Book One: The Orphan Sorceress of Oz

The Orphan Sorceress

The Orphan Sorceress of Oz is the first volume of The Hidden History of Oz saga, written by author Tarl Telford.

In this epic prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, journey with a young sorceress, Glinda, as she steps out of her sheltered life into a world of bitter enemies and loyal friends, unwanted destinies and impossible choices. Experience the heartache of opportunities lost, and the thrill of exciting new adventures. Enjoy the whimsy and wonder of growing up in the Land of Oz, where magic rules, and every freedom comes with a price.

The Story

The Land of Oz is powered by human dreams. This means that what happens on earth affects Oz in a profound and meaningful way. Filtered dreams create the magic. But what if a dreamer from our world traveled to Oz?

Everyone knows the story of Dorothy, Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion. How the Wizard was a humbug. It was a magical journey over the rainbow that enchanted generations of readers. Now look back a lifetime before Dorothy traveled to the Emerald City—before the Emerald City even existed. Oz was a land asleep, but it is about to awaken to a magical reality unlike anything it has ever known.

The Celtic roots of Oz reach back more than one thousand years. It has a past full of Witches and warriors fighting to control the magic of the land.

Glinda is the teenage daughter of the Ruby Sorceress, trapped in her so-called perfect life—stuck in a tower with books, locked away to protect her from the Wicked Witches until the fateful day when she will join her mother in the sorcerous arts.

With her sixteenth birthday approaching, all Glinda wants is freedom—from her life, from her parents, and from all of their expectations. Her mother has a plan, and Glinda has a plan. At the Abracadabra Bazaar, Glinda is expected to dress nice and play her part, but her red-haired rebellion ruins everything. Humiliated, she runs away and rejects all offers of help. Her temporary disappearance leaves a huge opening in her life—plenty of room for the devious Wicked Witches to step in wreak havoc.

Now orphaned and alone, Glinda runs for her life, questioning the freedom she thought she wanted. But no place in Oz is safe from the reach of the Wicked Witches. Until one day a giant balloon from the far-off land of America drops through a magic hole in the sky and changes everything. Glinda befriends this young balloonist and ventriloquist and discovers courage through his stories of freedom and independence. His dreams change the land. They call him the Wizard. With the Wizard at her side, Glinda is emboldened. She stops running and faces the Witches and their armies.

If she can win the day against impossible odds, Glinda (and the entire Land of Oz) will be safe. The destiny of this magical land rests in the hands of two dreamers—a sorceress and a wizard. If they can conquer fear and overcome their troubled past, they will find a love for the ages and a brighter future for Oz. If not, their shadows will blanket Oz in an everlasting nightmare.

Journey with Glinda as she steps out of her sheltered life into a world of bitter enemies and loyal friends, unwanted destinies and impossible choices. Experience the heartache of opportunities lost, and the thrill of exciting new adventures. Enjoy the whimsy and wonder of growing up in a land where magic rules, and every freedom comes with a price.

Courage and adventure await in The Hidden History of Oz, a prequel series to L. Frank Baum’s classic novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The Hidden History of Oz, Book One: The Orphan Sorceress of OzWitch Queens is a fun-filled fantastic adventure for ages 10 and up.

Guide for Parents including educational value, positive messages, language, and more, included on the blog and in the book Appendix. This is intended to provide parents with the information they need to determine if the book is a good fit for their child, to provide questions for discussion, and to list the categories of events and situations contained in the book.