Finding Dorothy

This richly imagined novel tells the story behind The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book that inspired the iconic film, through the eyes of author L. Frank Baum’s intrepid wife, Maud. “A breathtaking read that will transport you over the rainbow and into the heart of one of America’s most enduring fairy tales.”—Lisa Wingate, author of Before We Were Yours Hollywood, 1938: As soon as she learns that M-G-M is adapting her late husband’s masterpiece for the screen, seventy-seven-year-old Maud Gage Baum sets about trying to finagle her way onto the set. Nineteen years after Frank’s passing, Maud is the only person who can help the producers stay true to the spirit of the book—because she’s the only one left who knows its secrets. But the moment she hears Judy Garland rehearsing the first notes of “Over the Rainbow,” Maud recognizes the yearning that defined her own life story, from her youth as a suffragette’s daughter to her coming of age as one of the first women in the Ivy League, from her blossoming romance with Frank to the hardscrabble prairie years that inspired The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Judy reminds Maud of a young girl she cared for and tried to help in South Dakota, a dreamer who never got her happy ending. Now, with the young actress under pressure from the studio as well as her ambitious stage mother, Maud resolves to protect her—the way she tried so hard to protect the real Dorothy. The author of two New York Times bestselling nonfiction books, The Eighty-Dollar Champion and The Perfect Horse, Elizabeth Letts is a master at discovering and researching a rich historical story and transforming it into a page-turner. Finding Dorothy is the result of Letts’s journey into the amazing lives of Frank and Maud Baum. Written as fiction but based closely on the truth, Elizabeth Letts’s new book tells a story of love, loss, inspiration, and perseverance, set in America’s heartland. Praise for Finding Dorothy “In some ways reminiscent of Jerry Stahl’s excellent I, Fatty, Letts’ Finding Dorothy combines exhaustive research with expansive imagination, blending history and speculation into a seamless tapestry. . . . It’s a testament to Letts’ skill that she can capture on the page, without benefit of audio, that same emotion we have all felt sometime over the last 80 years while listening to ‘Over the Rainbow.’”—BookPage (starred review)

'A captivating and insightful backstage pass into a timeless classic' Candis Behind the most famous movie ever made is a tale of love, magic and one incredible woman Hollywood, 1938: As soon as she learns that M-G-M is adapting her late husband's masterpiece, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, for the screen, Maud Gage Baum sets about trying to visit the set. Nineteen years after Frank's passing, Maud is the only person who can help the producers stay true to the spirit of the book - because she's the only one left who knows its secrets... But the moment she hears Judy Garland rehearsing the first notes of 'Over the Rainbow', Maud recognizes the yearning that defined her own life story, from her rebellious youth as a suffragette's daughter to her coming of age as one of the first women in the Ivy League, from her blossoming romance with Frank to the hardscrabble prairie years that inspired his famous work. With the young actress under pressure from the studio as well as her ambitious stage mother, Maud resolves to protect her - the way she tried so hard to protect the real Dorothy. This richly imagined novel tells the story behind The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book that inspired the iconic film, through the eyes of author L. Frank Baum's intrepid wife, Maud. 'Maud's life behind-the-scenes and the making of the film are uncovered in a thrilling, magical way' My Weekly

Edwardian cover girl and silent screen star Dorothy Gibson survived the Titanic, a disastrous marriage, even the horrors of a World War II concentration camp, but history didn't spare her. Randy Bryan Bigham reclaims the story of a life forgotten. Finding Dorothy, the first biography of model and actress Dorothy Gibson (1889-1946), provides an analysis of her work as the muse of artist Harrison Fisher, and offers a critique of her brief but successful career as one of the first leading ladies in American silent cinema. Dorothy Gibson's experiences in the 1912 sinking of the Titanic are related in detail as is the making of Saved From the Titanic, the first motion picture produced about the disaster, in which Dorothy herself starred. 6x9 Hardcover Dust Jacket 179 pp, 84 ill. First Published 2005 New Edition Released 2012 Revised Edition Printed 2014

A groundbreaking new look at the author of an iconic American novel--"The Wizard of Oz"--this biography offers profound new insights into the true origins and meaning behind L. Frank Baum's 1900 masterwork.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has been enchanting audiences since it was first published in 1900. While many fans may know the work only by its movie counterpart, the world L. Frank Baum built within the books is much more elaborate. Since the more recent publication of Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Broadway play of the same name, fans have had a rekindled interest in Baum's original works from which the retellings draw heavily. Anyone interested in fantasy, magic, and silliness is sure to love this American classic.L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) is one of the most recognized and beloved children's authors, though he is often recognized for only one of his many stories. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is easily his most popular work, though Baum actually wrote 13 sequels in Oz. His writings consist of practically every genre: Baum wrote 55 novels in total, 82 short stories, more than 200 poems, as well as scripts, and other miscellaneous writings. Interestingly, many of his non-Oz works were published under pseudonyms. Baum made many attempts to bring his work to stage and screen, but the most successful productions were not made until after his death.

Take a magical journey over the rainbow with this unique offering of a beautifully illustrated book accompanied by a CD Whimsical illustrations and a recording of the beloved song by Judy Collins make this the perfect picture book for bedtime or music class Breathtaking and magical artwork by the critically-acclaimed illustrator of Puff The Magic Dragon will carry young readers from a little red farmhouse up over the rainbow, into the sky where bluebirds fly and castles rise high in the clouds, and beyond. The extraordinary soundtrack for this magnificent picture book is performed by the Grammy Award winning Judy Collins, who has recorded what might be the very best version of "Over the Rainbow" ever sung. Her version of this classic will delight and touch the heart of every parent and child who listens. As an added bonus, the enclosed CD also contains two delightful additional songs recorded by Judy Collins: "White Choral Bells" and "I See the Moon."

'A gripping and pacy thriller with a clever, twisty plot' CLAIRE DOUGLAS 'Full of twists and Koomson's trademark heart and compassion' HEAT Pieta has a secret. Ten years ago, Pieta survived a weekend with a sadistic serial killer. She never told anyone what happened and instead moved on with her life. But now, the man who kidnapped her is hunting down his past victims meaning she may have to tell her deepest secret to stay alive . . . Jody has a secret. Fifteen years ago, policewoman Jody made a terrible mistake that resulted in a serial killer escaping justice. When she discovers journalist Pieta is one of his living victims, Jody realises she has a way to catch him - even if it means endangering Pieta's life . . . They keep quiet to protect themselves. Will telling all save or sacrifice each other? The gripping new emotional thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Ice Cream Girls, My Best Friend's Girl and My Other Husband. READERS LOVE DOROTHY KOOMSON 'Kept me guessing until the end' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'I was floored' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'The best story teller there is. Every single book just has me on edge' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Koomson just gets better and better' WOMAN & HOME 'An instantly involving psychological thriller' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Written with verve and insight' STYLIST 'The very definition of a page-turner' HARRIET TYCE 'Get it now. It's sensational' STEVE CAVANAGH

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The dramatic and inspiring story of a man and his horse, an unlikely duo whose rise to stardom in the sport of show jumping captivated the nation Harry de Leyer first saw the horse he would name Snowman on a truck bound for the slaughterhouse. The recent Dutch immigrant recognized the spark in the eye of the beaten-up nag and bought him for eighty dollars. On Harry’s modest farm on Long Island, he ultimately taught Snowman how to fly. Here is the dramatic and inspiring rise to stardom of an unlikely duo. One show at a time, against extraordinary odds and some of the most expensive thoroughbreds alive, the pair climbed to the very top of the sport of show jumping. Their story captured the heart of Cold War–era America—a story of unstoppable hope, inconceivable dreams, and the chance to have it all. They were the longest of all longshots—and their win was the stuff of legend.