Oz-Stravaganza! 2012: Programs, Signings, and Appearances

Posted on May 15, 2012 by
Oz-Stravaganza! 2012

Oz-Stravaganza! 2012

 

The time is drawing near! Only a couple of weeks to go, and I couldn’t be more excited, especially with this year’s planned events and special guests. Oz-Stravaganza! is the annual three-day festival that is sort of like an Oz-themed county fair—with outdoor rides, merchandise booths, great food, live music, shops, a parade along a quaint main street paved with yellow bricks, etc. It draws thousands of patrons annually to the picturesque village of Chittenango, New York, just minutes outside of Syracuse—the birthplace of Oz author and creator L. Frank Baum.

I have to say, I’m rather humbled to find myself listed among the glittering roster of special guests for 2012. The grand marshal for this year’s parade and festival is none other than Gregory Maguire, author of “Wicked,” its many sequels, and other terrific, best-selling books.

Gregory Maguire, author of "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West."

Gregory Maguire, author of "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West."

 

Gregory will be on hand for events and signings throughout the weekend. The special guests, other than yours truly (hard for me to believe), include the talented performer André De Shields, who created the title role in the original Broadway production of “The Wiz” in 1975. I completely wore out my cast albums of “The Wiz” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” and I can’t wait to meet him. The ever-youthful Caren Marsh-Doll, who was Judy Garland’s stand-in for MGM’s “The Wizard of Oz,” Margaret Pellegrini, who played a Munchkin 73 years ago in that famous movie, Bob Baum, great-grandson of the Oz creator, and his wife Clare, and John Fricke, renowned author and expert on all things Oz and Judy Garland. You can read bios for the special guests by CLICKING HERE.

Authors Alley has some terrific returning guests (other than yours truly) and includes first-timer Felicia Ricci, whose book “Unnaturally Green” tells a delightful behind-the-scenes account of her adventures understudying the leading role of Elphaba in the musical “Wicked,” as well as authors and illustrators Ron Baxley, Jr., Gwendolyn Tennille, Tom Hutchison, and James C. Wallace II. CLICK HERE for more information.

Needless to say, I couldn’t be more excited to be in their esteemed company.

In addition to selling and signing copies of “Silver Shoes,” I will be on hand to talk about my special pen pal when I was a wide-eyed second-grader in Kansas. Her name was Margaret Hamilton, and she is rather famous for playing a certain legendary Wicked Witch in a certain classic MGM film made in 1939! It was an unforgettable experience, and I will share my memories of meeting her and corresponding with her as part of the festivities. I am also thrilled to announce that Oz-Stravaganza! 2012 will be the debut signing event for the sequel to “Silver Shoes” … “The Powder of Life.” I will have hardcover and trade paperback copies available for this action-adventure/fantasy novel, which has just been published.

My schedule of events is still very much a work in progress with more to be added, but since permission has been granted to promote and publicize, I thought I would share it with you now. I will update and amend this as needed:

OZ-STRAVAGANZA! 2012 APPEARANCE SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30 (Pre-festival):

  • 9:30 AM on WMCR-FM Radio: “Learn and Laugh With Linda” — I will be a guest on the morning talk show along with John Fricke and Colleen Zimmer for a roundtable discussion about Oz and this year’s festival.

FRIDAY, JUNE 1:

  • 12:45 PM to 2:00 PM — The Writer’s Chair: Ceremony and Workshop at Chittenango High School. High school students have entered “The Writer’s Chair” contest, and the awards ceremony is held this day with a short discussion/workshop of writing (in small groups). I will be participating in the workshop.
  • 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM — A book-signing session at Chittenango High School.

SATURDAY, JUNE 2:

  • 2:00 PM — The Annual Oz-Stravaganza! Parade — look for me, smiling and waving!
  • 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM — A book-signing session held at the festival.
  • 6:00 PM — Stage program at the festival. I will be talking all about my second-grade pen pal, Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West!

SUNDAY, JUNE 3:

  • 11:00 AM — Royal Historian’s Writing Contest Ceremony. Bob Baum, John Fricke, Lynne Beltz (of The International Wizard of Oz Club), and I will be reading the winning short stories.
  • 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM — A book-signing session at the festival.
  • 4:00 PM — Grand finale (closing ceremony) on stage at the festival.
The 2011 Oz-Stravaganza Parade

The 2011 Oz Stravaganza! Parade as seen from my POV while I slowly navigate down the main street in town.

 

More to follow, as information becomes available! I hope you can make it to this unforgettable celebration of Baum, Oz, and the birth of their creativity, held in such a beautiful town. I’m so pleased to be going back this year!

 

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What is the Powder of Life?

Posted on May 2, 2012 by
The Powder of Life (far left) on display in the props archive of Walt Disney Studios. This is how it was depicted it in the Disney film "Return to Oz" (1985).

The Powder of Life (far left) on display in the props archive of Walt Disney Studios. This is how it was depicted it in the Disney film "Return to Oz" (1985).

 

The first question readers may have about my new book is a fairly obvious one: What is the Powder of Life? … aside from a sequel to “Silver Shoes,” that is.

Rest assured, it’s not a drug or a new beauty product—although that might appeal to some.

I will also put your mind at ease right away by telling you it isn’t important or essential that you’ve heard of it prior to reading this novel. Donald Gardner and his family and friends haven’t heard of it either. Still, if you know the history behind it—or histories, I should say, since L. Frank Baum would reinvent background stories in his Oz books from time to time—it will enhance your experience reading the book.

The Oz Wiki entry online for it says:

The Powder of Life was created by Dr. Pipt and was first tested on the Glass Cat. Dr. Pipt foolishly gave all the Powder (contained in a pepperbox with a false bottom, which also contained Dr. Nikidik’s Celebrated Wishing Pills) to the witch Mombi in exchange for a fake “Powder of Youth”. Mombi used the Powder of Life to bring Jack Pumpkinhead to life. Tip stole the Powder from her and later used it to animate the Sawhorse and the Gump. (The Marvelous Land of Oz, The Patchwork Girl of Oz)

The Wikipedia entry for it says:

The Powder of Life is a magic substance from the book series, which first appears in The Marvelous Land of Oz .

It is a magical powder that brings inanimate objects to life. The witch Mombi first obtained it from a “crooked magician.” Later in the series it is revealed that the substance is made by a Dr. Pipt. In order to make the substance, Dr. Pipt had to stir four large cauldrons for six years. Only a few grains of the powder could be made at a time. It is always described as being carried in a pepper box.

Mombi’s shaker also contained three “wishing pills” fabricated by Dr. Nikidik.

Stories begin to blur along with the details surrounding them. There are questions raised about its origins, its creator(s), how it came to exist in the Land of Oz, and exactly what it does and how it’s used.

All of this is explored in the new novel.

It also goes without saying that if you know me or follow this blog, my creative journey was deeply effected when I lost both of my parents within six months to separate illnesses while working on the book. It changed me, my writing, and this story.

What would it be like to possess an ingredient in this world that generates and stimulates life?
What exactly is life?
Where does it come from?
How long can it last?
Could we be given the power to control it?

While the novel “The Powder of Life” is most definitely an action-adventure story at its core with many exciting twists and turns in keeping with “Silver Shoes,” the themes of life, death, birth, and rebirth are examined and pondered.

The hyperlinks are already “live” for the hardcopies of my book on both Barnes & Noble and Amazon sites, and I have placed them into this blog and on my website in anticipation. Barnes & Noble has both the hardcover and trade paperback listed with a discount, which is always helpful. The ebooks, with the exception of a standard PDF version, still aren’t up (Nook and Kindle), but I’m told they’re on their way, pending publisher approval. My “author copies” (hardcover and soft) are already in the mail for my final sign-off, and then I will “officially” announce, wherever anyone will listen, that “The Powder of Life” is open for business!

 

Posted in Author's Journey, Silver Shoes (general) | 7 Comments

SILVER SHOES sequel artwork revealed!

Posted on March 12, 2012 by

At last! I am very pleased and proud to unveil the artwork for the long-awaited (at least by me!) sequel to “Silver Shoes,” entitled “The Powder of Life.”

For those of you unfamiliar with the Powder of Life, it was originally introduced in L. Frank Baum’s own sequel to “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” entitled “The Marvelous Land of Oz.” It’s a magic substance that can bring inanimate objects … anything at all … to life.

As with the first cover, this image depicts a specific scene from the story, which picks up just two weeks after the events in “Silver Shoes.” Donald Gardner and his friends Jon and Chris are involved. So are his parents Ellie and Bill, George Clarke, Owen Zeller, the mysterious “sorcerer” in the woods, and many other characters—some very familiar and some new. There are more twists and turns, more adventures, more surprises, more Oz, more Baum, and more pages to turn to find out what happens next!

The image below is the 12×18 version of the poster which will also be used for the cover (hard cover dust jacket, trade paperback, and ebook).

Publishing is forthcoming with an estimated release in all formats of “Summer 2012!”

12x18 poster art for "The Powder of Life."

12x18 poster art for "The Powder of Life."

 

 

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Leonardo DiCaprio buys Ruby Slippers and donates them to Motion Picture Academy

Posted on February 23, 2012 by
Authentic pair of Ruby Slippers, known as the "Witch's Shoes" or the "close-up pair," as seen in MGM's 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz."

Authentic pair of Ruby Slippers, known as the "Witch's Shoes" or the "close-up pair," as seen in MGM's 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz."

 

February 22, 2012. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has spearheaded a small group of “angel donors” that also includes Steven Spielberg and Terry Semel and has purchased the most pristine pair of Ruby Slippers worn by actress Judy Garland in the movie “The Wizard of Oz.” They donated the famous pumps to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for their Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

These slippers, known as the “Witch’s Shoes,” are in the most pristine condition of the four pairs of ruby slippers known to exist. It is widely believed that these are the slippers Judy Garland wore in close-ups and insert shots, most famously when Dorothy clicks her heels three times to return to Kansas. They are called the “Witch’s Shoes” because they are likely the pair seen on the feet of the Wicked Witch of the East after Dorothy’s house falls on the witch.

Another reason they are called the “close-up pair” is because they lack the orange felt adhered to the soles of other existing authentic pairs. The felt was used to muffle their sounds during filming. The “close-up” pair has its soles painted red, exactly as seen sticking out from under Dorothy’s house in the Munchkinland sequence. They have minimal wear, since it is believed they were only used for specific close-up shots in the movie.

These are the same pair that went up for auction on December 16, 2011, and failed to sell when they didn’t meet a reserve bid of $2 million. Leonardo approached the seller with a private offer and a deal has now been made.

For more information and the rest of the article, please CLICK HERE.

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Kansas middle school project inspired by “Silver Shoes”

Posted on February 2, 2012 by
Student-made diorama comparing "The Wizard of Oz" to "Silver Shoes."

Student-made diorama comparing "The Wizard of Oz" to "Silver Shoes."

 

I was truly bowled over today after I received a thank-you message from a teacher I met at the Kansas Reading Association’s annual conference last October. To my surprise and great delight, Karla Smallwood from Oswego Middle School in Oswego, Kansas, informed me she had chosen Silver Shoes for a classroom project with her eighth-graders. They were asked to compare and contrast various scenes from my novel with the film version of The Wizard of Oz, tying the two stories together from these two different media.

The photo above shows Dorothy Gale wearing the Ruby Slippers, journeying down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City with her beloved companions, while on the left, I see sixth-grader Donald Gardner, on his own quest for the Silver Shoes, standing next to the winding stream just outside the mysterious castle hidden in a forest in Germany.

The photo below is captioned as depicting one of the portals described in my book that leads from our world to Oz. I can also see the medieval German castle from Silver Shoes right next to it.

Students from Oswego Middle School in Oswego, Kansas, working on dioramas that depict scenes from the novel "Silver Shoes."

Students from Oswego Middle School in Oswego, Kansas, working on dioramas that depict scenes from the novel "Silver Shoes."

 

I have to say that learning about this project and seeing these photos has been incredibly touching to me. To find others becoming inspired by the adventure story of Silver Shoes in such a creative and thoughtful way has, in turn, inspired me yet again as an author. You can see more photos of these students working on their dioramas in various stages by clicking here.

As I forge the final chapters of my first draft for the sequel to Silver Shoes, I can’t think of a more stimulating way to spur me to the finish line.

 

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Oz-Stravaganza! in 2012 – A nice writeup on Syracuse.com!

Posted on December 7, 2011 by

I’m thrilled to share the news that I’ll be heading back to beautiful Chittenango, New York, the birthplace of Oz author L. Frank Baum, for their annual Oz-Stravaganza! festival in 2012! The three-day event (June 1-3), which draws a whopping 15,000 attendees annually, was a true highlight for me in 2011.

I’ve been invited back to join their forthcoming celebration, this time as a “special guest,” in a rather humbling lineup that includes original Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini from the 1939 MGM film of “The Wizard of Oz,” recording artist Grayson Hugh (“Talk It Over”), and Andre De Shields, who starred as the title role in the original 1975 Broadway production of “The Wiz.”

I will be discussing the genesis of my novel “Silver Shoes,” including Oz and Baum inspirations and the creative process for writing the story, plus I’ll be doing a presentation about my wonderful pen pal when I was seven years old and in the second grade—none other than Margaret Hamilton herself, the Wicked Witch of the West!

There is a nice writeup today announcing my participation along with the other special guests on Syracuse.com:

Author Paul Miles Schneider will be attending to talk about his 2009 book “Silver Shoes,” which attempts to unravel the secrets behind the silver shoes in Frank Baum’s original story, changed to ruby red slippers for the movie.

Marc Baum adds that Schneider was also pen pals with Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West in the original MGM film. Schenider will share some of their correspondence at the event.

Read the full article by CLICKING HERE.

UPDATE:  (2/1/2012) It has been announced today that renowned “Wicked” author Gregory Maguire will be joining the line-up as the grand marshall for Oz-Stravaganza! 2012. This even just keeps getting better and better! Can’t wait ’til June!

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“Hollywood Treasures” on Syfy Channel features stolen Ruby Slippers!

Posted on December 1, 2011 by

On a recent episode of Hollywood Treasures on the Syfy Channel entitled “Justice For Dorothy,” host Joe Maddalena attempts to retrace footsteps at the scene of the crime for one of Hollywood’s biggest unsolved mysteries: the stolen pair of Ruby Slippers formerly owned by Michael Shaw and worn by Judy Garland in the MGM film The Wizard of Oz.

I posted about this unsolved crime early on in this blog and included an in-depth 2009 article from the Minnesota Monthly, so this is really a follow-up companion piece. The video doesn’t shed much, if any, new light on the case, but it features glimpses of Michael Shaw’s residence, where I saw his (now stolen) pair of shoes among hundreds of other incredible props and costumes in his private collection. It was that visit and encounter with his Ruby Slippers that inspired me, perhaps more than anything else, to write my novel “Silver Shoes.”

For MGM Oz fans, this 2-part video posted on YouTube on October 5, 2011, also showcases the interior of the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, featuring some additional Oz movie memorabilia, most notably the 1800s carriage seen in the Emerald City, pulled by the Horse of a Different Color, during “The Merry Old Land of Oz” musical sequence. I was surprised to learn of its historical connection to Abraham Lincoln as well!

Part One:
(includes interview with Michael Shaw)

Part Two:
(includes Judy Garland Museum)

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This year, decorate the holidays in SILVER!

Posted on November 19, 2011 by
New "Silver Shoes" holiday ad.

New "Silver Shoes" holiday ad.

 

The perfect gift for friends and loved-ones this holiday season. Now available in hardcover, trade paperback, and popular ebook formats: Kindle and Nook!

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Kansas Reading Association’s 2011 Annual Conference in Emporia

Posted on October 23, 2011 by
KRA 2011 Annual Convention

A wide range of vendors setting up for the day at the Kansas Reading Association's 2011 annual conference in Visser Hall, Emporia State University. Emporia, Kansas.

 

Fellow authors Roy Bird and Wyatt Townley, who were also part of the guest panel.

Fellow authors Roy Bird and Wyatt Townley, who were also part of the guest panel.

 

The audience of convention attendees begins to gather for our 10:00 a.m. panel discussion with authors.

The audience of convention attendees begins to gather for our 10:00 a.m. panel discussion with authors.

 

Kansas Reading Association's 2011 annual convention luncheon.

Kansas Reading Association's 2011 annual convention luncheon.

 

Paul Miles Schneider signs copies of "Silver Shoes" for the afternoon book-signing session of the Kansas Reading Association's 2011 annual convention.

Paul Miles Schneider signs copies of "Silver Shoes" for the afternoon book-signing session of the Kansas Reading Association's 2011 annual convention.

 

A group of Kansas University education majors with Paul Miles Schneider, author of "Silver Shoes," at the 2011 KRA annual convention. A terrific group of future teachers. Their enthusiasm was contagious!

A group of Kansas University education majors with Paul Miles Schneider, author of "Silver Shoes," at the 2011 KRA annual convention. A terrific group of future teachers. Their enthusiasm was contagious!

 

The morning session of the Kansas Reading Association’s 2011 annual convention was a big success! I met a lot of wonderful people, enjoyed reconnecting with the familiar faces of fellow Kansas authors, and sold a lot of books to enthusiastic convention attendees. I had a short break afterward, which allowed me to explore a bit of beautiful downtown Emporia before an afternoon book-signing at Town Crier Bookstore.

Downtown Emporia, Kansas. 2011.

Downtown Emporia, Kansas. 2011. Oddly enough, in all my years growing up in Kansas, this was my first trip to Emporia, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

 

Granada Theatre marquee in Emporia, Kansas.

Granada Theatre marquee in Emporia, Kansas. I was given complimentary gift certificates to The Sweet Granada - A Chocolate Cafe, and the Granada Coffee Co., which I happily used during my visit. Nothing says "welcome to town" quite like a cup of java and chocolate!

 

The store front of Town Crier Bookstore in Emporia, Kansas. 2011.

The store front of Town Crier Bookstore in Emporia, Kansas. 2011.

 

Catching up with a childhood friend, Lori Herbel Grimmett, at the Town Crier Bookstore signing in Emporia, Kansas. Lori is an elementary school teacher in Emporia.

Catching up with a childhood friend, Lori Herbel Grimmett, at the Town Crier Bookstore signing in Emporia, Kansas. Lori is an elementary school teacher in Emporia.

 

Lori Herbel Grimmett and her son, an avid eight-year-old reader, search for a new book together at Town Crier Bookstore in Emporia, Kansas.

Lori Herbel Grimmett and her son, an avid eight-year-old reader, search for a new book together at Town Crier Bookstore in Emporia, Kansas.

 

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KRA Book-Signing at Town Crier Bookstore

Posted on October 19, 2011 by

Title: KRA Book-Signing at Town Crier Bookstore
Location: 716 Commercial St., Emporia, KS 66801
Link out: Click here
Description: Town Crier Bookstore will be hosting a book-signing in conjunction with the Kansas Reading Association’s annual convention. Paul will be on hand for this event, which is open to the public, selling and signing copies of his novel “Silver Shoes.”
Date:  Friday, Oct. 21, 2011
Start Time:  4:00 p.m.
End Time:  8:00 p.m.

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