Hello, Dream Team!
As we near pre-orders for Thread of Dreams I wanted to give you some insider info about the book! I’ll be sharing character intros, my writing process, world-building, artwork (I have a BEAUTIFUL comissioned piece I’m dying to show you!), story snippets, and my heart behind story with you on Thursdays (but not every Thursday because that’s annoying, and also I’m not that interesting).
To kick off this little series, I picked my favorite aspect of story: THEMES. Below are a few things you’ll find woven into Thread of Dreams, whether obvious or nuanced:
DREAMS VS. NIGHTMARE
This theme is the most obvious one in Thread of Dreams. Fragments of nightmares haunt minds and hearts in Nova’s world, but they also take on a very real quality too. No wonder Nova likes escaping into the minds of humans. There, unseen, she is immersed in strange and lovely dreams; there, she feels as if anything is possible. And who knows, it just might be. It’s also where she meets Arlo and for the first time, she feels seen in more ways than one.
THE BEYOND
Most of my stories hold the theme of “beyond”. I find much comfort and wonder in pondering what comes after this life. I know that might sound weird (blame my wiring), but I think sometimes we get so bogged down on the brokenness of here and now, we forget there is something bigger at play. There is hope in the depravity. There is newness—revival—coming. I love these ruminations the most because what I believe about the future informs what I believe about the now. It changes how we live. What we believe. How we see the world. And for the characters in this book, what actions they take.
SELF-SACRIFICE
There are a few instances in Thread of Dreams that self vs. self-satisfaction come into play. Our culture seeks to lift up “self” and “trusting your heart”, and I wanted to push back on this idea. Our hearts can be fickle. Our emotions, fleeting. What would it look like for someone to sacrifice for the greater good despite their own momentary feelings?
If you made it to the end, thanks for reading! I’d love to hear which themes you are most excited for. If you missed the reveal and book blurb and you have no idea what it’s about, you can visit this post!
Keep seeking wonder,
Emily Barnett
These are great themes! Can't wait to read more!
Love that last theme! Yes, to cheering on other centered living!