By Brian M. Boyce
TERRE HAUTE — Much has changed in the mortal realm since Dorothy and Scarecrow first crossed a silver screen 70 years ago.
More yet has changed since L. Frank Baum first wrote “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” in 1900.
But lives and time run their own path in the land of Oz, and Terre Haute author James C. Wallace II hopes to give children a new reason to read by opening a window into that world of fantasy.
“My hopes are to inspire children to read,” said the 49-year-old grandfather of 12, of his first novel, “Magician of Oz.” Wallace self-published the book on the summer solstice, June 21.
The tale, part of a three-book series, brings young Jamie Diggs and his family from their Kansas home to Indiana. Unknown to Diggs, he is the great-grandson of the Wizard of Oz, who also was once a Kansas farmboy with an interest in magic. Diggs discovers this heritage while rummaging through an old trunk in the family’s attic.
Through a portal discovered in a cemetery near Sandcut, Diggs finds himself in Oz, riding on rainbows, meeting Dorothy and Glinda, the Good Witch, as well as Princess Ozma, ruler of the realm. Along the way, he finds his call to battle the Army of Trees, which the Tin Woodman originally defeated a century before.
“It takes trees a while to re-group,” Wallace joked.
The local author includes a good deal of Indiana landmarks in his book, working the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, the Tree-In-The-Road in northeastern Vigo County and his wife’s potato soup into the storyline.
“It’s an Indiana story,” he said.
Originally from Huntington, W.Va., Wallace’s father moved the family to Terre Haute while working for the federal prison here. Marrying a Sullivan County farm girl, the junior Wallace graduated with a degree in physics from Indiana State University before working at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in the nation’s fourth largest planetarium for four years. While there, he was shocked to discover the number of middle school students unable to read, he said.
First by radio and television, now by the Internet and text messaging, traditional books have been beaten back into corners, Wallace said. He hopes his children’s stories will help remedy that situation.
Wallace recalled something his father once told him: “Children would read so much more if only there was so much more worth reading,” and decided to take up the fight.
Not that he was a hard recruit. Wallace speaks enthusiastically about his fantasy role as “Royal Liaison to Princess Ozma,” and said his participation in last month’s 28th Annual Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton was a lot of fun. There, Wallace met “Green Star of Oz” author Roger Baum, great-grandson of L. Frank Baum, with whom he traded autographed books.
Wallace said most of his past writing experience is in the technical and scientific realm; he currently teaches weather and climate at Lakeland College in Mattoon, Ill. But fantasy was a lot of fun, and his second Oz book is scheduled for publication on the spring equinox, March 21, he said.
“Book three is in the process,” he added.
Wallace credited the area with not only providing inspiration and backdrop for his story, but for venues as well. His first book signing was hosted by Book Nation on Wabash Avenue, and he continues to disperse his work throughout the area. In the third book, he said he plans to work more covered bridges into Oz, as well as the Fontanet Bean Dinner, which he and wife Amanda regularly attend.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
