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. the
death 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.
