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Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. As a Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and a multi-award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. Laura has served as president of her American Christian Fiction Writers chapter. When not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.
Visit Laura’s Standout Stories website & blog at
lauradenooyer-author.com
Visit Journey to Imagination blog here.
For writing updates, tips, freebies, recipes, giveaways, anecdotes, and book recommendations, join Laura’s monthly newsletter at
A-Taste-Of-Oz-Cookbook-Sampler.com
Amazon author profile
Bookbub author profile
Goodreads author profile
Most fairy tales have happy endings, but is it too late for this one?
A Hundred Magical Reasons is biographical historical fiction based on the life of The Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum. This story encompasses a child’s unlikely friendship with Mr. Baum and his influence across four generations, a young woman following a risky dream, and an old woman haunted by regret as she reveals her past.
Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction, Dual Timeline (early 1900s & 1980), Literary
AWARDS:
Illumination Book Awards—Bronze Award in General Fiction (February 2025)
Literary Titan Gold Book Award for Fiction—March 7, 2025
Literary Titan editorial review
Readers’ Favorites Reviews—three five-star reviews
ENDORSEMENTS:
“A tale of forgotten stories and hidden truths, where imagination holds the key to a past that shapes the future. Laura DeNooyer’s A Hundred Magical Reasons is a journey through time and heart—a captivating blend of history, whimsy, and the enduring power of storytelling. An enchanting story that blurs the lines between past and present, reality and imagination. Laura DeNooyer has crafted a spellbinding tale that reminds us of the magic within our own lives.” ~ Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea and The Story She Left Behind
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“Theologian and writer Frederick Buchner wrote that a great story should do three things: Seek, treasure, and tell secrets. Laura DeNooyer has accomplished all three with singularity. Her characters are all seeking something that matters—a place of their own, belonging, family, love, and more. There are dozens of moments to treasure in this story that moves between eras, sprinkling literary references like confetti that will never need to be cleaned up later. As for secrets … Janie and Carrie each have their own. Even L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, unveils a few. This mesmerizing saga is beautifully written, a treasure for all ages, an epic story you won’t want to ever leave. I didn’t.” ~ Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of Across the Crying Sands
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“You don’t have to be a fan of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to become fully engrossed in Laura DeNooyer’s charming tale, but you might be one by the time you reach the last page. One of my favorite quotes from the book— “Coming here was like indulging in chocolate fudge after months of cold porridge”—perfectly describes my feelings as I turned pages filled with fascinating, well-developed characters and settings that transported me to each location. DeNooyer brings L. Frank Baum, author of the Oz books, to life with such whimsical detail, I found myself wishing I too could have become friends with him. This delightful story is a must-read.” ~ Michelle Shocklee, award-winning author of What We Thought We Knew and Appalachian Spring
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“Embark on an enchanting journey as a young woman and an older companion form an unexpected bond, their deep connection rooted in a love for books. Through the pages of L. Frank Baum’s tales, they unravel surprising parallels in their childhoods, weaving a heartwarming narrative of friendship and shared aspirations.” ~ Suzanne Woods Fisher, bestselling author of The Moonlight School
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“Impressively researched and beautifully told, A Hundred Magical Reasons paints a portrait of two true-to-life women who experience redemptive power in their lives. It’s a story full of heart, brains, and courage!” ~ Amanda Wen, Carol Award-winning author of The Rhythm of Fractured Grace and The Songs That Could Have Been
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“Laura DeNooyer crafts a superb story where generations of characters discover their passions with the encouragement of L. Frank Baum’s words and friendship. As imagination leaps from the page, DeNooyer draws wisdom and whimsy from fairytales and allegories to help her characters find their happily-ever-after. Creativity and charm will steal your heart and keep you turning pages in this fresh, inspiring story of remaining true to yourself in the Slough of Despond.” ~ Barbara M. Britton, Amazon bestselling author of the Tribes of Israel series
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“Ms. DeNooyer has painted a beautiful, fanciful picture of life with Wizard of Oz author Frank Baum with her new dual time novel. The dialog is rich and captivating and pulls the reader and the main historical character away from the harsh realities the little girl faces. Several generations later, another young woman is also looking for escape and freedom from her stringent parents. It’s a wonderful story revealing the only source of true freedom. Ms. De Nooyer is a talented author and creates vivid pictures for her readers that will leave them mesmerized and pondering the message of the book long after they close the final satisfying page.” ~ Liz Tolsma, bestselling author of What I Left for You and What I Promise You
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“Laura DeNooyer blends original characters with the real-life author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in a wonderful novel of her own. While the relationship DeNooyer’s Janie has with L. Frank Baum is fiction, Baum’s character rings true—her research accurately capturing the details of his life. But this isn’t about him; his influence on a child becomes the catalyst in a family drama that unfolds across generations. I was pulled into the lives of Carrie and Janie, hoping each would find her fairytale ending. By the close of the book, I not only wanted a sequel, I also wanted a companion cookbook and a soundtrack!” ~ Jane Albright, former president of the International Wizard of Oz Club
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“This book is a reader’s delight, a page-turner that keeps you guessing until the very end, a story that stays with you long after you read the last page.” ~ Olivia Rae, author of A Life Reclaimed and Secrets of the Queens series
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“L. Frank Baum comes to life in the pages of A Hundred Magical Reasons. So does Janie, his young protege during his years at Macatawa Resort. Even Carrie, coming of age in the turbulent 1970s, falls under his spell. So, who am I to resist the lure of the Wizard of Words? The characters, the drama, and beautiful Lake Macatawa are all worth another visit.” ~ Anita Klumpers, author of Winter Watch, A Murder of Crows, and The Lady with the Alligator Case
Are secrets worth the price they cost to keep?
Ten-year-old Tina Hamilton finds out the hard way. In 1968, trouble erupts when northern exploitation threatens her southern Appalachian town. Her father’s hidden past collides with the present, mirroring the clash of progressive ideas and small town values.
Genre: Southern Fiction, Literary, Historical, Coming of Age, Family drama, small town & rural fiction
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing, 2012
Awards:
- Semifinalist for Serious Writer “Book of the Decade” (2022 & 2023)
- Winner of Artisan Book Reviews “Book Excellence Award” (2022)
PRAISE FOR ALL THAT IS HIDDEN
“For fans of historical fiction with heart and soul, All That Is Hidden is a beautiful gem of a book with fascinating characters. This 5 star, one-of-a-kind novel is a book you won’t want to put down.” ~ Artisan Book Reviews
“This novel captures a vivid sense of life in a family-bonded community in the Appalachian mountains, one in which many readers will see themselves growing up through Little League baseball and major league heroes at a time and place when children spent more time out ranging in the fields and woods than in front of electronic gadgets. The story gives such a strong sense of family interactions that you’ll feel you’ve been invited to a reunion, rich in good food and conversation that often makes you laugh–but also presses on some deep wounds. Central is the clash of progress with a small tight-knit community in which people can be deeply concerned with the work and interests of their neighbors.” ~ Dr. Steve Eberly, Western Carolina University
“All That Is Hidden is a beautiful novel, the kind of book that sweeps you up in its story, makes you fall in love with its characters, and breaks your heart along with theirs when they go through suffering. The “secret,” or, more accurately, secrets, of the first line of this book are artfully hidden throughout the novel, making their ultimate revelation both truly shocking and truly poignant. Tina is a very good narrator, but it is her father and his character who steals the novel– his life story is both original and compelling, and the pain and grace he experiences drew tears to this reader’s eyes.” ~ Writer’s Digest
“There’s a touch of Laura Ingalls Wilder simplicity in the descriptions of home life, crafts, cooking and chores, a sprinkling of Stephen King in its authentic portrayal of small-town life and dialogue, and a dash of To Kill a Mockingbird in its deeper themes of truth, trust, love, betrayal and forgiveness. That’s one heck of a mix.”
~ Ariane Jenkins, Epinions
“No reader can help but be drawn into the mesmerizing and absorbing world of Tina Hamilton, be transported back to 1968, to Currie Hill, to a world where family values and community held real meaning . . . This richly layered story is a most rewarding read . . . and heart-wrenching to realize the moment when a child sees the truth about a parent, and loses an idol, creating an emptiness that only forgiveness can heal. The gentle power of this book gains momentum until it reaches a dramatic and moving end.”
~ Ann Emanuel, Commuter Week
“My extended family is from the hills of Kentucky. I so enjoyed reading the Parts sections that preceded the chapters. . . . It was like going home for a while. I consider those sections the strongest and most creative pieces of writing that I’ve reviewed for Writer’s Edge in at least five years.” ~ The Writer’s Edge