Some time ago, in a shadowy Wattpad/Discord nexus of the interwebs...
Writers' Relay peeps: "Right, you lot. We've got a title. We've got some characters. We've kind of almost got a plot. Now we need some locations. You know, the kind of locations you might find in a story about a globe-spanning hunt for hidden archaeological treasure. Hit us."
Other Writers: "Mumble, mumble, *assorted sensible suggestions*, mumble..."
Reffster (distracted by something shiny and paying insufficient attention): "Um. Disneyland is a location..."
Time passes...
Writers' Relay peeps: "Good work with the locations, you guys. Well, mostly. Guess what? For your chapter, you all get to use the setting you suggested. Great stuff, hey? Aren't you glad you chose well-considered, story-appropriate locations you know all about and/or have been to? Okie dokie, time to get writing. Reffster, put down that shiny thing. Any questions?"
Other writers: "Huzzah for our excellent choices!"
Reffster: "Uh..."
~~~~
Yep. Suggesting Disneyland as a location for an archaeological adventure-mystery was perhaps not my smartest moment. Particularly given I've never been and pretty much the sum total of my knowledge about the place comes from the episode in which the Simpsons go there. In my defence, I did also suggest Göbekli Tepe, which is a way cool Neolithic site in Turkey, but in the end the House of Mouse won out.
Cue much head-scratching and googling. The locations used all exist and most of the details are as accurate as Wikipedia and/or Tripadvisor could make them (although the mascot security squad required perhaps a touch of poetic license). Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chance to visit vicariously as much as I did. If nothing else, at least it was COVID-safe.
Taking part in the Writers' Relay has been a genuinely fun and rewarding experience. It provided the chance to meet and collaborate with a bunch of talented authors all ready to park their egos at the door and work towards a common, unified goal, where the end result has proven to be so much more than the sum of its parts. If you haven't already read the previous chapters, then I'd urge you to do so. It's a great story and you might just find a new favourite author or two.
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Bird of the Gods - Chapter 12
ActionSchoolteacher Fiona is on a mission for her beloved but ailing grandpa - find a missing Zimbabwean artefact, the priceless soapstone statuette known as the Bird of the Gods. Conrad - globetrotting archaeologist-for-hire, contracted to the stunning i...
