by Linda O Johnston
Every writer writes what they know and what they love—at least, hopefully. Sometimes, it’s also a specific genre or genres.
Of course we can go all sorts of directions in our writing as well as in our lives.
But me? It’ll come as no surprise to those of you who know me or read my stuff that I love dogs. And they’re not only important in my life. They’re important in my writing. And they’re the general theme of my writing.
I have had sixty-two novels published so far, with the sixty-second, my fourth Shelter of Secrets story for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, available starting now. It’s CANINE PROTECTION. Yes, canine. And number sixty-three, the fifth in my Shelter of Secrets series, CANINE REFUGE, will be published next year. I can’t tell you offhand how many of my books have featured dogs, but the great majority of them have.
Why? Well, they always say to write what you know, and I know dogs, and yes, I love them. My first mystery series, the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries, featured a tricolor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Lexie—the same name as one of the Cavaliers I owned when I wrote those stories. And Kendra was a lawyer who lived in the Hollywood Hills with Lexie. Yes, I was a practicing lawyer then, living in the Hollywood Hills, writing what I knew, kind of.
And right now, my first ruby Cavalier, Roxie, is staring at me as I write this. Her tricolor sister Cari is sleeping somewhere else, but she very often snoozes under my computer desk as I write.
Yes, I’m hooked on Cavaliers, but I don’t write much about them since I don’t want to overdo it with my readers. But other dogs, including service dogs, K-9s, and even pets—yes!
And including shelter dogs, like those in my Shelter of Secrets series which is ending next year. I’ve started writing the first book in a new series. And surprise, it also features dogs!
I’m always fascinated to learn why other writers write what they do—and if they also have ongoing themes in what they write.
So please comment here, you writers who are reading this. Do your stories contain any ongoing themes, and if so, what—and how did you decide to feature them?
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Image by Ermir Kolonja from Pixabay
The Writers in Residence 
I have read many of your vast library of books and always enjoy the ones with those wonderful dogs. A reader can tell that the love you show on the page for our furry friends is something close to the writer as well. When a writer takes the time to show those real feelings, it makes the reading even better. So you are right…write what you know and what you love.
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Thanks for reading my stuff, Gayle, and I’m glad you enjoy those with dogs. I certainly enjoy writing them, as you can tell. And yes, love for the subject, dogs, certainly helps.
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No surprise so many readers love books that feature animals. Many of us love animals – some more than people. But your point about writing what you love is true. It brings in readers who share the love with you.
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I definitely enjoy animals more than a lot of people, Miko, although there are many people I know, or know of, that I also like. And yes, it definitely helps to write what you love, and I always hope readers enjoy it too.
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I like to write about kids and how they can solve problems and mysteries and sometimes help each other by using Bible stories and truths. It’s not a big niche, but it’s what I enjoy. I haven’t officially published any, but I have written a bunch and shared them with many kids I know. (Some of my stories also have animals – dogs, cats/kittens, wolves, koi fish, and a parakeet.)
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Kids are definitely a good source of writing and reading fun, Jackie, and you can write stories that fit any and all ages! Maybe you could get those stories out there more. And the animals you listed as being included in your stories sound fun too.
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My stories feature books, book groups, and writers–but there are plenty of animals, especially cats. My own cats, whether still with me or across the Rainbow Bridge, show up in my books. Animals enrich our stories as well as our lives. Thanks for posting, Linda.
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Books, book groups and writers certainly are great themes for both writing and reading, Maggie. And adding animals too, especially based on real ones whether still with us or not–wonderful! Animals certainly do enrich both our stories and our lives.
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You’re so right Linda – and I love your doggie adventures!!
Of course you know what my writing is about – Old Hollywood!!
And I’m still so impressed with your prolific output! I always feel encouraged by that. Thanks Linda…
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Linda, after picking myself off the floor after reading the number of books you have authored, and after two cups of Yorkshire Gold tea, I agree with you that theme is king, although it is not often discussed. Thanks for giving me a new subject for my writing class!
As for my own themes in my murder mysteries, the main one is how a British reporter fares in America after being sent to California at the demand of the royals family. Another theme is to introduce a rare medieval musical instrument into each story that is a clue, and a third theme is to teach readers a few Cornish cuss words. Squeezed in between is a brief theme on opera – my amateur sleuth, Tosca Trevant, is a fan. Thank you, Linda, I hope all your fictional canines do not visit you all at once.
jill
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