There are some places in the world that are magical and Paronella Park in far north Queensland, Australia is one of them.
Jose Paronella was an immigrant from Catalonia who came to Australia in 1913 to build a new life for himself and his fiancé who was waiting for him back home. He worked first as a labourer cutting sugar cane, saved his money and bought farms, improving them, and selling them.
It was an impossible dream but the young man remembering stories his grandmother had read to him as a child about romantic castles decided to build one in the rainforest alongside a waterfall.
I was staying in Mission Beach not far away when I visited the now ruined castle. It was the inspiration for my novel Castle of Dreams. I was so fortunate that it was sold at the London Book Fair to a Norwegian publisher and thrilled when I saw the cover for The Castle in the Rainforest (the title for the Norwegian translation).
what elise wrote 
Great to see it still being enjoyed near and far.
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Yes, it’s really amazing. I had a message from someone in Norway not so long ago and a photo! x
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How beautiful Elise! X
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Thanks Ekaterina, I hope all is going well for you. x
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Thanks so much, Ekaterina, I hope you and your family are staying safe. x
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Great Cover. I loved reading that book -the setting was so great and even more so when I learnt that the castle really existed.
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Thanks Gilbert!
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Good to get the word out there again E. Hope some new readers pick it up. I still think it would make a fabulous mini series or movie. Lisa could star!
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Thanks, Bernie!
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