What the Author Meant Part 2: Time-Switching Castles and Scottish Mist

 It's a meme--what the intellectuals say the author meant vs what the author says the author meant. Some time ago I asked AI about the symbolism in The Blue Bells Chronicles. Previously I posted about AI's answer as to the symbolism of the Blue Bells flower and the trombone, in relation to the story. 

AI had four more answers as to the symbolism I supposedly intended. I have to say, part of my response to AI's answer was--I wish I'd had such foresight as to intend all that! But...a book is somewhat like a symphony. It's both what the composer (author) wrote and what the listener (reader) experiences and draws from it. I recently did an interview with Jay Johnson on her Harnessing the Shift podcast, in which we discussed the question of whether our subconscious thoughts come out in our writing. I don't know. But I did find AI's analysis of the symbolism in my books fascinating. Here are the next two:

3. The Time-Switching Castle (and Fairy Holes)

• Symbolism: Embody fate, enchantment, and the consequences of hubris. Castles like Glenmirril function as liminal portals, drawing from Scottish folklore of fairy rings and enchanted keeps (echoing Vosika's childhood favorite, In the Keep of Time). They symbolize the inescapable pull of destiny—Shawn's abandonment in the tower triggers his swap with Niall, forcing confrontation with his flaws amid war and honor codes.
• Recurrence: Towers and misty glens recur across books, from the initial swap in Blue Bells of Scotland to prophetic returns in The Battle is O'er. They underscore themes of reversal: modern arrogance humbled by medieval chivalry, and the "noble deeds" of the folk song manifesting in battles like Bannockburn.

4. Loch Ness and Scottish Mist

• Symbolism: Evoke mystery, isolation, and spiritual awakening. The loch's ancient, fog-shrouded waters near Glenmirril represent the unknown depths of the soul, much like the series' exploration of redemption. Mist blurs time and identity, symbolizing how characters like Shawn and Niall (his "twin") merge influences, fostering growth amid Scotland's rugged beauty and brutality.
• Recurrence: Shoreside scenes frame key revelations, from Shawn's disorientation to prophetic visions in later volumes. The mist ties into the song's "Scottish mist" imagery, amplifying the folklore of hidden worlds beneath the surface.

The themes of isolation, as both Niall and Shawn are isolated from their own worlds, and spiritual awakening, as Shawn comes to see himself for who he has been, are definitely there. I didn't consciously embed such ideas in fog-shrouded lochs. Did I subconsciously correlate the idea of isolation and change to fog-shrouded lochs? I can't say. But if those images evoke those ideas, that's good.

Mist of any sort is evocative of mysteriousness and it is definitely a mystery how two men switch places in time and how a modern man faces who he has been. However much of it I intended or didnt', I love the ideas and if the reader sees this, I'm all for it.

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If you like this article, you may also like:

AI Analysis of Symbolism in the Blue Bells Chronicles, Part 1

Symbolism of Jewels and Flowers in Medieval Society

Writing Prompts: Describe your dream pool

Creating Character

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