Are you interested in psychological fiction involving boundaries in relationships between people, especially intra-family relationships? In my new novel, Boundaries: A Love Story, the subject of boundaries between people and those imposed by society is explored.
This fence photograph is representative of an area of northern Maine where some of the novel scenes take place. While the fence does somewhat separate the two fields of vegetation, it is definitely ambiguous. The way this fence is displayed in this image is symbolic for the idea of guidelines, or lack there of, in my novel Boundaries: A Love Story; there are also vague or absent boundaries in the family members’ relationship dynamics. One example is the relationship between the main male character, Mark, and his mother, Elisa, who suffers from bipolar disorder (referred to as manic depression at the time the story takes place). Between Mark’s heartfelt compassion and adoration for his vivacious and delicate mother and Elisa’s mental instability, there are no insurmountable barriers in their relationship. Mark, however, does have a hard time balancing his role as son and caregiver, and Elisa struggles with not allowing her mental disorder to take over their relationship. Boundaries are certainly essential in order to have healthy relationships and live a happy and healthy life. However, as many already know, it is a skill that takes practice and oftentimes a lot of thought. Mark’s family is no different from many others who struggle to find the balance between loving, and taking care of one another but also knowing when to take a step back.
This photograph, taken during a recent trip to the Cape Cod area (where Part I of the novel takes place), represents the idea of boundaries which are sometimes open, sometimes more restrictive, a theme reflected in the novel. For instance, with respect to the father-daughter relationship, the protagonist Kaia and her father share a very close relationship, but it is one that certainly lacks boundaries. Although Kaia is extremely bright and mature for her age, her father often suffocates her with too many adult responsibilities. The departure of Kaia’s emotionally unavailable mother from Berkeley for a new job and life in Manhattan blurs the father-daughter boundary line even more. The absence of a mother and wife figure leaves Kaia as the only remaining woman of the house and results in Kaia’s father relying too heavily on his daughter for emotional support. The lines are obscured even more when Kaia’s secretive relationship with her cousin Mark is exposed, and when her father’s drinking habit dangerously increases. While there is certainly a lot of love and caring between Kaia and her father, the two struggle to find a happy, and most importantly a healthy, dynamic amidst all of their life complications and personal emotions.