"Weather as Metaphor" by Guest Blogger Celeste Fenton
- Kaecey McCormick
- Oct 2
- 5 min read
Greetings, creatives!
I’m thrilled to welcome today’s guest blogger, fiction writer Celeste Fenton. Celeste is the author of Lost Heart in King Manor, a slow-burn romantic suspense that blends family secrets, island storms, and an atmospheric mystery inside the walls of King Manor.
I'll be sharing my review of the book next week, but in the meantime, I've invited Celeste here to share some of her writing wisdom with us.
In her post, “Weather as Metaphor: More Than Just Atmosphere,” Celeste explores how writers can move beyond using weather as mere backdrop.
Instead, she shows us how storms, fog, sunlight, and wind can deepen character, foreshadow conflict, and resonate with readers on an emotional level.
Whether you write fiction, poetry, or any other genre, Celeste’s reflections will inspire you to look up at the sky in your own work, and to consider how weather might echo the hearts of your characters.
Enjoy!
~Kaecey
Weather as Metaphor
by Celeste Fenton
Writers are often told to “set the scene,” but weather can do so much more than simply tell readers if they should bring an umbrella. It can shape mood, echo emotion, foreshadow events, and even act as a silent character in the story. Used with care, weather becomes more than description—it becomes metaphor.
In my novel Lost Heart in King Manor, the story begins with the quiet life of Gabby Heart on Dost Island. That calm is shattered by her mother’s health crisis, a cascade of family secrets, and a mystery hidden within the walls of King Manor. From the start, weather was one of my most powerful tools for pulling readers into the emotional current of the story.
"Used with care, weather becomes more than description—it becomes metaphor."
A Nor’easter barrels toward the island early in the novel. On the surface, it’s a plot device—trapping Gabby in the manor with a mix of friends, strangers, and potential enemies. But symbolically, that storm mirrors Gabby’s own inner turbulence. She is forced to confront the winds of change in her life, the floodwaters of long-buried truths, and the isolation that comes when the bridges back to safety are, quite literally, washed away.
Throughout the book, weather reflects and amplifies emotional beats. A foggy morning cloaks the manor’s grounds in mystery, blurring the line between what’s real and what’s imagined—just as Gabby questions who she can trust. The pelting rain during a tense confrontation is more than coincidence; it’s a physical manifestation of her pounding heart and the relentless nature of truth pressing to be revealed. And when the storm finally breaks, the first rays of sunlight hint at the possibility of resolution and hope, even as the ground remains muddy beneath her feet—because healing, like weather, doesn’t change in an instant.
"The pelting rain during a tense confrontation is more than coincidence; it’s a physical manifestation of her pounding heart and the relentless nature of truth pressing to be revealed. "
I find weather metaphors so effective because they tap into a universal sensory memory. We all know the heavy stillness before a summer thunderstorm, the brittle sharpness of a January wind, the way rain can be either a comfort or a sorrow depending on our mood. By connecting a character’s emotional state to the weather, a writer invites readers to feel the moment in their bones.
Of course, subtlety matters. Weather should never be reduced to a melodramatic cue—lightning every time the villain appears, or rain only when someone cries. The metaphor works best when it grows organically from the story’s setting and emotional truth. In Lost Heart in King Manor, the island’s weather patterns aren’t just backdrop—they’re woven into the rhythm of life there, and into the fabric of Gabby’s journey.
"By connecting a character’s emotional state to the weather, a writer invites readers to feel the moment in their bones."
For me, writing about weather isn’t about filling in the blank space at the start of a chapter. It’s about using the sky, the wind, and the temperature as a mirror for the human experience. Storms pass, seasons shift, and the light always changes—just as we do.
So, the next time you read a story, notice the weather. And if you’re writing one, consider what’s happening above your characters’ heads. You might find that the clouds, the sun, and the wind have more to say than you think.
"...writing about weather isn’t about filling in the blank space at the start of a chapter. It’s about using the sky, the wind, and the temperature as a mirror for the human experience. "
Now it’s your turn! I hope you’ll pick up Lost Heart in King Manor and see how the story unfolds. If you do, I’d love to know—how did the weather shape the mood for you? Share your thoughts in the comments here or on my blog at https://celestefenton.com.
About Celeste Fenton
My writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery and a fascination with the complexities of the human heart. As a widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired educator, I believe I have enough real-world experience to weave imagination with insight to create stories rich with emotion and suspense.
When I'm not writing, reading, or plotting another plot twist, I like to explore small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of family and friends. My latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, training my cavalier spaniel to do a high five, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.
Here's how to connect with Celeste online:
About the Book
At 45, Gabby Heart has worked hard to bury heartbreak and achieve a peaceful life on Dost Island. She keeps busy teaching community classes, illustrating her friend's books, and helping her mother, Connie, run Ocean Current, the family art and gift shop. Life on the island is steady, quiet-safe.
But when her mother suffers a sudden health crisis, Gabby is pulled into a storm of family secrets, betrayal, and a dark legacy buried within the walls of the once-grand King Manor now transformed into ACHE (Adult Care and Health Enclave)-a state-of-the-art senior living and medical center-perched like a sentinel on the cliffs of Dost Island. Strange incidents begin to unfold, and it becomes clear: someone inside King Manor has a deadly agenda.
As a hurricane traps Gabby inside ACHE, she's forced to work alongside two very different men-her maddeningly attractive officemate and a charming new neighbor, both hiding dark secrets. One may be her salvation. The other could be her undoing. What begins as a search for answers quickly turns into a fight for survival-and a fight for her heart.
A twisty mystery with romantic suspense, Lost Heart in King Manor is peppered with humor and perfect for fans of strong heroines turned sleuth, dashing males, and quirky characters.
Ready to dive in? You can purchase a copy of Lost Heart in King Manor on:
You can also add Lost Heart in King Manor to your Goodreads reading list!
Have you read Lost Heart in King Manor? Or do you have thoughts on what Celeste has to say about weather as metaphor? Let me know by sending me a message or an email!
Happy Reading & Happy Writing!
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