Oh, the Places I’d Go! By Cari Lynn Webb



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):

  1. 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.


  1. 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.)

  1. 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

  1. 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.

  1. 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 DOCTOR’S RECOVERY ~ Available Now! http://a.co/2fF22k0
THE CHARM OFFENSIVE

You can find Cari on Facebook and Twitter. 

Comments

  1. 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?

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  2. I 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.

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    1. Yes, Liz - Bennett's Island, Maine needs to be on the list :) Whoville would be really fun :)

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  3. I agree, Leigh - we should time travel together :) I love everything Medieval too.

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  4. Ooooh, 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!

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    1. It certainly made for a lively conversation :) I'll have to mention Panem to my daughter - that one missed out list.

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  5. What 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.

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    1. Beth - yes, to Harmony Valley and Rankin, Alaska :)

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  6. Cari, 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.

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  7. I 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.

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    1. Kim - I agree - I want the characters from the books there too. I seriously want to meet Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters :)

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  8. I can't believe neither of you said Hogwarts! But I'll happily travel with you to Rivendell or Neverland (gotta meet Tink ).

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    1. I assumed that for all of us, as Cari said, Hogwarts was a given. We're just sitting around there, waiting for the sorting hat...

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    2. We 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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