When Readers Become Treasure Hunters

The Power of Destination Storytelling

One of the most unexpected stars of isn’t a jewel thief, a missing heiress, or even the legendary Art Deco bracelet at the center of the mystery.

It’s Glimmer, the Diamond Dog.

Readers of the Gem Hunters Mysteries already know Glimmer as Hunter’s loyal dachshund sidekick—the tiny detective in the pink cowgirl hat with a nose for trouble and missing gems. But while I was writing THE WATER DIAMOND Glimmer unexpectedly became something more: a guide through real locations readers can actually visit.

And honestly? That opened the door to something far bigger than traditional book marketing. It created an opportunity to turn a mystery novel into a real-life adventure.

THE WATER DIAMOND takes readers from Phoenix’s historic Wrigley Mansion to the streets and shoreline of Avalon on Catalina Island. Instead of creating fictional settings, I built the story around real destinations—the Catalina Casino, Green Pier, Descanso Beach, the old Bird Park, and Crescent Avenue. Readers follow Hunter and Glimmer through places visitors can actually explore for themselves.

It gives readers more than a mystery to solve. It gives them the chance to step directly into the world of the story long after they finish the final chapter. When readers can walk the same streets, stand at the same landmarks, and experience the same atmosphere as the characters, the mystery becomes immersive. Suddenly, THE WATER DIAMOND isn’t simply a book. It becomes part treasure hunt, part travel experience, and part destination adventure.

That’s where Glimmer’s “clue journey” was born.

As I wrote the book, I realized Glimmer naturally connected the story to tourism marketing. A dachshund in a pink cowgirl hat searching for clues across Avalon is visual, memorable, and shareable online. Instead of traditional “buy my book” advertising, the series could offer something more engaging: a real-world treasure hunt atmosphere.

That is the power of destination storytelling.

The most successful tourism marketing today does more than showcase beautiful locations. It creates emotional connections through story, television, and film, transforming ordinary places into destinations people feel invested in long before they arrive. Readers don’t travel simply because a place is scenic. They travel because a story made them feel something there first.

Instead of sightseeing, visitors begin “following the clues.” They retrace the characters’ footsteps. They photograph the locations where fictional moments unfolded. The destination becomes immersive entertainment rather than a passive backdrop.

For THE WATER DIAMOND, Glimmer became the perfect bridge between fiction and real-world exploration. Her journey through Avalon creates an interactive experience centered on curiosity, adventure, charm, and discovery.

Because destination storytelling turns a mystery into more than a book. It becomes an adventure readers can actually walk into—one clue, one landmark, and one unforgettable destination at a time.

So tell me… if you could step inside a mystery novel and follow the clues in person, which book would you choose? One lucky commenter will win an e-copy of CAVALIERED TO DEATH.

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Want to know more about our author CB Wilson? Visit her WEBSITE.

The photos in this post are from the author’s personal collection; AI created the background of Glimmer driving.