In this interview, I chat with Hazel Gaynor about ⁠⁠Before Dorothy, why this story appeals to everyone not just The Wizard of Oz fans, The Wizard of Oz book is celebrating 125 years, how she was a fan of the book first, the title and cover, why she chose the setting she did, and much more.

Hazel's recommended reads are:

1. Elphie by Gregory Maguire
2. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel
3. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠for a set price here⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.

⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Before Dorothy can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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