book opens against a tragic backdrop. But each of the
four main characters face that tragedy in a different way. Merry hardens her
heart and does everything in her own strength. Timothy turns to ambition and the letter of the law. Allen presses into God. And our bad guy, well, he lets hatred completely eat away at him. They
are all surrounded by the ashes of life. Yet God can turn our ashes into beauty
if only we will let him. He can take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good. And rest assured, there is plenty of beauty, light, hope, and even laughter in this book.
And so the theme verse became Isaiah 61:3.
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to
give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of
praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of
righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Will Merry learn to soften her heart and allow God and
others back in? Will Timothy learn what is truly important in life? Will God
alone be enough for Allen? What havoc will our bad guy wreak? Check out
Dauntless to find out.
Have you ever faced
tragic circumstances in your life? How did you respond? In what ways did God
turn your ashes into beauty?
I have about two books to read on King John now- there's a fair few coming out this year. One thing I've learned is that between William the Conqueror and Edward I no nobles were executed even for treason. They tended to be exiled or imprisoned or the like. But, I suppose for the story the decimation works- though I think that would have turned the nobility against the King.
ReplyDeleteI'm very interested in one figure from this time- Walekin of the Weald- a Sussex man who is said to have led a guerrilla war against the invading forces of Louis of France- and could be one of the figures who inspired the Robin Hood legends
I think it's a plausible idea. After I wrote the book I found some information that he destroyed whole villages, and of course half the country rebelled against him.
DeleteI think it's a plausible idea. After I wrote the book I found some information that he destroyed whole villages, and of course half the country rebelled against him.
DeleteYes- and there was that talk of having had a noblewoman and her son starved to death because she dared to suggest he had killed his nephew- so perhaps not beyond him.
DeleteOn the other side, perhaps those scenes from Ridley Scott's Robin Hood (although its set at totally the wrong time) with scenes of marauding French soldiers in Prince Louis force are reminiscent of reality too. Not a good time to be in England.....
I really do need to read the book soon. Meant to finish another first but life happens......I've put it on a Goodreads list though.....