By Tom Llewelln

When my two oldest kids were still in early elementary school, we took a trip to Boston. At Boston Common, the city’s main park, my kids were fascinated by two features. One was a small bronze sculpture of a family of ducks, crossing a path, and the other was the collection of swan-shaped paddle boats in the central pond. The sculpture referenced a famous children’s book by Robert McCloskey, Make Way for Ducklings. The story was set in Boston, including scenes from that very park. The swan boats were featured in the children’s novel, The Trumpet of the Swan, by E. B. White. I was surprised by my boys’ oohs and ahhs—they couldn’t believe they were standing in the actual locations where these famous stories were set.

I wanted that same experience for Tacoma. I wanted our city to be the setting for beloved children’s books. I wanted Tacoma kids—or visitors to Tacoma—to be wowed when they realized they were standing in the place where the story happened. So I vowed right then to set my own stories in my city, because I write kids’ novels. And because of that silly little vow, my novels are all set in Tacoma.

My latest book, The Five Impossible Tasks of Eden Smith, takes place in a guildhall of master metal workers. The actual guildhall that Eden moves into is inspired by Rust Mansion on North 10th and North I Streets. The W. W. Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park is another key location; Eden’s parents were killed there when a meteor squashed them. Not even the Ponderosa lemon tree survived. Other locations mentioned are Franklin Elementary School, Lowell Elementary School, and Hilltop Heritage Middle School. A little mob of schoolgirls are forced to jump into the duck pond at Wright Park. Oh, and Cosmonaut Coffee gets a well-deserved visit, too.

My previous book, The Bottle Imp of Bright House, was set on North K Street, across from Hank’s Tavern. And my first book, The Tilting House, is focused on a mystery involving the Tacoma Art Museum. That first book also mentioned Jon’s Barber Shop on 6th Avenue. Jon told me he knew nothing about the book until a literary-minded young customer asked him to sign it.

Placing a book in my own city has huge advantages for me as an author. The setting is right outside my door, so when I describe the plants inside the Seymour Conservatory, I can drive to the actual plants and take notes. The descriptions read as more real, because they are more real. Instead of dredging up clichés from my worn-out imagination, I can write about the actual leaves on the actual philodendrons.

Another thing: I love Tacoma. It’s easier to write about things I love. I like to spend time describing it and making its streets and buildings part of the action. And my books are full og the fantastical and magical. I believe our city is full of magic and mystery as well. I want readers to know that. I’m not claiming my books are beloved. They probably won’t result in any statues being erected. But I like to think the local settings have resulted in a few young oohs and ahhs. That’s not a bad start.