Journey to 1899 in this magical story of invention, unusual powers, evil villains … and ice cream!
Mason and his father sell delicious ice cream but melting temperatures and a terrible accident with their ice cream cart leave them unable to pay their rent and forced out of business. When a strange invitation arrives summoning Mason to see Darlington the Miraculous in his amazing wish-granting show, he can’t resist. This is his chance to help his father and live his dream of creating the most amazing ice cream flavours. More than anything, Mason wants to be happy with success for his father and the companionship of a real friend. Will meeting the incredible Darlington make his dreams come true?
Overflowing with magic, twist and turns, and a chilly mystery, A Place of a Thousand Wishes is a thrilling adventure! I’m so please so welcome author Sarah Merrett to Scope for Imagination with a guest post about her inspiration for this imaginative story.
The Inspiration by Sarah Merrett
From the outset, I wanted this story to be about a Victorian era entertainer. I find it fascinating how they were the celebrities of their time, drawing huge crowds to theatres and music halls of the 1800s, with a loyal fanbase. There were of course countless well-known singers, dancers and magicians, but I wanted my entertainer to be something different.
When researching Victorian entertainers, I came across a photo I found arresting. It was very atmospheric, with a performer in a top hat standing before a misty lake under moonlight, making a huge bubble. I instantly imagined a magical performer who would have the crowds mesmerised, and Darlington the Miraculous quickly evolved.
Darlington’s a showman offering a unique and captivating performance. He’s famous throughout the world for creating incredible bubbles of every imaginable shape, size and colour using a sceptre topped with a magical icestone. At the end of each performance, Darlington invites one lucky person on stage and puts their greatest wish inside a bubble, then sends it up to the stars. This would surely have been an enticing idea for a poor Victorian child with very little hope of ever bettering their life. To make Darlington’s performances even more exciting, they would be held in a magical manor house in the countryside, with wonderful grounds and a vast lake. There would of course be free food and drink thrown in too. But only the lucky few would be invited.
My main character needed to be a boy in the greatest need of hope. Mason has nothing to call his own. He had no friends, and a father on the brink of financial ruin. His world is falling apart. But he remains full of kindness and hope, no matter what trials are thrown at him. I needed to give Mason and his father a failing business to add to their miseries, and through researching the era, I stumbled upon the booming ice cream trade. And so, Mason and his father make ice cream and sell it in the city from their wooden cart. I also discovered there was a significant heatwave in July of 1899, and what better obstacle to put in Mason’s way as a Victorian ice cream seller than a heatwave to melt all their ice?
One thing I was fixed on from the outset was that this would be an uplifting story. One full of hope, and a little sprinkling of unique magic. Above all, I wanted my story to leave readers with a smile.
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