Fate Twister
Most Thais are Buddhists—around 97% of the population, in fact. Of those, the vast majority (about 95%) follow Theravada Buddhism, with a small number practising Mahayana Buddhism. There are also minority groups who are Christian or Muslim, but Buddhism dominates both the culture and daily life across the country.
One of the central beliefs shared by nearly all Buddhists is in Karma—the idea that your actions, good or bad, influence your future, either in this life or the next. Over time, I discovered that Thai people often recognise several types of Karma, each with its own nuance and implication. However, the one that stuck with me most – perhaps because it’s easy for a Westerner to understand and remember – is known as Wayne Gamm (a Thai pronunciation of “vain/gain karma”).
This form of Karma closely aligns with the familiar Western principle: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It reflects a kind of moral balancing act – good actions yield good outcomes; bad actions bring consequences.
The phrase Wayne Gamm lingered in my mind for years. The name seemed perfect for a character. I began imagining a young man called Wayne Gamm, someone deeply entangled with fate and karmic justice. What if Karma wasn’t just an uncontrollable spiritual force? What if there were a person who could change, skew or twist Fate? Or what if there were such a person, but he or she had no real control of the outcome? What if the outcome depended on that person’s mood? If the person were in a good/happy mood, the change Fate would have a happy outcome, and vice-versa.
That curiosity led to The Fate Twister – a novel born from the intersection of Eastern philosophy, Western storytelling, and a single unforgettable name.