Behind the Scenes of CAROUSEL: A Time Travel Novel Set in 1889 Paris

Chris Turnbull
Jan 19
3 min read

As an author, one of the questions I’m often asked is where do your story ideas come from? With my novel CAROUSEL (first published in 2016), the answer lies in a lifelong love of Paris, a fascination with history, and a simple but powerful question: what if you suddenly found yourself in the past—with no clear way home?

A Story That Begins at the Wrong Moment

Jonathan’s life is carefully mapped out. He’s on the brink of marriage, standing at a crossroads that should lead neatly into his future. Instead, fate intervenes in the most unexpected way. Without warning or explanation, he is torn from his own time and transported to Paris in 1889, at the very moment the city is celebrating the Exposition Universelle—the World Fair that marked the grand opening of the Eiffel Tower.

Disoriented and alone, Jonathan must adapt quickly to a world powered by gaslight and innovation rather than modern convenience. The rules he knows no longer apply, and every decision he makes could have consequences not just for his own future, but for history itself.

Paris 1889: The Heart of the Belle Époque

Setting CAROUSEL during the Belle Époque was a deliberate choice. This was a period of extraordinary change, creativity, and optimism. Artists, engineers, writers, and inventors flocked to Paris, transforming it into the cultural capital of Europe. The Eiffel Tower—now an icon of romance and travel—was once a bold, controversial symbol of modernity.

I wanted readers to experience this era as vividly as possible: the crowded boulevards, the cafés alive with conversation, the excitement of technological progress, and the underlying tension between tradition and innovation. Historical fiction allows us to step inside another time, and by blending it with time travel, I could explore that world through modern eyes.

Romance, History, and the Unexpected

At its heart, CAROUSEL is more than a time travel novel. It is a story about love, identity, and the choices that define us. Jonathan is forced to question what—and who—truly matters to him. As he searches for a way back to his own time, he becomes entangled in relationships and events that challenge everything he thought he knew about his life and his future.

For readers who enjoy romantic historical fiction, stories with emotional depth, or novels that ask what would you do if you were given a second chance?, this book offers a touch of the unexpected alongside its historical detail.

Why I Wrote CAROUSEL

My inspiration for CAROUSEL came from walking the streets of Paris and feeling the weight of its history layered beneath the modern city. Paris is a place where the past never feels entirely gone. I wanted to capture that sense of wonder—the idea that history is closer than we think, and that sometimes all it takes is one moment for everything to change.

Is CAROUSEL for You?

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