Welcome to my eight-part blog series about the main themes in At Liberty To Live. You may have read my previous blog series on the themes of Atlantic Split, so now it’s the turn of book 2. Find the links to the previous blogs at the bottom of this blog post. There will be some crossover between the two books. This week I’ll be discussing theme three: following your passion. Warning: This blog contains spoilers.

Blog 1 – New Beginnings

Blog 2 – Inner Strength

Following your passion. As a writer who took a huge step to self-publish, this theme resonates with me a lot. For Luke, it’s even more significant. When Luke stood up against the Atlantic Split, he knew that he had to make a choice. To do what people before him had done for decades, ignoring and agreeing with the age old war, or make a difference and do what he felt was right. What he felt passionate about. Whilst this isn’t the same as following your passion, it led him onto this brand new adventure.

However, when Luke goes to the USA, he realises that following his passion isn’t something he can do easily. He’s always loved acting and dreamt of being an actor, but he never got the chance to do that because his father wanted him to join the police. He soon realises that something like that may well be a dream that’s hard to reach and he’s hit with the reality of having to get a mundane job in order to survive. He’s not too sure about it at first, but once he gets there, he realises that actually, it’s not the job that matters, but the independence of doing something for himself is what he wanted all along.

It is in At Liberty To Live, that Luke helps his colleagues find and follow their own passions, and through that, he discovers his own. The moment he realises what he’s meant to do with his life is a big thing for him and for The Luke Bright Series. It’s something he’s going to carry with him and it’s going to drive him in books 3 and 4. After all, the one thing that Luke discovered back in Atlantic Split is how much he missed out on by having friends and being so sheltered by his family. His life would’ve been very safe if he’d remained in the police force and followed in his father’s footsteps, but it would’ve been without passion and he would never be able to reach his full potential. Luke Bright was always meant for more and now he’s got the chance to be the person he always wanted to become. Someone significant.

I do believe that following your own passion is so important to your life and wellbeing. If you’re unhappy doing what you’re doing then you’re wasting your life. Sure, you have to make decisions along the way which may be necessary for you to survive, but it is only when you get a chance to do what you really want that you find out that happiness isn’t too far away. For me, choosing to make writing my career was a big step because it was so far from what I’d originally planned to do. But, when I write, there’s nothing like it. Nothing makes me feel this way. So, that’s why I knew I had to do this. I didn’t have a choice, because if I didn’t it would just be hypocritical and I wouldn’t be able to (in a sense) practice what I preach. Luke’s drive and discovery was in fact what pushed me to become more like him and take that chance. So, Luke, thank you for that, because without you, I don’t think either of us would be where we are today. 

I end this blog with a quote from At Liberty To Live about following your passion. It’s a quote from Tom Shore, Luke’s colleague who owes an awful lot to Luke. He knows that Luke was always meant for more than the diner, which is why he says the following to him:

“You’ve helped all of us and changed all our lives for the better. Somewhere out there you’ll find the right place to be. Go follow your passion whether it be acting or sorting out this divided world. It will all be okay.” – Tom Shore, At Liberty To Live

Thank you for reading this blog, and next Thursday I’ll be back with the fourth theme of At Liberty To Live, rushing in too quickly.

Links to Atlantic Split theme blogs:

1. Prejudice
2. Growing Up
3. Optimism
4. Courage
5. Friendship
6. Family
7. Bullying
8. Morality

Atlantic Split and At Liberty To Live, the first and second books in The Luke Bright Series are available to purchase NOW! Please follow me on my blog and my social media links below, and use the links on my website to purchase a copy of each if you have not done so. Don’t forget to leave a review! Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog post.

N.A.K.