Author Interview with Laura DeNooyer & a Giveaway

I’m delighted that my first interview of 2025 is with my friend, Laura DeNooyer. Her incredible Biographical Literary Novel, A Hundred Magical Reasons, released on January 7. If you enjoy classic literature, split-time fiction, fairy tales, or you’re a Frank L. Baum fan, you’re going to love it. (You can find a link to my review below)

Enjoy reading Laura’s interview and then leave a comment below by January 14 for a chance to win a copy of her book. (Paperback for a US winner OR an ebook for international winner)

Welcome, Laura. I’m so glad you’re here! Let’s jump right in with talking about your novel. Is A Hundred Magical Reasons inspired by true events or personal history?

This novel is biographical historical fiction about L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Therefore, many story events are based on his life, family, and career ups and downs. 

Baum was a larger-than-life guy with an unstoppable imagination. 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.

From 1898 to 1910, Baum, his wife Maud, and their 4 sons spent summers at Macatawa Resort—between Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa—near Holland. This just happens to be the same lake where my family vacations annually! Learning that sparked additional interest in his life. 

Furthermore, I grew up in southwest Michigan not far from this setting. I’ve integrated certain family situations (based on my ancestors) into the story.

That’s so cool! Tell us about the premise of A Hundred Magical Reasons.

Imagination plays a huge role in the story. My main character Janie is at odds with her very religious, 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 . . . 8-year-old Janie meets 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 88-year-old Mrs. Gordon) unveils her childhood troubles to Carrie, they both make some startling discoveries. 

This is such a unique and compelling storyline. I’m sure there was much research involved. How did you tackle that?

With so many conflicting “facts” about Baum, I needed help. Baum’s great-granddaughter, Gita Dorothy Morena, directed me to Michael Patrick Hearn, the renown Oz/Baum scholar. Both he (through emails) and his book The Annotated Wizard of Oz were of great value to me. I’m grateful for his help in sorting out fact from fiction.

I also had to research things about sailing, Nellie Bly, how to start a restaurant, how to operate an old-fashioned printing press, and poisons. 

I can only imagine the hours you spent getting all the details just right. What do you hope your readers take away from A Hundred Magical Reasons?

Baum’s stories are all about stirring the child’s imagination, and that’s a key element of my novel. I firmly believe that 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 imaginations.

Other themes are woven in too. A Hundred Magical Reasons would make a great book club book. I hope the story raises questions and produces some pondering.

I love to see my grandchildren using their imaginations, which seems rarer these days for kids than in times past. Which character in A Hundred Magical Reasons was easiest for you to write and why? Which character presented the biggest challenge?

Carrie is 22 in 1980 and just happened to attend the same college I did, have the same major, and finish the same year! We even had some of the same insecurities. So writing her seemed natural at times. Even so, we’re also quite different from each other. She’s a great cook and spurned a career in teaching, while I pursued one. 

Baum was my biggest challenge. My purpose went beyond just getting the facts straight about his life. I wanted to create his essence on the page so that readers would experience what it was like to be with him.

Since I’ve read your book already, I can say you succeeded! What is one of your favorite quotes from A Hundred Magical Reasons?

“Are you going to live by your passions or your fears?” One of those fears is being yourself vs. wearing a mask.

Another favorite is: “Sugar sweetens everything it touches. Like books and stories. They flavor your whole life. They sweeten every day.” 

I highlighted the “sugar” quote on my Kindle while reading your book. It’s a good one, among many other wonderful quotes. How many unpublished and unfinished manuscripts do you have? Any plans to pursue publication for any of them?

Many! While I was busy raising a family, I did some writing on the side (and published one book), but now with an empty nest, I want to do something with all those manuscripts. Of my novels, I have 3 stories that are contemporary women’s fiction, 1 Biblical fiction, 1 historical fiction, and a fantasy series! I’m all over the board. But the one I plan on publishing next (I hope), is another split-time novel set in a small Wisconsin town, with a contemporary and 1950s timeline. 

I really enjoy split-time stories, but I’m sure it’s a challenge to write one well. Maybe I’ll tackle it one day. LOL What advice would you give an aspiring author?

Same answer as above! “Are you going to live by your passions or your fears?”

There’s much to fear in the writing world: hard work, criticism, and rejection, for starters. But if you love writing stories, then stick to it, no matter what! Surround yourself with knowledgeable people on the same road.

Also, join a quality writers group that will give you honest feedback with tact. You need to be challenged and pushed, but always with encouragement and kindness. 

I couldn’t agree more! Thanks so much for sharing on my blog this week, Laura. And I wish you God’s best and great success on the launch of this book and the many that will follow.

Join the conversation. Have you read any books by L. Frank Baum? Are you a Wizard of Oz fan? Does Laura’s novel pique your curiosity?

Be sure to comment below by January 14 for a chance to win a copy of A Hundred Magical Reasons. (Paperback for a US winner OR ebook for international)

Please share Laura’s interview on social media to help spread the word about her book!

If you missed my special New Year’s video message last week, find it HERE.