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Posts tagged “books

The Glinda Letters – Cover Reveal

The Glinda Letters is nearing the moment of publication. I wanted all of you to be the first to see the new cover design.

HH4-GL_KindleCover_10-14-2015

The Glinda Letters is an epistolary novel composed of letters written by Glinda and sent to the Wizard, Oscar Diggs, while he is in a self-imposed exile in Emerald City.
Glinda writes a letter to the Wizard each year on her birthday, and also when events in Oz deem it necessary. Each letter details significant information that Glinda is learning and that she believes is important for the Wizard to know.
Through these letters, Glinda reveals her true soul to Oscar, bathed in tears, scorched in anger, and tempered with the fine fury of decades of wisdom. She grows from the angry child into the fearless sorceress sworn to protect Oz from all enemies.
All the while, Glinda urges Oscar to come into the light and leave the darkness behind. The throne of Emerald City is his for the taking. With political unrest growing, the urgency in Glinda’s letters grows. Then it subsides as time moves on and the Wonderful Wizard becomes a legend, and then a fairy tale. He has become a story. Then his throne is threatened by another. The Crown Princess is born, and then she disappears mysteriously. Then a powerful young sorceress named Dorothy lands in Oz. After the Wizard escapes his exile and returns to the land of his birth, Glinda waits for his return, so that she can finally have her happy ending.

This book bridges the gap between The Witch Queens trilogy and Baum’s original Oz books, ending shortly before the events of Baum’s fourth Oz novel, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (1908).

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The Perils of a Dangerbread House

An illustration from Tabby Abacus and the Dangerbread House, a chapter book for ages 8 and up, written and illustrated by Tarl Telford. Illustration by Tarl Telford.

On a path lined with cookies, beware of what lies at the end of that magical journey. – Illustration by Tarl Telford

A Dangerbread House is a strange thing of wild magic. You’ve seen it before – a house in the woods made of gingerbread, sweets, and candies. It is usually inhabited by a witch, who uses it to lure unsuspecting children into her clutches. This house is different though. In the new illustrated chapter book, Tabby Abacus and the Dangerbread House (more…)


Emerald Spectacles (Hidden History of Oz, Book Three) – Available Now

Cover image for the novel, Emerald Spectacles.

Available on Amazon, Smashwords, and wherever digital books are sold.

Emerald Spectacles is the third book in the Hidden History of Oz series. This intense, imaginative story spans the magical land of Oz and delves into the mysterious conjoined dreamlands. To save the Wizard, and to preserve the Land of Oz, Glinda must join forces with her mortal enemy, Kalinya, the Wicked Witch of the East, forge a coalition of dangerous Witches (including Mombi and Locasta), battle those that she once considered friends, and challenge the immutable forces of time and magic.

In this spellbinding conclusion to the Glinda Trilogy, time is running out for the Wizard. If he dies with his soul in the dreamlands, the Land of Oz will be host to his nightmares forever. However, success only guarantees survival, not a happy ending.

Emerald Spectacles is available on Amazon (in paperback and kindle versions) and on Smashwords, in your favorite digital format.


50% off Hidden History of Oz Books at Smashwords

Cover images for the Glinda Trilogy. Coupons available at checkout on Smashwords, now through March 7, 2015.

Coupons available at checkout on Smashwords, now through March 7, 2015.

March 1 – 7 is Read an eBook Week at Smashwords.com. To celebrate this event, you can pick up The Witch Queens (HH1:WQ) and Crown of the Dreamer (HH2:CotD) for just $2.00 each. That’s 50% off the regular price.

Plus, as part of the soft launch of Book Three: Emerald Spectacles, you can pick up the exciting conclusion to the Glinda Trilogy for 25% off.

Pick up your copy of Emerald Spectacles before anyone else. Go to Smashwords.com now.


Looking through Emerald Spectacles

Cover of Emerald Spectacles novel.

Emerald Spectacles (The Hidden History of Oz, Book Three) cover

Emerald Spectacles prevented Dorothy and her friends from seeing the Emerald City as it really was. In a sense, the Emerald Spectacles are a form of of humbug – a deception. However, this exciting novel gives the real power of the magic glasses – they prevent the wearer from seeing magic. The Emerald Spectacles that Dorothy and her friends wore were to protect them from any dark magic they might see in the Emerald City.

Why would they see dark magic? Ah, that’s an excellent question. It goes back to the foundation of the Hidden History of Oz series:

Oz is a magical land powered by human dreams. What is dreamed on Earth is filtered through the Emerald Engine to become magic in Oz. When a dreamer from Earth came to Oz, his dreams changed the land around him. One such dreamer was given the title of Wizard.  (more…)


Sneak Preview, Book Three: Emerald Spectacles

Emerald Spectacles, image courtesy oz.wikia.com.

In the recent republishing of Book Two: Crown of the Dreamer, a sneak preview was included. This is presented here on this blog for your reading pleasure. Spoilers after the jump. Don’t jump if you don’t want to be excited for the upcoming continuation of the epic prequel story, The Hidden History of Oz, Book Three: Crown of the Dreamer. Really, this is the last warning. There are a few spoilers if you haven’t read Book Two yet.

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Update to published novels

With the recent republishing of Books One and Two in The Hidden History of Oz series, I want to share a few things that have been added to each title.

Each book contains an Appendix, which contains several important pieces of information for the dedicated reader.

  • The Characters (referred to as The Players, a nod to Shakespeare). I have received comments on this addition. When a reader can’t keep all of the characters straight in her head, it is helpful to have a reference list.
  • Timeline. There is a lot of history referenced in each story. The timeline section details the events that happened and those referred to in the context of the novel.
  • Maps (where applicable). I like epic fantasy novels that include maps. It gives me a sense of wonder at the fantasy world.
  • Locations. There are some new places mentioned and visited in the context of each story. Just like the character list, having a list of the locations helps the reader remember. Plus, it will help when the inevitable wiki appears.
  • Sneak Preview. Including a glimpse at the next story does two things: One, it lets the reader know that there is another story coming, and Two, it creates a teaser for the reader to look forward to the next story. (This is very helpful in the case of cliffhangers, as I have learned.)
  • Guide for Parents. What makes my stories different? I claim that they are good for ages 10 and up. How does the parent know what is in the book, and if he or she wants their child reading this story? What can the parent talk about with the child? (This would work for reading groups also.) The Guide for Parents is also available on this website, for on-screen viewing or as a downloadable PDF. See the menu bar above.

Then there are the standard pages with the Author Bio, On the Web, Other Books by Author, but those are pretty standard in published novels anymore.

This Appendix is a labor of love from me, the author, to you, the reader. I want to show you that each story means something special in the greater world. I’m not going to give you the moral of the story, or tell you what to believe, but I am giving you the facts, and you can dream as you may.

Enjoy.


Teaser: Crown of the Dreamer

The Hidden History of Oz, Book Two: Crown of the Dreamer is nearing completion. It is in the proofreading phase right now. I am very excited to share it with you. Every day brings the manuscript closer and closer to your hands. The story is just about ready to take off and make some magic.

Here is a teaser for the cover in-progress:

Glinda stands in front of the distant Emerald City. The city is under construction. A full moon lights the Emerald City.

I anticipate that it will be available for purchase in September on Amazon, in both paperback and Kindle versions. Other digital formats will soon follow. In the meantime, if you haven’t picked up a copy of The Hidden History of Oz, Book One: The Witch Queens, now would be a great time to dive into the mysterious history of Glinda and Oscar Diggs. You can find the book on both Amazon, and Smashwords.


Spend Christmas in Oz – for FREE

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, by WW Denslow (original illustrator of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)

This Christmas, give your loved ones (including yourself) an exciting vacation in the Land of Oz.
For a limited time ONLY (Dec. 24 – 26), download my book, “The Hidden History of Oz, Book One: The Witch Queens”, for FREE. (http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Queens-Hidden-History-ebook/dp/B008JISCNC/)

This exciting prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will keep children, friends, and in-laws enthralled for hours! Join young sorceress Glinda and the ventriloquist-turned-wizard, Oscar, as they stand against the Wicked Witches and learn the true cost and responsibility of freedom.
For a limited time only, spend Christmas in the Land of Oz. Your imagination (and the beneficiaries of this wonderful gift) will thank you.

Paperback version is available also, but it’s not free. While you are clicking around this site, why not click your mouse three times and say, “There’s no place like the Hidden History of Oz facebook page!” Like us there, and you can also follow us on Google+

Have a very Merry Christmas. Give the gift of Oz to family. They will thank you, and so will we.