SHARON BAYLISS - GUEST POST "Themes in the December People" (NEW RELEASE - DESTRUCTION)

Today, I have invited Sharon Bayliss to this site as part of her Blog Tour for her new release, Destruction!
She has kindly offered to talk about the themes relating to her series The December People


Please welcome Sharon and I hope you enjoy her post.
 

Carolyn

The butterfly...yet another symbol. It stands for re-birth, hope, and change.

When I think about book "themes" it reminds me of high school English class. Who knew I would actually use that info later? :) I'm still waiting to find a practical application for calculus.

Destruction, and all the books in The December People, do have significant themes woven throughout the story. Here are a few:

Darkness and light: The visual and symbolic darkness vs. light comes up constantly. Since Destruction is about dark wizards, they struggle to learn what darkness really means, and it's many different facets are explored.

"We do not believe that light exists in spite of darkness. We believe that light exists because of it.
Darkness is the only fertile ground for light. It is the only garden where light can be sown."

"This darkness didn’t feel frightening. In fact, David couldn’t remember ever feeling so safe. The darkness was the foundation that everything else was built on. The garden where the universe grew. The simplest, most basic thing in existence. And it was spectacular.

He supposed that was the answer that waited for him. That darkness in itself was not evil. Darkness was peace. Potential. Home."

Destruction: Well, that's a no-brainer. :) This concept was important enough that I made it the title. Dark magic is destructive. And, so are other acts, like abuse and rape. The story considers what can actually destroy a person.

"That’s why dark wizards can’t practice. Even if they want to be good, they can’t. It’s too dangerous. Dark magic is about destruction. Breaking things. Breaking people."

"If you want to make a case for magic, why don’t you do something a little more interesting than breaking glass? Anyone can break glass. You don’t need magic. Glass is easy to break. It’s one of its defining qualities. Where’s the challenge? What’s the point?"

"Destruction is easy. Dark magic is like stabbing someone in the heart. And good magic is like performing heart surgery to fix it. Almost no one can do it."

"Obviously, Emmy is not fine. But you know what, if she doesn’t end up getting herself killed tonight because of you, she will be fine. Eventually. So will Samantha. They can heal. You can’t."

Love: The story is not a romance, but I still think that love and family are some of the most important themes. Love is what keeps the dark characters from truly becoming evil. In the story, we have "talismans." A talisman is basically is a person who loves you and who you love, and that keeps you from evil. I believe that kind of magic is the real deal.

"He said only people can be talismans, and those talismans work. They are the most powerful kind of magic."

"I knew the magic inside me was a bad thing. But if I had never met you, I don’t know what would have happened. When I fell in love with you… it was like the gap inside me wasn’t as big anymore. I could cope. The whole world looked different."

Spirituality and Religion: The wizards in the story are Baptist, and have to deal with the complexity of understanding themselves within the Christian tradition.

"As nice as it is to think I can cast a spell and protect my family on my own… I feel safer knowing I’ve consulted an expert.”

“You mean God?”

“Yes, I mean God.”

“What you are is different from what you believe. We can believe whatever we choose to.”

“Do you believe in God?”

“Yes.”

“Do you believe in the Devil?”

“Yes.”

“Can wizards get into Heaven?”

“They have the same chance as everyone else.”

“But you don’t know for sure.”

“Emmy, no one knows for sure. Not about any of this.”

There are even more themes that I didn't mention, the four seasons, good vs. evil, etc. And each book has new symbols for the season they represent. The summer book involves a lot of symbolism about heat, light, and fire. The spring book has themes of life vs. death and resurrection.

To learn more about Book One, Destruction, read on!

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Introducing a new dark wizard family drama, Destruction by Sharon Bayliss, Book One in The December People Series.

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BARNES AND NOBLE

David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything. Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn't a choice.

Eleven years ago, David's secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without. 

Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David's wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children.  

Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.

The Author

Sharon Bayliss is the author of The December People Series and The Charge. When she’s not writing, she enjoys living happily-ever-after with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and playing in the mud (which she calls gardening). She only practices magic in emergencies.

www.sharonbayliss.com - @SharonBayliss - https://www.facebook.com/authorsharonbayliss