Brenda Baker

I recently created my first media kit, which got me thinking about the ideas or themes within Flowers and Ash. Every story has a theme embedded somewhere below the surface. I would venture to add that most novel-length stories have several themes, some more prominent or obvious than others. Flowers and Ash is no exception. As the author, I can definitively say it has its share of themes – all open to interpretation by the reader based on their personal experience.

Some of the themes within Flowers and Ash are intentional, meaning that I started writing with a desire to explore those ideas. Other themes emerged as I wrote. When I started writing the first draft, I wanted to tell the story of a young woman who sets out to solve a mystery. I created a quasi-medieval fantasy world for that mystery to take place. Next thing I knew, Lisette was embarking on a quest with her loyal band of friends.

By the end of my first draft, Flowers and Ash had grown into a coming-of-age story featuring magic, a talking oak tree, imaginary creatures, and our sword-wielding band of friends. Lisette’s quest for truth had transformed into more than she could’ve ever imagined. A quest for truth had become a journey of discovery: some enchanting, some downright maddening, and some the stuff of nightmares.

Lisette’s outward journey acts as a road map for her journey of self-discovery. As Lisette struggles to understand all that she learns on her quest, she must also struggle with her own truth and find the courage to not only accept that truth but embrace it. The two are inseparable with each path along the way guiding the other. Unknown to Lisette, when she leaves her hometown to uncover what happened to her mother and the others who vanished, she also embarks on what will become a life-changing rite of passage to adulthood.

Flowers and Ash is told from Lisette’s point of view. So when the story begins, the reader sees Wrunwicks and its world through Lisette’s sharp mind, keen sense of justice, and innocence. Then as Lisette travels throughout Wrunwicks, her view of the world opens up, widening and evolving alongside the miles. As her constant companion, the reader’s lens onto Wrunwicks reflects that evolution and loss of innocence. The reader is also witness to Lisette’s newly discovered strength, determination, and personal growth. That being said, Lisette was born with a stubbornness and courage that shine through from the beginning. Mind you, Lisette would be the first to disagree.

In the scene below from chapter three, Lisette is still home. Her stepmom had just told her father about Lisette’s plan to leave in search of answers. After hearing her father’s thoughts on the matter, Lisette considers the flowers given to her stepmom many years ago.

Lisette looked around their kitchen. It was as unassuming as her stepmom. She paused. Her eyes settled on a shelf over the salt meat barrel. Nora’s most prized possessions were still the flowers she had picked for her as a child, kept in a wooden box for safekeeping. Smiling at the memory of Nora placing one of the flowers inside its new home, Lisette took in the faces of her parents. And like the flowers in their box, the image of her parents sitting by the fire would last forever inside her heart.

Flowers and Ash (p. 31)

The reference to the flowers was intentional. Although I didn’t realize Flowers and Ash would grow into a coming-of-age story, I did know Lisette would need to undergo a transformation to do what she needed by the last chapter. While staying home might have kept Lisette safe like the flowers inside their wooden box, it’s the struggles she’ll face on her journey that will help our heroine grow into the woman she is to become. Like her beloved wildflowers, Lisette will need the freedom to reach for the sun. Only then will she be able to achieve her full potential and overcome the challenges before her. Only then can she own her truth.