This past
week, I finished putting together a bible for the series of sweet contemporary
romances (written by Heartwarming authors) set in Christmas Town, Maine. (A
series bible is a quick reference guide for writers with information about
characters and setting details.)
We were first
introduced to Christmas Town in the 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming Anthology,
Christmas, Actually. And each year, more stories set in Christmas Town have
been released. I wasn’t surprised at how much Christmas Town had grown and
developed as I built the bible. What surprised me was just how sad I am that I
cannot actually visit Christmas Town.
After putting
together quite a robust bible, all I want to do is shop in Timeless Antiques, buy
a large tea and pastry from The Tea Pot on Main Street, steal a kiss in the Gazebo
on the Green, ice skate on the pond in Reindeer Meadow and stroll down
Mistletoe Lane to see the gingerbread style houses decorated for Christmas.
This started
a conversation with my teenage daughter (also an avid reader) followed by a
rather lengthy debate about fictional places that we wished were actually real.
If I could take a plane, train or automobile to any of the following places,
I’d leave tonight. 😊
Here are our
top 5 fictional places we want to visit (and as a side note, my daughter and I
agreed not to include Hogwarts because as she stated: that one is a given, mom):
- Our first stop: Wonderland to join the Mad Tea Party
with the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the March Hare and the Dormouse. It’s
hard to imagine a better setting for a tea party. I just want it to last
for more than one afternoon.
- Speaking of tea, our next visit isn’t fictional, but
it requires time travel. We want to head to London circa early 1800’s to visit
the Great Fair in Hyde Park, sneak into a gentleman’s club on St. James, score
vouchers to Almack’s Assembly Room and stroll through Vauxhall Gardens. (And
being swept off our feet by a Duke or Viscount at a ball, well, that’s a
given.)
- We debated for quite a bit over Camelot or Atlantis
and finally agreed it was tied. We want to spend time with Merlin and sit
at the Round Table as much as we want to explore Atlantis.
Photo by Artem Sapegin on Unsplash
- Narnia came next. Because who doesn’t want to head
to the back of their closet (or wardrobe) and step into a magical world
with talking animals. Seriously I think I’ve checked every closet in my
house more than once just to make sure I didn’t miss the secret doorway. And
I doubt I’ll stop looking or hoping.
- For our last stop, my daughter and I wandered in
different directions. My daughter wants to settle in for the holidays in Who-ville
to sing Christmas carols and venture around the Main Square with Cindy Lou
Who. I liked that idea, but given a choice, I’m off to Rivendell from Lord
of the Rings. I want to relax with the Elves in Rivendell.
Honorary
Mentions from my daughter: Neverland (because mom, everyone wants to spend time
with Tinkerbell), Brakebills from The Magicians (because mom, it’s all about
magic and the series is incredible) and Adarlan from the Throne of Glass series
by Sarah J. Maas (which is only the best series out there, mom).
Now it’s your
turn. What fictional place is on your I-Wish-I-Could-Go-There list?
Happy
Reading!
Cari Lynn
Webb
THE CHARM
OFFENSIVE
You can find Cari
on Facebook and Twitter.
Hmm. I’ve read a lot of Medieval fiction this year so a visit to the royal court would be fun (without the germs and filth of that time). All that gallantry and of course a dashing prince or knight to swoon over! Then Tara, I think, especially to enjoy a barbecue on the lawn and meet Rhett Butler. Doing a lot of time travel here, but as long as I can’t go with you to Christmas Town...why not?
ReplyDeleteI love this! I would go to Bennett's Island, Maine, where Elisabeth Ogilvie placed so many wonderful books; to Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, where I grew up with Trixie Belden; and to Hogwarts. I'd also make a stop at Whoville with your daughter.
ReplyDeleteYes, Liz - Bennett's Island, Maine needs to be on the list :) Whoville would be really fun :)
DeleteI agree, Leigh - we should time travel together :) I love everything Medieval too.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, what a fun topic! Besides all the ones on your and your daughter's list (strike my closet off your list as Narnia portals), I'd like to go to Avonlea to be with Anne of Green Gables (time travel involved), and to traipse after Jamie and Claire from Outlander as they show up in North Carolina, France, Scotland, etc. I might like to do a flyover over Panem from The Hunger Games. I'm going to ask my family this question. Thanks for spurring a conversation, Cari Lynn!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly made for a lively conversation :) I'll have to mention Panem to my daughter - that one missed out list.
DeleteBook me for Avonlea!
DeleteWhat fun! I want to go all those places you're going. And I'd probably want to spend a little time in Harmony Valley and Rankin, Alaska, too. And maybe visit the crew on the USS Enterprise.
ReplyDeleteBeth - yes, to Harmony Valley and Rankin, Alaska :)
DeleteCari, this post is so much fun! I'd like to go to all those places in Christmas Town, too. I'd also add Drogheda (from the Thorn Birds), Wuthering Heights, Hogwarts, and the Shire.
ReplyDeleteCarol - the Shire is on my list too. :)
DeleteI think I'd like to explore Wynette or Heaven, Texas (Susan Elizabeth Phillips) in modern day, and Pemberley in a more historical time. When I started to think about it, a lot of 'visits' I'd like to make are to real places, just peopled with characters from books.
ReplyDeleteKim - I agree - I want the characters from the books there too. I seriously want to meet Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters :)
DeleteI can't believe neither of you said Hogwarts! But I'll happily travel with you to Rivendell or Neverland (gotta meet Tink ).
ReplyDeleteI assumed that for all of us, as Cari said, Hogwarts was a given. We're just sitting around there, waiting for the sorting hat...
DeleteWe are pretty much waiting for our owl to arrive with our invitations to Hogwarts ... should be any day now. Of course, now my daughter wants to travel with Newt Scamander to find fantastic beasts :)
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