In this blog

I wanted to discuss the various nods to different people and places that I mentioned in If Wishes Were Horses. Apparently it’s incredibly common for authors to do this, and many say that it adds a certain layer of authenticity which can make the fictional world seem a little bit more real. Many authors will sprinkle inside jokes that offer a private wink to family and friends or use their hometown as settings.Whilst If Wishes Were Horses is set in my adopted hometown of Perth and Western Australia, the suburb of Lowry where Floral Quarter is located is a shortened version of a suburb where I used to live in the UK. Most places mentioned in and round Perth are obviously real with the exception of Foyer Regent on Regent Street (stolen from the famous street in London).  The dusty mining town of Koraborri from where Ned hails is obviously fictional, but is loosely based on the much larger mining town of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields.Main character names just appeared randomly in my head with the exception of Patrick’s family name of Carver. This was an intentional tribute to my family name at birth, and for me, was very important to do so. There are however many minor characters with nods to people who are, or who have been in my life; Donald McGeorge, a man Ned speaks to in Koraborri Tavern and the names of a late dear father and father-in-law merged into one. Daphne from the funeral home that tells Ana her parents were killed in a car accident is a nod to my adored late godmother, whom I believed as a child was my birth mother for so long.Reverend David, the local vicar who had left Hillary the Bible where she later hid Derek’s photos. Constable Stevens who delivers the news of Hillary’s heart attack, and Hollie, Ana’s neighbour and babysitter. If you know me, you’ll recognise these three names!Dr Frame, Ana’s oncologist as well as Honeyman, Derek’s surname, are the names of the two doctors who employed me as a 17-year-old, and Deb and Carolyn from Floral Quarter – you know who you are!In my second book, Let the Dice Fall, without giving too much away, I mention Cape Ada, a fictional coastline between Perth and Broome where Patrick is lost at sea in The Two Princesses. This is a nod to my grandmother who was called Ada, and lastly, the date of birth I gave to Sam when he eventually discovered he actually had a birthday; 21^st January, the day my son Marcus was born and died shortly after – an extra special day and a dedication to him.I love all these little tributes in my book,  and after reading this blog, I hope you love them too!

🫶Wendy

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