“So, What If…?” — A Curious Conversation About Stories That Sneak Up on You

Alex: Hey Jamie, ever read a book that literally stops you dead in your tracks, and you go, “Wait… what if that actually happened?”

Jamie: Sounds curious, like the title of something to read.

Alex: Bingo. It’s the name of a book I just finished reading—What If… by Joseph Mahar. And believe me, it’s no ordinary read. It’s not even one story—it’s a whole collection of musings, quirky stories, and what-if tales that catch you up and make you think. Or laugh. Or both.

Jamie: Okay, wait. Musings? Like essays?

Alex: No, not exactly. More like short stories from everyday thoughts—like driving through a traffic light and, suddenly, thinking about how that moment could be fashioned into a story. That’s literally how one of the stories started—Joseph saw a car with a flat tire, and voila! A whole story unfolded from there.

Jamie: That’s insane. Is it serious and deep or whatever?

Alex: It’s a combination. Some of the stories are introspective, some are funny, and some may catch you emotionally off guard. One in particular—about an old man in the woods—just sort of developed on him as he was writing. He didn’t even know what would happen when he began.

Jamie: Sounds like he’s a go-with-the-flow kind of writer.

Alex: Definitely. He said writing by inspiration and not by a specific time. No rigid process—just ideas that kept nagging him until he brought them to life on paper. He actually admitted surprising himself while reading out one of his finished stories. He was like, “Wow, I really wrote that!”

Jamie: I love that realism. So, who are these stories for? Like, who’d like this book?

Alex: Honestly? Anyone with an inquiring mind. It’s not for kids, but teenagers and adults who like to guess about life’s little twists would find something here. Even if it’s just one story that lingers—he said that’s what he hopes for: that at least one story will leave a mark.

Jamie: Are the characters real or fictional based on real life?

Alex: A combination. Some of them are loosely inspired by family and friends, like the mother character, who’s a mix of his wife, sister, and a few other women. And he didn’t prefer one over the other, but he did name-drop Thaddeus and the old man in the woods as favorite characters.

Jamie: Sounds personal and imaginative at the same time. Did he say anything about a sequel?

Alex: Yes! He’s already working on more stories—has three ready and is writing a fourth, aiming for a follow-up book. The man’s on a roll.

Jamie: Okay, I’m intrigued. But here’s the real question: What if. It became a movie. Who’d play the lead?

Alex: Ha! He couldn’t decide either. But he was brainstorming about the old man’s character. He just couldn’t find an actor. Maybe you can help with casting after reading it.

Jamie: Challenge accepted.

If you’ve ever been stuck in a daydream wondering, “What if…?” Joseph Mahar’s debut collection might be just what will sweep your mind away.

It’s not a book that tells stories—instead, it makes you see with it. And once you’re inside, you won’t be able to look at ordinary moments in quite the same way ever again.