Two
Christmas Places That Inspired Restoring Christmas
by
Julie Arduini
Last
year I was honored to participate in the boxed set A Christmas to Remember
with my novella, Restoring Christmas. The idea first came to me after I
visited Castle Noel in Medina, Ohio. The tourist attraction features Christmas
movie props in a guided tour that starts with the RV from Christmas Vacation.
It ends with everyone going down the slide where Ralphie asks Santa for the Red
Ryder BB gun. There was a room with over ten thousand ornaments hung from the
ceiling and a “chimney” where guests see how easy it is for Santa. I left there
completely in a Christmas mood and even wondered how I could write such a place
into a romance. My first question was, what if someone worked at a place like
that and hated Christmas?
Castle
Noel wasn’t the only place that inspired me. Growing up, our family used to
visit The Christmas House in Elmira, NY. Filled with decorations in a Victorian
home, I remembered the porch as guests entered. However, in Restoring
Christmas, the porch is where Holly Christmas realizes how long she’s been
away.
I’m
a visual person, so having Castle Noel and The Christmas House as references
really helped me write. When I wasn’t feeling very Christmas-y, I’d visit the
websites and looked at the pictures.
If
you aren’t able to check out Castle Noel in person, you should visit
the website.
The same for The Christmas
House.
They will help you get in the Christmas mood.
And
of course, grab a copy of Restoring Christmas!
Holly
Christmas left Geneseo Valley and her family’s holiday tourist attraction, The
Christmas Mansion, as soon as she graduated.
Now both her parents have passed, and Holly returns when her uncle needs
her help running the mansion. On Holly’s first day back, a blunt
middle-schooler proclaims Holly hates Christmas. His comment forces her to
reconcile the past while planning for the mansion’s future.
Kevin
Holt is invested in offering hope to students with challenges. His best
friend’s son is in Kevin’s class, and Nathan needs guidance. Their community
project placement at The Christmas Mansion is an opportunity to make a positive
difference. When Nathan blurts out his thoughts to the beautiful co-owner,
Kevin wonders if he has what it takes to help restore the mansion to its former
glory, mentor Nathan, and convince Holly Christmas she’s exactly where she
needs to be.
Purchase
Restoring Christmas eBook:
Purchase
Restoring Christmas Softcover:
To
learn more about Julie and her books, visit her website at http://juliearduini.com/
 |
| Julie Arduini |
Thank you, Peg, for letting me share!
ReplyDelete