About the Book
Book: A Hundred Magical Reasons
Author: Laura DeNooyer
Genre: Biographical historical fiction, literary
fiction, book club fiction
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Most fairy tales have
happy endings, but is it too late for this one? After all, Mrs. Charlotte Rose
Gordon, the disgruntled town recluse, is eighty-eight and has grown weary of
fighting the dragons of her past—including the desire to clear her husband’s
name of a 1918 crime.
Dragons of a different
kind pursue Carrie Kruisselbrink.
During 1980, the summer of
her private rebellion, Carrie defies parental expectations and pursues her café
dream. While waiting for funding, she takes a job with Mrs. Gordon.
As Mrs. Gordon unfolds the
story of her oppressive childhood and delightful friendship with The
Wonderful Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum, Carrie never expects to
encounter her own fears and soul-searching.
In this modern-day fairy
tale that weaves between 1980 and the early 1900s, Mr. Baum’s influence impacts
each woman’s personal quests on a hero’s journey neither anticipates. Can
Carrie and Mrs. Gordon find common ground in battling their respective dragons?
Click here
to get your copy!
About the Author
Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and an award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels are perfect for fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Erin Bartels, or Amanda Cox. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.
More from Laura
Smitten!
That was me—smitten—after
reading a biography about L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard
of Oz (1900). Baum was an innovative, larger-than-life personality—no
surprise there, given that he created the Land of Oz.
He was also a family man
with a keen understanding of children and a high regard for women. (His
mother-in-law was a suffragist!) His humor and creativity gave him the capacity
to bounce back from failure many times.
Having always wanted to
write a novel set in the turn of the century, Baum fit perfectly into my plans.
Fun fact: The Baum family
summered at the same lake where our family vacations yearly. Though we were at
opposite ends of Lake Macatawa near Holland, Michigan—and opposite ends of the
century—I felt a connection.
Unstoppable Imagination
meets Doubt & Fear
Imagination plays a huge
role in the story. My main character Janie is at odds with her rigid parents
who have no use for fiction, fantasy, or fairy tales. She is only allowed to
read The New England Primer, The Pilgrim’s Progress,
and the Bible. Then eight-year-old Janie meets the inimitable L. Frank
Baum who stretches her imagination in every way possible. This is a major
tension throughout the story.
This ties to 1980, where
my protagonist Carrie wants to run a literary-themed café against her
parents’ wishes. They have their own goals for her. As grown-up Janie (now
eighty-eight-year-old Mrs. Gordon) unveils her childhood troubles to Carrie, they
both make startling discoveries.
Bonded by stories and
baking Oz-inspired recipes, Carrie and Mrs. Gordon’s intergenerational
friendship gradually grows and deepens—one facing fears about her future, the
other living with regrets about her past.
Brains, Heart, &
Courage
Whether you’re an Oz fan
or not, I believe you’ll enjoy getting to know L. Frank Baum. Besides getting
the facts straight, I wanted to create his essence on the page so readers
experience what it was like to sit on the Baums’ Macatawa porch with him, whether
running a printing press or drinking lemonade.
Baum’s stories are all
about stirring the child’s imagination, and that’s a key element of my novel.
Since we’re all made in the Creator’s image, everybody is creative in their own
way. I hope this story inspires readers to use their own imagination to pursue
dreams.
But dreams only grow in
the soil of confidence. As Mrs. Gordon challenges Carrie, “Do you want to live
by your passions or by your fears?” One of those fears is being yourself vs.
wearing a mask.
Join the journey of two
women who are hugely impacted by the wisdom, heart, and courage of the creator
of Oz.
Blog Stops
Simple
Harvest Reads, May 22 (Author Interview)
Artistic
Nobody, May 23 (Author Interview)
Lights
in a Dark World, May 23
Guild Master,
May 24 (Author Interview)
Texas
Book-aholic, May 25
Fiction
Book Lover, May 26 (Author Interview)
The
Bookish Ledger, May 27 (Author Interview)
Paula’s
Pad of Inspiration, May 28 (Author Interview)
Cover
Lover Book Review, May 29
History,
Hope & Happily Ever After, May 30 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s
Dusty Deliberations, May 30
Vicky Sluiter,
May 31 (Author Interview)
For
the Love of Literature, June 1 (Author Interview)
A Modern Day
Fairy Tale, June 2 (Author Interview)
For Him
and My Family, June 3
Truth and Grace
Homeschool Academy, June 4
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour,
Laura is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback
copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the
blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://gleam.io/fbEmw/a-hundred-magical-reasons-celebration-tour-giveaway
