FAQ's -
A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove
Is
"A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove" set in a particular place?
Yes.
It is set around Fraser Island and two nearby towns, Rainbow Beach
and Tin Can Bay. I had to change the geography a little to suit
my story, so I changed the names. Also, I did not want the people
of Rainbow Beach to think I was modelling characters on them, which
I did not do anyway but they might have thought that I did.
Are
any of the characters real?
No.
I know Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay and Fraser island very well and
used them as the setting with just a few things changed. However,
I don't know the people of these places at all, apart from my own
parents. The characters are either an amalgamation of people I have
met in my life, perhaps the odd relative included or else they are
completely invented to play a particular role in the story. Skip
Duncan is a bit like a salty old sea captain. You almost expect
him to start speaking like a pirate - "avast there, me hearties.
Ahr, ahr". I've seen a few boys like Harley in schools, even in
my own classroom from time to time. All kids like Harley need is
a bit of love and patience and a firm hand and they are fine. Unfortunately,
without a fair go, they end up bitter and outcast.
Where
did the ideas come from for the story?
I
had always wanted to do a story set in the beautiful surroundings
of Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island. After a few novels with strong
social themes, I just wanted to write an engaging story. I wanted
to show how a boy could win through, with determination and a bit
of help and love.
I was
asked to speak at a conference in Melbourne in 1995. After my session,
I sat in the audience and heard the next speaker, the psychologist,
Michael Carr-Gregg. He said something interesting: that all teenagers
eventually ask themselves this question. Am I normal? I knew what
he meant. As a teenager, I had worried that all the new and at times
difficult changes and emotions happening to me. I realise now that
everyone was going through the same thing but at the time, I didn't.
I made Carl worry about that. He comes to believe that he is unlovable,
until the people and events of the story show him otherwise. He
helps to heal himself but he couldn't have done it without Joy and
Justine.
The
idea that Harley would be lost on the bay came from seeing half
a dozen young boys puttering about in a two metre long "tinny" with
no life jackets and no idea of the risks they were taking. As for
Harley being chained up - I've been challenged about this - that
no one would be so cruel but let me tell you, children are regularly
treated a lot worse than Harley is by Beryl.
For
the injury and death caused by Dessie Matt, Carl's grandfather,
I relied on an actual incident I witnessed while working in a factory
over the school holidays. One young guy had the hots for the pretty
young secretary. He thought he'd impress her with his driving ability
in the car park one day but lost control of the vehicle and slammed
into her, breaking her leg.
What
influenced you in writing the book?
I
have always liked the books, "A Bridge to Terebithia" and "I am
David" and I think these influenced my book. I had also read the
following books in the few years before I started "A Bridge to Wiseman's
Cove."
"Goodnight
Mr Tom" by Michelle Magorian
"The
Shipping News" by Annie Proulx (adult book)
"Homecoming"
by Cynthia Voigt and
"Missing
May" by someone named Rylands.
The
Italian movie ‘Il Postino’
If
you know those books, you will probably see similarities here and
there eg. thedeath or disappearance of a mother, a gentle character
of great inner strength making a new life for himself and his loved
ones. There was no conscious copying of these books but they were
an influence.
Who
is on the cover?
I
took the cover photo of the boy myself. He was in year 12 at Marist
College Ashgrove at the time and reminded me of what Carl looked
like in my mind. The picture was scanned by Peter Evans who designed
and produced the rest of the cover. The pretty blonde on the back
caused a problem. (Sorry boys, I don't have her phone number) In
my story, Maddie was dark haired but Peter Evans showed her as a
blonde. I didn't notice until the cover was printed. However, since
the text hadn't yet been printed in book form to clue inside the
covers, I was able to change the references to Maddie.
In
2001, the publishers and I decided we needed a new cover. The same
designer, Peter Evans, came up with the osprey soaring over a sparkling
blue ocean. I like this new cover but still have a lingering affection
for the original.
Record
of the Book Rap Chat
- 6 May 1998 on A Bridge to Wiseman's
Cove
