"IF WISHES WERE HORSES" BY WENDY PATTINSON - VORAKA

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN VORAKA

Article Published on 07 September 2024 by Kelley Rose | www.vorakamag.com If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride. Sam Fisher has made his fair share of wishes during his short life in the dusty outback town of Koraborri, Western Australia, where life is as tough as the land itself. It’s a harsh and hostile place to live, and Sam’s life is no different when he’s abandoned into the care of an abusive father who never wanted him. By the time he’s a teenager, he’s sleeping rough on the streets of Perth, but one wish comes true when, against all odds, he finds his mother, Ana, after believing that she’d died many years earlier. After a shaky start, they’re eventually reunited, but the reunion is bittersweet when Ana becomes sick, and Sam fears he could lose her again. Meanwhile, in a bitter twist, Sam finds himself entwined in a distasteful dilemma with Ana’s partner, Patrick, that he could never have foreseen. Simmering anger compels Sam to take matters into his own hands as he plans sweet revenge for those who have crossed him. 

Patrick Carver has it all—handsome, rich, and a successful accountant. He talks the talk and walks the walk. When he meets Ana, it’s love at first sight, and their future seems assured. But Patrick’s past is complicated; he shares two small daughters with a bitter ex-wife, and his mother hasn’t spoken to him since his involvement in the suspicious death of his stepfather three years earlier. He’s stunned to learn that Ana has a long-lost son, Sam, but, unknown to Ana, Patrick has his own dark secret that he’ll protect at any cost. When his deceit is exposed, it threatens to send his world crashing down around him. Amidst tainted truths and wicked lies, a tornado is brewing, and with Patrick and Sam in the eye of the storm, it’s about to make landfall with devastating consequences. 

This is a gritty tale of dangerous lies and secrets that stretch far and wide, but it’s not just about survival. The story exposes various facets of human nature—from cruelty and indifference to kindness and solidarity. Sam’s journey highlights the extraordinarily harsh realities of life and the lengths one must go to seek justice and truth. The novel’s plot is intense and expertly weaves together elements of mystery and drama. If Wishes Were Horses is a poignant story of survival, resilience, and the quest for justice. This is one story you will not forget.

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AUTHOR'S BACKGROUND

Hailing from the north of England, Wendy emigrated to Australia in 1999 with her husband and young family. A dermatology nurse by profession, she also proves to be an avid storyteller. Fueled by a lifelong dream of becoming an author, her debut novel is well worth the wait.

Wendy has always been a book lover and has read hundreds of books in her life. It was only after reading a story that was "pretty average" one time that she thought she might be able to write something better. She's not really sure where the story came from; it was just renting space in her head one day, and she began to type.

In her spare time, Wendy enjoys listening to music, reading, and walking her two dogs, Indy and Luna, who rule the house. Wendy also takes joy in interior design and likes to attend fitness classes at South Beach in Fremantle, overlooking the sparkling Indian Ocean. This beautiful part of the world, with superb views of Rottnest and Garden Islands, is also a setting she chose for the protagonist of the story, Sam, to visit.  She knew it was a place he would immediately feel welcome, with no fear of judgment or accusation. A mixture of real places and fictional settings were used in Wendy's story, and she says finding names for fictional places was great fun. While not intentionally attempting to convey any themes or messages through her writing, she acknowledges that the book highlights the plight of homelessness and how a series of unfortunate events can result in tragic and heartbreaking consequences.

Wendy's novel took her two years to write, and while finding time was challenging, she found it a truly rewarding experience. From endless hours of online research and speaking with homeless people, she felt she learned so much. Along with Ed Sheeran's "Overpass Graffiti" song in her head, which gave her the idea for the overpass scene, she forged ahead. Her novel magnificently showcases the city of Perth, and she sincerely hopes that it makes Perthites proud, a city she now considers home.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR WENDY PATTINSON

How did your move from England to Australia influence your perspective as a writer, and did it shape the story in your debut novel?

I’d traveled to other countries before emigrating to Australia, but this vast, magnificent country with a diverse cultural history, laid-back approach, and a love of being outdoors offered a new perspective. Western Australia is where Sam Fisher belongs and is responsible for shaping my novel from beginning to end.

What was the turning point that made you decide to pursue your lifelong dream of becoming an author?

The turning point contributing to writing If Wishes Were Horses came after reading a book on my Kindle from a new author. It really wasn’t that good, and I just thought that I could write something better! How did the idea for your debut novel come to you?

I’m actually not quite sure! Sam Fisher was renting space in my head one day, and I just started to type. I had a loose storyline from the very beginning, but other characters, like Trent and Kate, were added as I went along.

As a dermatology nurse by profession, did any experiences from your nursing career influence your storytelling or characters?

Strangely, no! It’s like they are two completely different sides of me, and neither has an impact on the other. Now you mention it, perhaps one of my characters should have suffered a chronic skin condition! Perhaps in my next book... Why did you choose Fremantle as a key setting in your novel?

With its vibrant, bohemian culture and colonial buildings, Fremantle is a favorite place of mine. The small, unique shops, Cappuccino Strip, and trendy breweries all add to the laid-back and friendly vibe. With Sam’s social anxiety, Fremantle was somewhere I knew he would not feel judged or disrespected. How did your research into homelessness shape your story?

It was during Covid when I spoke to some homeless people, which added extra stress for them. One gentleman had money for food, but without a mask, wasn’t allowed to enter the shop. Bad luck and circumstances seemed a common underlying cause for their situation, which definitely helped shape Sam’s story. How did Ed Sheeran's song "Overpass Graffiti" inspire the overpass scene in your novel, and what role does music play in your creative process?

When I first heard this song while driving, I instantly pictured a gloomy, graffiti-covered overpass, and the scene with Sam was born. I listen to music every day, and as it has many benefits for the mind, I do not doubt that it helps the creative juices to flow. Do your hobbies, like interior design and fitness, impact your writing?

I’m not sure, but perhaps envisaging how a space can take shape with colors, textures, and placement of furniture is similar to imagining a story and writing a book! As fitness is good for the brain and body, I’m sure it positively impacts my writing.

What’s your process for creating fictional places, and do you have a favorite?

This is tremendous fun, and I aim to come up with a name that suits the particular location. Sometimes it’s a reference to my life, like the suburb of Lowry, taken from a place I lived in the UK. My favorite is definitely Koraborri. I wanted a place beginning with ‘K,’ and Koraborri just rolls off the tongue beautifully! What was the most rewarding part of the two-year journey it took to write your novel, and what were some of the challenges you faced along the way?

The most rewarding part was seeing all the storylines merge together towards the final chapters of the book. Questions are answered, secrets revealed, and the drama and conflict you created during the story inevitably unfolds. There was only really one challenge along the way, and that was time—not enough of it!

How do you hope your portrayal of Perth in your novel resonates with readers, especially those from the city?

I hope readers from different countries can feel a connection to Perth through my words. This happens to me when reading stories set in other cities; sometimes I feel like I’ve actually been there! I also hope Australian readers enjoy my detailed descriptions of Perth, which I felt were necessary to Sam’s story—I hope it makes Perthites proud!