All in the theme

Before I write a story, I have to identify its theme. What's the message I hope to convey with this book? I've found that focusing on the theme helps me keep the characters and the plot on course as opposed to bouncing all over the place.

As an example, the theme of my recent book, On Fire, is trust. The message I hope I conveyed in that story is the value of trust in every relationship. I tried to show that the heroine trusted the other protagonists. Conversely, the antagonists were people neither the hero nor the heroine could trust.

When constructing each scene and building those scenes upon each other, I stayed focussed on that theme. I was so focussed on that message that I had even relationships between minor characters deal with the issue of trust. I didn't even realize that until this very moment.

Have you identified the theme in your story? If so, I'd love to know what it is.

Patricia