Lost in Oz News

Lost in Oz Mini-Series Re-Starts Production

2011-07-13T16:10:00.001-07:00

The Lost in Oz animated Mini-Series is back in production!

Keep your eye on www.LostinOzMovie.com and www.LostinOzBook.com for more info!

Check out this little teaser to hold you over!!

TRILOGY COMPLETE

2011-06-07T06:33:00.000-07:00

Four years after the release of his first novel, author Joshua Patrick Dudley celebrates the release of the final installment in his Lost in Oz trilogy, Temple of the Deadly Desert.

The Lost in Oz trilogy follows modern-day teenagers who make their own history in Oz after destroying the original story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, simply by existing in it. The teens have made it safely home to New Hampshire, that is, except Joshua, who is lying in a coma, and another member of the team who has perished in the same tornado outbreak that once brought them to Oz. The group must again travel together to the Land of Oz and once and for all find a way to derail or fulfill their prophecy. They must unlock the secrets of the Temple of the Deadly Desert and find a way to cross the lethal sands surrounding it. Will the teens fulfill their prophecy? Does the Temple of the Deadly Desert exist? Can they bring a fallen friend back to life? All these questions and more will be answered in the third and final installment of the Lost in Oz trilogy: Temple of the Deadly Desert. Famous and beloved Oz characters are also in abundance and include Dorothy Gale, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, Lion, Glinda, Princess Ozma, The Wizard of Oz, Jack Pumpkinhead, Scraps – The Patchwork Girl of Oz, and, of course, the Wicked Witch of the West.

After directing two amateur films, Dudley says that he was excited to return to writing. “I really put a lot of focus into developing the characters and trying to make them into relatable people that my audience can enjoy reading about. My first two novels were more about the story of these kids and not about the kids themselves. The third book presents a lot of new ideas in exciting ways and is very self-analytical. The characters deconstruct themselves and the story they created as they continue on their journey, discovering why it is important to preserve the stories of Oz the way they were meant to be.”

Temple of the Deadly Desert will hit bookstores and online retailers next month and can currently be purchased on the books’ official website www.LostinOzBook.com and on www.lulu.com.

Dudley lives and writes in Manchester, New Hampshire, which is where he grew up. He has loved Oz since he was a child and has spent the last four years traveling the country promoting his work and his passion for Oz. He also appears in middle school classrooms to discuss his novels, the writing and publishing process, and teaches creative writing workshops with children in grades 3-7.

Lost in Oz
by Joshua Patrick Dudley, 2007, Lulu Publishing, 155p, ISBN: 978-1-4303-1278-9
Lost in Oz: Rise of the Dark Wizard
by Joshua Patrick Dudley, 2008, Lulu Publishing, 203p, ISBN: 978-0-615-18871-3
Lost in Oz: Temple of the Deadly Desert
by Joshua Patrick Dudley, 2011, Lulu Publishing, 284p

BOOK 3 RELEASED!

2011-06-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

BOOK 3: TEMPLE OF THE DEADLY DESERT HAS BEEN RELEASED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joshua, Tamara, Laura and Tommy have spent the past two years battling their destiny in the Land of Oz. Their presence has permanently altered the magical land beyond repair and their prophecy is still unfulfilled. The teens have made it safely home to New Hampshire, that is, except Joshua, who is lying in a coma, and another member of the team who has perished in the same tornado outbreak that once brought them to Oz. The group must again, travel together to the Land of Oz, and once and for all find a way to derail or fulfill their prophecy. They must unlock the secrets of the Temple of the Deadly Desert, and find a way to cross the lethal sands surrounding it. Will the teens fulfill their prophecy? Does the Temple of the Deadly Desert exist? Can they bring a fallen friend back to life? All these questions and more will be answered in the third and final installment of the Lost in Oz trilogy: Temple of the Deadly Desert

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/lost-in-oz-temple-of-the-deadly-desert/15932814

School Tours

2011-01-19T23:53:00.000-08:00

Today kicked off my annual school tour, and my first stop was Hooksett Memorial School!!

I love HMS!! The kids are always so much fun and always so enthusiastic! This is my fourth year in a row appearing at HMS and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity! HMS was the first school I had ever appeared at, and now I have appeared at middle schools across NH, NY, IN and MA! I'll make it to all 50 states eventually!!

Thank you to all the staff and students for giving me such a wonderful day!!

If you'd like to book an appearance at your school, email LostinOzPress@yahoo.com for more info!!

BOOK 3 DELAY

2011-01-14T20:20:00.000-08:00

The release of Book 3 has been delayed due to a minor error. It will be out soon!! Keep checking back for more updates!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

2010-12-03T00:25:00.000-08:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Here's to family, friends, a new year and new beginnings!

Happy Birthday Dorothy Gale!

2010-06-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

Happy (one day early) Birthday to Miss Dorothy Gale, our favorite princess of Oz! Here's one of my favorite pictures of her, with Toto, being brought to Oz!

In the Oz books, Dorothy is an orphan raised by her aunt and uncle in the bleak landscape of a Kansas farm. It is never clarified in the books whether Aunt Em or Uncle Henry is Dorothy's blood relative. (It is also possible that "Aunt" and "Uncle" are affectionate terms of a foster family and that Dorothy is not related to either of them.) She has a little black dog named Toto. Dorothy and Toto are swept away by a cyclone to the Land of Oz and, much like Alice of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, they enter a lively alternative world filled with talking creatures. In many of the Oz books, Dorothy is the main hero of the stories. She is often seen with her best friend and the ruler of Oz, Princess Ozma. Dorothy's surname, Gale, is first mentioned in Ozma of Oz. It appeared previously in the 1902 play, where it was merely the setup for a joke, the punchline being "that accounts for your breezy manner." Her blue and white gingham dress is well-appreciated by the Munchkins because blue is their favorite color and white is worn only by good witches and sorceresses, which indicates to them that Dorothy is a good witch.

Dorothy is a forthright and take-charge character, exhibiting no fear when she slaps the Cowardly Lion, and organizing the Winkies' rescue mission of her friends who have been dismembered by the Winged Monkeys, and more than willing to brazenly talk back to Princess Langwidere's threat to take her head for her collection--"Well, I b'lieve you won't." (Baum began to indicate that Dorothy speaks in a strong prairie accent with Ozma of Oz, and continued to do so throughout the series). This aspect of her character was somewhat lessened with the companionship of Ozma, in whom Baum placed the greater level of wisdom and dignity. Yet even this is complicated by her associations with her cousin, Zeb of Hugson's Ranch, a rugged, manly boy who does not take well to Oz and cannot think of anything much more interesting than defeating the Munchkins wrestling champion, which he proves unable to do.

In The Emerald City of Oz, Uncle Henry describes Dorothy as, "a dreamer, as her dead mother had been." In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's desire to return home is primarily motivated by compassion and economics. As she tells Glinda, "My greatest wish now is to get back to Kansas, for Aunt Em will surely think something dreadful has happened to me, and that will make her put on mourning; and unless the crops are better this year than they were last, I am sure Uncle Henry cannot afford it."[4] In Ozma of Oz, Dorothy's desire to return home is not as desperate as in the first book, and again it is her uncle's need for her rather than hers for him that makes her return.[5] Oz is no longer quite the dangerous land that it was in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.[6] Princess Ozma and Dorothy quickly become best friends, and before Dorothy leaves, Ozma crowns her a princess.

Dorothy has several other pets, including her yellow hen, Billina, and her white/pink/purple kitten, Eureka. Popular in crossword puzzles is Dorothy's cow, Imogene, from the 1902 stage version, and implicitly, though unnamed, in the 1910 film. Eric Shanower's novel, The Giant Garden of Oz features a cow named Imogene, but she is of Ozite origin, but otherwise Imogene appears strictly in adaptations.

In the sixth Oz book by Baum, The Emerald City of Oz (1910), when Uncle Henry and Aunt Em are unable to pay the mortgage on the new farmhouse built at the end of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy brings them to live in Oz; the bulk of their appearance in the book dealing with her and her aunt and uncle is their tour of Oz, showing them the marvelous, Utopian land in which they have escaped the troubles of Kansas.

Dorothy is a standard character, having at least a cameo role in thirteen of the fourteen Oz books written by L. Frank Baum and is at least a frequent figure in the nineteen that followed by author Ruth Plumly Thompson, getting at least a cameo in all her books except Captain Salt in Oz.

The magic of Oz keeps Dorothy young. In The Lost King of Oz (1925), a Wish Way carries Dorothy to a film set in Hollywood, California. She begins to age very rapidly to her late 20s, making up for at least some of the years that have already passed. The Wish Way carries her back to Oz and restores her to her younger self, but she learns then that it would be unwise for her ever to return to the outside world. Baum never states Dorothy's age, but he does state in The Lost Princess of Oz that she is a year younger than Betsy Bobbin and a year older than Trot, whose age was specified as 10 in Ruth Plumly Thompson's The Giant Horse of Oz, a book full of controversial changes. This would make Dorothy eleven years old when she stopped aging. Her actual age would, of course, be much older.

Through the Lost in Oz novels Princess Dorothy of Oz lives on today.

Oz-Cast Interview Posted

2010-06-09T13:59:00.001-07:00

FINALLY... here's the interview Joshua did for the 20th episode of Oz-Cast! Click here: http://lostinoz.joshuapdudley.com/radio/ to visit the index of audio interviews!

Oz-Stravaganza Photos

2010-06-09T13:56:00.001-07:00

We finally posted pics from Oz-Stravaganza 2010! Check them out on the photos page of www.LostinOzBook.com

BOOK 3 COVER PREVIEW

2010-05-23T18:37:00.000-07:00

CONTEST UPDATE

2010-05-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

THE CONTEST HAS BEEN UPDATED!
Now, the winner of the contest will not only win a cameo role in the third novel, they will also receive the first copy of Temple of the Deadly Desert that is printed!

Also, the contest no longer has a word limit or maximum! You can write as little or as much as you'd like!

HARDCOVERS...finally!

2010-05-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

In honor of Mr. Baum's birthday, today, I have released, for the first time, HARDCOVER EDITIONS of ALL of my books! These new, sturdier editions even feature updated cover art! The Hardcover editions can be found exclusively on Lulu.com:
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=574834

HAPPY BIRTHDAY L. FRANK BAUM!

2010-05-15T01:24:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday L. Frank Baum! If he was alive today, he'd be 154 today! Thank you, Mr. Baum, for all that you have done and all that you have given your fans of Oz!

Lyman Frank Baum (15 May 1856 - 6 May 1919) was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He wrote thirteen novel sequels, nine other fantasy novels, and a plethora of other works (55 novels in total (plus four "lost" novels), 82 short stories, over 200 poems, an unknown number of scripts, and many miscellaneous writings), and made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen. His works predicted such century-later commonplaces as television, laptop computers (The Master Key), wireless telephones (Tik-Tok of Oz), and the ubiquity of advertising on clothing (Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work).

Emeralds: Hearts in Oz: Review of Rise of the Dark Wizard

2010-05-06T12:04:00.000-07:00

Emeralds: Hearts in Oz, an Oz Blog, has put up a review of the second Lost in Oz novel, Rise of the Dark Wizard! Check it out at:

http://emeraldsoz.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-review-lost-in-oz-rise-of-dark.html

FREE SHIPPING

2010-04-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

Order any of Joshua's Lost in Oz books, right now, through www.lulu.com and receive a $3.99 shipping credit! Enter code FREESHIP at checkout.

Laura Coleman at Oz-Stravaganza!

2010-04-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

So, I mentioned that I would be bringing a very special guest to this year's Oz-Stravaganza in Chittenango, NY... that special guest is.... LAURA COLEMAN! Laura is one of the main characters in the Lost in Oz novels and now you will have the chance to meet the person the character is based on!

Author's Alley at Oz-Stravaganza!

2010-04-28T18:39:00.000-07:00

Oz-Stravaganza has posted a list of the authors appearing at this years Author's Alley, including Joshua Patrick Dudley!

Check it out!

http://www.oz-stravaganza.com/content/authors-alley

About Benjamin Kissell

2010-04-26T13:16:00.001-07:00

Here's some interesting information about the artist of the upcoming Lost in Oz Comic Series, Benjamin Kissell. You can preview some of his testing art for the series, over on the photo page of www.LostinOzBook.com

Benjamin Kissell has always had art in his life, whether it's his writer/knitter/teacher mother or his illustrator/painter/musician father he's always had someone in his life encouraging the growth of his talents. He was almost voted most artistic in high school, he lost out to his friend Charlie (but swears he was never bitter), and was focused as "Artist of the Month" on-display and written about in the school paper (both in high school and college). When it came time for a higher education, Benjamin turned down time at the Art Institute of Washington (in Arlington VA) to pursue a more Liberal Arts background at Mary Washington College, in his hometown of Fredericksburg, VA. "I bounced between majors in the 4 years there, Art, Classics-Latin and English. They all had something to offer me for whatever I could do with my life."

Although an accomplished artist (more than a few paintings are on sale in 2 galleries), Benjamin is also a voracious reader and writer. From 2006-09 he wrote a series of blogs on his myspace page (www.myspace.com/benjaminkissell). But, his artistic passions would never be something he could escape. "I remember, when I was maybe 4, crawling up into the tall chair my dad would sit in, at his art desk, and drawing a series of dinosaurs. When my dad saw this little kid seriously determined and drawing, he says he knew what I would grow up to be."

"The Oz books have always been in my heart and my home. I remember in 1987 when the Wizard of Oz came out on VHS, my grandmother took me and my uncle out to get it. I sat in the back-seat and just held it tight. Of course, I'll deny having the Dorothy action figure. The books have always played a part, not just the film. My mom has old, (read: before her time) late 50's, illustrated-editions of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan, and I can remember loving them from about 3 on. In 2005 I found green and gold leather-bound editions of the collected works. I've always enjoyed the way that Oz has entered our public consciousness and how each generation interprets it and adapts it to themselves."

"In 1995 Gregoy Maguire threw the Oz-realm on its side with the publication of Wicked (and the subsequent sequels and Broadway show), the rumors of a pre-Wizard Oz film starring Robert Downey Jr in-the-works and a slew of others. The Lost in Oz series intrigued me and honestly put a different and unique spin on the classic story, without detracting from it. I feel honored to have been approached by Joshua to work with him in fleshing out his book into the world of graphic art. Hopefully, his fans don't hate where I go."

http://www.facebook.com/benjamin.kissell

Emeralds: Hearts in Oz: Review of Lost in Oz

2010-04-26T13:09:00.001-07:00

Emeralds: Hearts in Oz, an Oz Blog, has put up a review of Lost in Oz! Check it out at:

http://emeraldsoz.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-review-lost-in-oz.html

Lost in Oz Gets the Comic Treatment

2010-04-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Joshua Patrick Dudley, author of the Lost in Oz trilogy, has announced that his stories of Oz are going graphic! A new, five-issue comic series has begun production, with artwork by Benjamin Kissell. Following the success of many Oz-inspired comics, Dudley hopes to bring a new twist to the genre, while remaining faithful to the original stories by L. Frank Baum.
The stories follow modern teenagers who make their own history in Oz after destroying the original story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, simply by existing in it. A prophecy is revealed for the group and the future looks grim. The teens must find a way to fulfill or derail their prophecy, while trying to return Oz to its proper state of being. Famous Oz characters are in abundance and include Dorothy Gale, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, Lion, The Wizard of Oz, Jack Pumpkinhead, Scraps – The Patchwork Girl of Oz, and, of course, the Wicked Witch of the West.
Dudley and Kissell are working closely with one another, searching for the perfect look for Oz and its citizens. The characters are based on the work of the original illustrators of Oz, W.W. Denslow and John R. Neill, but Kissell is adding his own genius to the art, as well. The pair met through the popular social network, Facebook, and work with each other mostly by email.
Dudley currently resides in New Hampshire, where he has just finished writing the third installment of the trilogy, Temple of the Deadly Desert. He has loved Oz since he was a child, and has spent the last three years traveling the country, promoting his work and his passion for Oz. Kissell is from Virginia, and is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. Samples of some of his test-art for the series can be found at the book’s official website, www.LostinOzBook.com.

Lost in Oz Media Contacts:
Joshua Patrick Dudley – Author: Joshua@joshuapdudley.com
Maria DeProfio – Head of Press Relations: lostinozpress@yahoo.com

Lost in Oz
by Joshua Patrick Dudley, 2007, Lulu Publishing, 155p, ISBN: 978-1-4303-1278-9
Lost in Oz: Rise of the Dark Wizard
by Joshua Patrick Dudley, 2008, Lulu Publishing, 203p, ISBN: 978-0-615-18871-3
Lost in Oz: Temple of the Deadly Desert
by Joshua Patrick Dudley, 2011, Lulu Publishing, 295p, ISBN: (TBA)

Wicked Witch Test Art

2010-04-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

Here's one more special look at the Lost in Oz Comic Series Art, drawn by Benjamin Kissell. This photo is a the four different versions we tested of Bastinda, The Wicked Witch of the West, including the final version!

OUR 200TH POST! COMIC SURPRISE!

2010-04-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

We decided to celebrate with everyone, our 200th post on this news blog, by finally revealing some of the beautiful Lost in Oz comic artwork by Benjamin Kissell. Fans of Lost in Oz on Facebook had the chance to view these photos first! So, here's a sneak peek at a few characters from the upcoming Lost in Oz Comic Series!

© 2010 Benjamin Kissell for Lost in Oz
www.LostinOzBook.com

Lost in Oz Movie Announced

2010-04-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

BIG NEWS! The Lost in Oz mini-series has been put on hold to open the door for a new project.... LOST IN OZ: THE MOVIE!

More on this exciting news coming soon! Keep checking back!

www.LostinOzMovie.com

Reminder: Oz-Stravaganza

2010-04-14T15:32:00.001-07:00

Just a quick reminder that Joshua will be appearing at Oz-Stravaganza in Chittenango, NY! June 4-6, 2010: L. Frank Baum's home town honors their favorite son with this annual festival (formerly known as Oz Fest). This year the festival will honor the centennial of The Emerald City of Oz, and its dedicatee, Baum's niece, Cynthia Baum Tassini, who was from the area and died in 2004. Special guest appearance by Jerry Maren, the middle member of the Lollipop Guild and Joshua Patrick Dudley, author of the Lost in Oz Trilogy. Joshua can be found in the Author's Alley, a new attraction at the festival, located near the Munchkins! For more information, see the festival's website at oz-stravaganza.com, or the town's website at www.chittenango.org

It's getting close, if you haven't made travel arrangements yet, you better hurry!

Accelerated Reader

2010-04-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

Make reading practice more effective for every pre-K–12 student with Accelerated Reader, the most cost-effective and successful reading software
of all time. Lost in Oz and Rise of the Dark Wizard have just been submitted, by your request, to the AR program! However, if you really want Lost in Oz on AR, you should suggest it, too! Visit the link below and fill out all of the information.

http://www.renlearn.com/ar/customercare/titlesuggestions.asp

Here's the information you may need:
Quiz Type: Reading Practice
-English
Book Title: Lost in Oz
Series Name: Lost in Oz
-Entire Series
Author’s First Name: Joshua
Author’s Last Name: Dudley
Publisher: Lulu
Estimated Interest Level: Middle Grades (4-8)
Year Published: 2007
ISBN Number: 978-1430312789

Though not required, including the ISBN allows us to provide far more
valuable feedback for your request.

Lost in Oz in New York!

2010-04-06T12:23:00.001-07:00

NewHampshire.com has published a great article about Joshua's upcoming appearances in New York!

You can check it out here:
http://cs.newhampshire.com/blogs/granite_state_stuff/archive/2010/04/05/Lost-in-Oz-in-New-York_2100_.aspx

Updates!

2010-04-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

Check out the updated series page, where the surprise project has been revealed! Also, be sure to notice the covers for the books, again on the series page, which have been brought to life! So neat! All this and more on www.LostinOzBook.com

Wizard's Wireless Interview

2010-04-03T15:25:00.001-07:00

Check out Joshua's latest interview on The Wizard's Wireless, hosted by the Daily Ozmapolitan!

http://www.frodelius.com/wirelesstelegraph/dudley.html

Buzzillions - 4.9 Stars!

2010-04-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

Buzzillions.com has given Lost in Oz 4.9 out of 5 stars!

Buzzillions.com is a product reviews site that helps shoppers avoid costly mistakes. Buzzillions offers product reviews and tools for you to research purchases before you buy. They've collected over 10 million reviews across a wide range of categories and their reviews come from real people - not paid reviewers. They work with their network of retailers to identify people who have purchased a product and ask them to write a review. Buzzillions collects and analyzes these reviews to help you with the decision making process.

http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/lost-in-oz-reviews#bz-model-reviewTitle

SPECIAL EDITION

2010-03-31T18:15:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the three year anniversary of Lost in Oz, which is on May 3, Joshua Dudley just released an all new EXCLUSIVE special edition! This special edition features a beautiful new cover, new images inside and a very slightly modified text. This exclusive special edition is only available at lulu.com:

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/lost-in-oz-special-edition/8585744

STORE!

2010-03-31T15:49:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check out the all new Lost in Oz store! You will find all kinds of goodies related to the series. T-Shirts, Magnets, Stickers, Framed Art, Posters, Mouse-Pads, and even Lost in Oz Video Cameras!

http://www.cafepress.com/lostinoz

Nashua Telegraph Interview Part 2

2010-03-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Here's the the story that was written about Joshua in this weekend's Nashua Telegraph. There are some beautiful photos on the site, http://www.encorebuzz.com/entertainment/687606-249/new-hampshire-writer-has-created-popular-new.html

New Hampshire writer has created popular new trilogy related to beloved classic

By PAMME BOUTSELIS Correspondent

From the time he was just 2, Joshua Patrick Dudley has been enthralled by the world of Oz.

His mother and grandmother read the Oz books to him at that young age and throughout his childhood in Hooksett. The first time he watched the MGM classic film version of the stories with his twin sister and mother, Dudley became “obsessed with this magical land and its inhabitants.”

“It was wonderful for me to see all the characters brought to life that I had read about in novels,” said Dudley, 24. “The MGM movie itself is a masterpiece, especially considering the time period it was made in. The colors, sets and special effects are the reasons I was so fascinated by it.”

Throughout his teen years, Dudley explored a new love: performing onstage, which led to his appearance in more than 80 shows throughout his teens and early 20s. Much to his delight, four of the shows were Oz-related, and he portrayed the beloved Scarecrow in three of those performances.

He has also portrayed Riff in “West Side Story,” Doody in “Grease” and Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors.”

His love of the stage brought him to New York City, where he studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

“I would dance, sing and act for 50-plus hours a week,” Dudley said. “I performed at local venues in the city, such as nightclubs and bars, performing original hip-hop music.”

Shortly after completing school, Dudley’s family incurred a significant loss with the death of his grandmother. He decided to write a book in her honor, and began to work on the first installment of what would become a trilogy of books about the world of Oz.

“One night, I woke up from a dream where I had visited Oz with my twin sister,” Dudley said. “I thought it was such a neat idea that I didn’t return back to bed. Instead, I spent the entire night on my computer, writing a rough idea for the first story.

“The dream I had was very realistic; most of it was fun and fancy free, but there dark parts, nightmare sections that I knew would make a great book.”

Unlike many novels, Dudley’s four main characters are actually real people – he and his twin sister, Tamara, along with two of his best friends in real life, Tommy and Laura.

“All of my novels feature a lot of local personalities from in and around New Hampshire,” Dudley said. “Almost every character that isn’t from Oz, in the novels, is someone from the real world.”

In the third and final novel of the series, he’ll introduce his dearest friend from the real world, Maria DeProfio, and one lucky reader, as well.

His books, “Lost in Oz” and “Lost in Oz: Rise of the Dark Wizard,” have garnered a sizeable fan base nationwide, much of it reinforced through correspondence with readers, classroom visits and appearances at “Wizard of Oz” festivals throughout the country.

“Almost each and every student that I have talked to has begged to be a character in my book, so I thought I’d give them a chance,” Dudley said.

The result is a contest that will enable one winner to land a cameo role in his third Oz novel. The winner will be selected by Dudley and will be notified by e-mail on Jan. 1, 2011, and announced on the books’ official Web site.

The response thus far has been overwhelmingly good. Dudley has received more than 200 entries to date, with more coming in daily. He can’t wait to read each entry and see where his readers’ imaginations have taken them.

Dudley said members of the Oz community were originally put off by his first book, “Lost in Oz.” He said that some feared parts of Oz were just too dark.

“Once they compared my work with the original L. Frank Baum stories, it was clear that Baum’s vision of Oz was even scarier than mine,” Dudley said.

He receives hundreds of e-mails each month from kids all over the country who tell him they like his version of Oz and the twist it put on the classic tale.

Although the book was initially geared toward teen readers, Dudley realized it was a mistake to target just that audience.

“Oz is, was and always will be about the children,” he said. “My books seem to be the most popular between grades five and nine.”

Dudley has visited about 20 schools throughout the country, discussing the story of “The Wizard of Oz,” his own personal take on it and the book publishing process. His first appearance was at Hooksett Memorial School, where his mother is a fifth-grade teacher, and it has built from there.

“We discuss the basic building blocks of writing a story,” Dudley said. “Then after the lesson comes the best part, an interactive writing session where the kids write the story with my guidance, adhering to the lesson I have just taught them. It is a truly rewarding experience and the best part of my job.”

Now living in Manchester, Dudley is a full-time writer these days, although he spends a significant amount of time doing all that’s entailed in promoting his work, acting as his own booking and press agent, and his Web site creator. He also writes and records his own music, another of his passions.

While there are illustrations in all three of his books that were drawn by W.W. Denslow, the original illustrator of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” Dudley began creating computer images, using various 3-D rendering software and Photoshop, for his second and third books. He plans to release the entire collected trilogy at the end of 2011, and the release will feature all-new images that he has created for each chapter of all three books.

From the beginning, the work had been planned as a trilogy.

“I always knew what I wanted the stories to be,” Dudley said. “I have an odd fascination with the number three. I think it brings good luck, so I knew that it would take me three books to tell my complete story.”

Dudley’s books may be purchased through amazon.com, bn.com and lulu.com. Bookstores such as Barnes & Noble may not have the books on the shelf, Dudley said, but they’ll be happy to order a copy for you.

To learn more about Dudley or his books, visit www.joshuapdudley.com or www.LostinOzBook.com.

Book 3 Finished

2010-03-27T19:29:00.001-07:00

Look what Joshua announced on Lost in Oz's FaceBook page:

Tonight, at 10:23pm, exactly, I finished writing my third novel, Lost in Oz: Temple of the Deadly Desert. 236 pages and 45,475 words.

iBookstore Features Lost in Oz

2010-03-26T21:49:00.001-07:00

Lost in Oz, one of the most popular books on Lulu.com, has been selected for Apple's new iBookstore, an e-reader app and bookstore for the iPad, using the ePub format. More details coming soon!

Map of Oz

2010-03-26T14:37:00.001-07:00

Check out this Map of Oz, created by author Joshua Patrick Dudley!

Click on the image to view it larger, or save it!

Lost in Oz on "That Guy with the Glasses"

2010-03-24T18:21:00.000-07:00

A blog, entitled, That Guy with the Glasses, posted an article about Dorothy from Oz and Alice from Wonderland, encountering one another. Lost in Oz got mentioned in the article! Check it out!

http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/community/blog/19070

The Wizard's Wireless

2010-03-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

Joshua just completed an interview with "The Wizard's Wireless!" This well known, on-line feature of the Daily Ozmapolitan, run by Blair Frodelius (who also runs the Books of Oz Project), interviews people inspired by Oz! Joshua's interview will be up soon, and we will post a direct link when it becomes available!

Nashua Telegraph Interview

2010-03-17T21:19:00.001-07:00

Joshua just completed an interview with the Nashua Telegraph, in Nashua, New Hampshire. The story will be run in the Sunday edition and will also be online at www.nashuatelegraph.com! We will post a direct link when it becomes available!

UPDATE: Here's the link! http://www.encorebuzz.com/entertainment/687606-249/new-hampshire-writer-has-created-popular-new.html

Indiana Oz Festival 2010

2010-03-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

Joshua will be appearing at the 29th annual Wizard of Oz festival in Chesterton, Indiana, September 17, 18, and 19, 2010. Joshua will be signing and selling copies of his first book, performing on stage with John Fricke, and may even come to town early to visit some classrooms and teach creative writing workshops!

More details coming soon, keep checking back!

Oz-Cast Interview

2010-03-13T10:24:00.001-08:00

Joshua just completed an audio interview for the special 20th episode of OzCast! More information, and a link to listen to the interview, are coming soon!

Oz-stravaganza 2010

2010-03-05T19:54:00.000-08:00

June 4-6, 2010: Oz-stravaganza, Chittenango, New York. L. Frank Baum's home town honors their favorite son with this annual festival (formerly known as Oz Fest). This year the festival will honor the centennial of The Emerald City of Oz, and its dedicatee, Baum's niece, Cynthia Baum Tassini, who was from the area and died in 2004. Special guest appearance by Jerry Maren, the middle member of the Lollipop Guild and Joshua Patrick Dudley, author of the Lost in Oz Trilogy. Joshua can be found in the Author's Alley, a new attraction at the festival, located near the Munchkins! For more information, see the festival's website at oz-stravaganza.com, or the town's website at www.chittenango.org

Wonderful Weekend of Oz 2010

2010-03-05T19:49:00.000-08:00

Joshua will be appearing at the 2010 Oz festival, The Wonderful Weekend of Oz, in Fayetteville, NY from October 8 - October 10, 2010. He will be signing and selling copies of his first book.

http://www.matildajoslyngage.org/

Book 3 Teaser Trailer

2010-03-05T19:10:00.000-08:00

NewHampshire.com Announces Contest

2010-02-26T22:01:00.000-08:00

http://cs.newhampshire.com/blogs/granite_state_stuff/archive/2010/02/24/Author-Holds-Free-Contest-to-Win-Spot-in-Next-Novel.aspx

Author Holds Free Contest to Win Spot in Next Novel
2011 will mark the third and final release from Joshua Patrick Dudley in the Lost in Oz trilogy. The stories follow modern teenagers Tamara, Joshua, Tommy and Laura as they make their own history in Oz after destroying the original story of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, simply by existing in Oz.

The stories have gained quite a following from middle-schoolers across the country, some of whom have even had Joshua teach in their classrooms! Joshua promotes his novels by visiting middle schools and teaching creative workshops with children from grades 3-10. The classes then create their own stories with Joshua’s guidance.

Now the author is holding a contest, he says, “to give something back to all of my young readers.” The contest is a chance to win a cameo role, by name, in the final Lost in Oz novel. The contest is open to any age.

To enter the contest, you must write a 200-500 word essay explaining who your character would be in Oz. All entries should be submitted with your name, age, email address, mailing address and essay, and should be sent to LostinOzCameo@yahoo.com. The winner will be selected by the author and will be notified by email January 1, 2011. The winner will also be announced on the books’ official website: www.LostinOzBook.com.
Published Wednesday, February 24, 2010 2:24 PM by AskLisa
Filed under: Lost in Oz, Contest, Joshua Patrick Dudley

WIN A CAMEO ROLE IN BOOK 3!

2010-02-23T16:10:00.000-08:00

2011 will mark the third and final release from Joshua Patrick Dudley in the Lost in Oz trilogy. The stories follow modern teenagers Tamara, Joshua, Tommy and Laura as they make their own history in Oz after destroying the original story of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, simply by existing in Oz.
The stories have gained quite a following from middle-schoolers across the country, some of whom have even had Joshua teach in their classrooms! Joshua promotes his novels by visiting middle schools and teaching creative workshops with children from grades 3-10. The classes then create their own stories with Joshua’s guidance.
Now the author is holding a contest, he says, “to give something back to all of my young readers.” The contest is a chance to win a cameo role, by name, in the final Lost in Oz novel. The contest is open to any age.
To enter the contest, you must write a 200-500 word essay explaining who your character would be in Oz. All entries should be submitted with your name, age, email address, mailing address and essay, and should be sent to LostinOzCameo@yahoo.com. The winner will be selected by the author and will be notified by email January 1, 2011. The winner will also be announced on the books’ official website:
www.LostinOzBook.com

Become a Fan of Lost in Oz on FaceBook!

2010-02-21T16:26:00.000-08:00

Now's your chance to finally become a fan of Lost in Oz on FaceBook. We just posted our new fan page! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lost-in-Oz-by-Joshua-Patrick-Dudley/353176722558 Be sure to check it out and become a fan!!

Joshua Nominated for Best Local Author

2010-02-16T18:37:00.001-08:00

Joshua has been nominated for Best Local Author by the HippoPress Best of 2010. To vote for him, please visit www.hippopress.com and click on the link to vote. Joshua is # 116. Best NH author. Be sure to vote soon and as many times as you want!! Voting closes February 28!

More Mini-Series Characters Pics (cont'd)

2010-02-14T19:55:00.003-08:00

More Mini-Series Characters Pics (cont'd)

2010-02-14T19:55:00.001-08:00

More Mini-Series Characters Pics (cont'd)

2010-02-14T19:54:00.000-08:00

Mini-Series 4 Main Characters

2010-02-13T14:28:00.001-08:00

2010 ALA Youth Media Awards

2010-02-13T14:27:00.000-08:00

Joshua was nominated for the 2010 ALA Youth Media Awards for his Lost in Oz trilogy.

15% Off All Books - Washington Day Weeend Sale

2010-02-12T11:38:00.001-08:00

Purchase any of Joshua's books 15% off through the publisher's site, Lulu.com, for this weekend only, through Monday!

More Mini-Series Characters

2010-02-10T20:33:00.001-08:00

Here's another very special sneak peek at the FINAL version of the characters for the Lost in Oz Mini-Series! Click on it for a larger view!

Mini-Series Characters

2010-02-05T19:12:00.000-08:00

Here's a very special sneak peek at the FINAL version of the characters for the Lost in Oz Mini-Series! Click on it for a larger view! http://www.LostinOzMovie.com

Mini-Series Teaser 2

2010-01-22T16:57:00.000-08:00

This is the second version of the mini-series this one is created in the Sims 3! This is just a teaser of what's to come! www.LostinOzMovie.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA COLEMAN!

2010-01-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

Straight from the pages of Lost in Oz to reality, character and real-person Laura Coleman celebrates her birthday today! Happy Birthday, Laura. From all of us at Lost in Oz. We love you.

Look Inside!

2010-01-17T18:20:00.000-08:00

Now you can look inside all of Joshua's books on Amazon.com! A great way to preview the novels before you make your purchase!!

Mini-Series to Feature Original Musical Score

2010-01-16T11:39:00.000-08:00

The upcoming Lost in Oz Mini-Series will feature an original musical score composed by Isaias Garcia.

Canadian-born Isaias Garcia was raised in Argentina, exposed to Tango and folk music. At 19 years of age, Isaias performs with the professional group Toronto Celebrity Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Dr. Andrew Rozbicki. Isaias has proven his potential and ability to tell the musical story behind every film he scores. He hopes to reinvent the film score, as it has been done for many decades now, so one day film and music lovers can witness something unique and amazing from this young composer. Below are some links to examples of his work!

http://www.reverbnation.com/isaiasgarcia

http://www.youtube.com/user/canargentinemusic

20% off Books 1 & 2

2010-01-15T18:47:00.000-08:00

Right now, until January 18, 2010, you can save 20% off any order of ANY book on www.lulu.com! That includes both of the Lost in Oz Books and the Deluxe edition of the first book! This is a great chance to save some money! Visit lulu.com today, find Lost in Oz by Joshua Dudley and enter to code "cabin" at checkout!

Ozcast Episode Posted

2010-01-12T17:52:00.000-08:00

The Ozcast radio interview featuring author Joshua Patrick Dudley has been posted! You can listen to it here: http://www.videosforfamily.com/ozcast.htm! Joshua is in Part 2!

Lost in Oz Trilogy will be complete in 2011

2010-01-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

2011 will mark the third and final release from Joshua Patrick Dudley in the Lost in Oz trilogy. The stories follow modern teenagers Tamara, Joshua, Tommy and Laura as they make their own history in Oz after destroying the original story of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, simply by existing in Oz.
The stories have gained quite a following from middle-schoolers across the country, some of whom have even had Joshua teach in their classrooms! Joshua promotes his novels by visiting middle schools and teaching creative workshops with children from grades 3-10. The classes then create their own stories with Joshua’s guidance.
The third installment of the series will answer all the questions. Temple of the Deadly Desert starts right where Book Two: Rise of the Dark Wizard ended. A serious tornado attack has put Joshua in a coma and, SPOILER ALERT! killed one of the other four main characters. Shocking! That’s all the information that has been currently released about the third installment, from the book’s official website www.LostinOzBook.com

Ozcast

2010-01-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

Joshua will be appearing on the first 2010 episode of the Ozcast!

http://www.videosforfamily.com/ozcast.htm

National Wizard of OZ Tour

2010-01-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

Joshua will be appearing at the Morganton, North Carolina stop of the NATIONAL WIZARD OF OZ TOUR later this year on March 22, 2010 at the Municipal Auditorium! He will be signing and selling copies of his book!

http://www.wizardofozontour.com/

Facebook Review # 2

2009-08-23T20:07:00.001-07:00

Here's the second review of Book 1 on Facebook:

Posted by Lesley A. Murphy, 5 days ago

Great twist on a beloved classic. I read the whole series of L. Frank Baum's books as a kid and treasured them. Unfortunately, my original series of these hardcover books from the 1960's was lost in a basement flood but I truly enjoyed Josh's new tales with their decidedly dark turn...and I've already read Book 2 in his series. Looking forward to the arrival of Book 3!! Thanks, Josh, for your love of OZ

JOB OPENINGS!

2009-08-23T20:03:00.001-07:00

Anyone interested in joining the Lost in Oz, Inc. team? We are now hiring press agents, event bookers, graphic designers and video specialists. All press positions require new previous training. Contact lostinozpress@yahoo.com for more details. www.LostinOzBook.com www.LostinOzMovie.com

New Downloads!

2009-08-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

Finally the Downloads section is up and running! Check out the all new Wallpaper for Book 3!! Now available in bigger sizes.

New Press Agent

2009-08-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentleman, please join us in welcoming the newest addition to our staff, our new Press Agent, Miss Maria DeProfio! You can contact Maria at lostinozpress@yahoo.com

Lost in Oz Discussion on Spill.com

2009-08-16T13:58:00.000-07:00

Posted by user Jalford on June 27, 2009 at 7:15am in The Wonderful Land of Oz

Hi. Just thought I'd do a quick bit about a title that's been roaming around for a while now. Lost In Oz was originally going to be a live-action movie by Tim Burton in 2000. This later rewritten as a pitch for a TV series written by Trey Callaway(I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, W.I.T.C.H., and Supernatural), and some scenes were actually shot for a pilot, but nothing ever became of the project due to budget constraints.

However, around 2002, David Hayter picked up the idea to do a similar TV series(also titled Lost In Oz), if not based on Burton's idea that at least inspired by it. Hayter has written screenplays for X-Men, X-Men 2, Watchmen, and The Scorpion King, as well as being an accomplished voice actor in anime like Fushigi Yuugi and Lupin, as well as the voice of Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid. Joel Smith, the producer of the Tim Burton version of Lost In Oz(and apparently was involved with another failed TV project titled Trouble In Oz)acted as an executive producer on David Hayter's version. A 1-hour unaired pilot was made about a modern day girl named Alex(Melissa George)who ends up in Oz after being chased by a cyclone in her pickup. Once there, she encounters Scarecrow(Colin Egglesfield)who is really an American WWII pilot. Both of them recall that Oz was a movie starring Judy Garland, but find out that it is real. The Good Witch of the South(Lynn Whitfield)tells them they have to free Princess Ozma from the new Wicked Witch of the West(Mia Sara). They are aided by the Patchwork Girl(Sandra Allen)who knew the wicked witch before she became possessed by some evil force. Apparently Wicked Witch of the West is chosen by some unkown force, and if one is killed, another girl is picked to take her place, as Alex finds out when she herself nearly becomes the Witch. In the end, Ozma is freed, while the Witch is banished from Oz by a cyclone, leaving Alex for the moment stranded away from home. It's worth mentioning that Mia Sara who played the Witch is the mother of Brian Henson's daughter, Brian of whom played Jack Pumpkinhead in Return To Oz. The pilot episode is possibly floating around the net illegally somewhere, or you might be able to find a bootleg DVD at some fan conventions. You can see some screencaptures of it on Melissa George's website.

Now, another title that's also come out recently sharing the same name is a series of books written by Joshua Dudley. This is so far set to be a trilogy. The first book, Lost In Oz, takes four kids from the 21st Century to Oz just as Dorothy had arrived, and realize that what went on in the original story is now being effected by their precense. They have to ty to find a way back to their own time without screwing up time even more. The second book is Rise Of The Dark Wizard where a new evil wizard is planning on taking Glinda's book and use it to take over Oz. The third book, Temple Of The Deadly Desert is still being written. An online animated series titled Lost In Oz: The Mini-Series is also being planned with a 2011 release. The first two books(including a special hardcover edition of the first one)are both available on Amazon, plus Lulu also in eBook format.

There are several original video clips for this at the book's Youtube page.

http://my.spill.com/group/thewonderfullandofoz

Facebook Review

2009-08-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

Did you know you can review Lost in Oz on facebook? It's under the visual bookshelf section! Here's the first review posted.

by Josh Ganz, about 1 year ago

This book was truly awesome! I am a really big Oz fan, and this book made a big twist on the Oz books. So if you're a fan like me, then you have got to read this book!

http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/171251-joshua-dudley-lost-in-oz
http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/2132666-joshua-dudley-lost-in-oz-rise-of-the-dark-wizard

BUY AUTOGRAPHED COPIES ON EBAY!

2009-07-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

You can now purchase autographed copies of Lost in Oz directly from author Joshua Patrick Dudley via ebay! You can even include your own message to be written by the author himself!

Click the link below!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320403648198

Wonderful Blog of Oz Review

2009-05-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

Here's what the Wonderful Blog of Oz had to say about the first book in the Lost in Oz trilogy!

And finally, an old-fashioned Oz book again, with Lost in Oz by Joshua Patrick Dudley. Hoo boy, how can I be kind to this one? It's a definite Mary Sue situation, in that the main character is Joshua Patrick Dudley himself, and he's lost in Oz with his twin sister and two best friends. Also, he sets himself up to fulfill a prophecy, but how he gets there would really tick off a lot of Oz fans. He knows the books, even though the Joshua in the book only knows The Movie, but not terribly well, in my opinion. The characters, by the way, are not only lost in Oz, they're lost in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book, and in their attempts to get home, they find Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin woodman, and the Cowardly Lion (and Toto, too!) — and end up getting incorporated into and changing the story! It's a good thing they have a copy of the book with them so they can see what's going on. There is a second book, which I've ordered, so we'll see if changing Oz history is going to have any consequences, or if a parrot-ox is going to help sort things out.

Although the reviewer is weary of the fact that the author is the main character, it sounds a whole lot like he liked the book and is even excited for the sequel!!

Baum Bugle Set to Review Book 2

2009-04-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

That's right! You heard it hear first! The Baum Bugle, magazine of the Official Wizard of Oz Fan Club, will be running a review of Joshua's second book Rise of the Dark Wizard in an upcoming issue! Keep your eyes open or simply keep checking back, we'll post this exciting new review as soon as it is released!

NEW WEBSITE!

2009-04-16T15:20:00.001-07:00

Check out the all new official Lost in Oz website. Some areas of the site are still being built, but this version 2.0 of LostinOzBook.com will be better than ever! Keep checking back for new updates. Joshua has been busy writing the third installment of Lost in Oz and has a whole slew of appearances, interviews, and book signings coming up! Check out the new "appearance/signings" section on the site for more details!

Mini Series 1 Minute Clip

2009-02-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

Based on the hit novel "Lost in Oz" by Joshua Patrick Dudley. This is a one minute clip from the first of a 10-part online mini-series. Originally announced to be released last year, production was postponed. New release date is scheduled for December 2010.

*****SEEKING NEW SIMS DIRECTOR!!!!!!! Send me an email if you are interested!*****

Synopsis:
When four friends find themselves lost in a mysterious place, their only goal is to find a way home. When the only way home is through a young girl and her magical shoes, how much are they willing to sacrifice to catch her? Follow Joshua, Tamara, Tommy and Laura down the yellow brick road in this all new action packed adventure. Be amazed when they meet Dorothy Gale and her gang of misfits for the first time, be in awe as they do battle with the Witch of the West, cross your fingers and hope they make it home alive. A prophecy awaits them in Oz, but will they choose to accept it? The only thing that's for sure is that Oz will never be the same.

Click HERE to go to YouTube.com and watch the trailer!

Joshua Dudley Nominated for The Pearson Prize Teen Choice Award

2008-11-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

Joshua Patrick Dudley and his novel Lost in Oz have been nominated for The Pearson Prize Teen Choice Award.

REAL Teens, REAL Books, REAL Awards

The Pearson Prize – Teen Choice Award nomination process asks students all over Montreal, Canada to vote on a book to be nominated for this prize. Hundreds of these real high school students voted for Lost in Oz for the award.

The results will be announced in late May 2009.

http://www.pearsonprize.org/

70th Anniversary Wizard of Oz Film

2008-09-15T05:10:00.000-07:00

Great news! Later this week, Joshua will be recording a segment for the 70th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz Film. The film will come out in 2009 and will celebrate the past 70 years of the musical masterpiece, The Wizard of Oz.

Here's what Joshua will be doing in his clip:

1. Talking about the beginning of his book Lost in Oz.
2. How he got interested in Oz.
3. What inspired him to write about Oz.
4. The sales of his books.
5. Background on the second Lost in Oz book.
6. Some of the most cherished items in his oz collection. Joshua will show off some of the items in his collection.
7. Finally, his thoughts on being in the 70th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz film?

Jack Pumpkinhead Teaser

2008-09-06T01:46:00.000-07:00

Combined Teasers

2008-09-04T04:35:00.000-07:00

5th Teaser Poster

2008-09-04T02:10:00.001-07:00

Tommy's Teaser Poster.

4th Teaser Poster

2008-09-04T00:21:00.001-07:00

Laura's Teaser Poster.

www.LostinOzMovie.com

2008-08-26T00:48:00.000-07:00

Check it out! Click here.

3rd Teaser Poster

2008-08-19T03:57:00.000-07:00

Tamara's Teaser Poster.

2ND TEASER POSTER

2008-08-19T02:47:00.000-07:00

Joshua's Teaser Poster.

Mini-Series

2008-08-16T23:46:00.001-07:00

Work on the mini-series version of Lost in Oz is in full swing.

Lost in Oz relates the adventures of protagonists Joshua and Tamara along with their friends, Tommy and Laura, as they travel down the yellow brick road in this all new mini-series event.

Along the way, they will come to terms with aspects of this amazing fantasy world and how it affects them personally; be it a realization about their inherent natures or a rationalization of the dark deeds that they need to commit in order to get home.

Long-time fans of Oz and other viewers alike will be surprised when they meet Dorothy Gale and her friends for the first time. As the characters retrace Dorothy's famous path, things begin to change, and the original story is completely altered by their interaction with it. A new prophecy for Oz and its people is revealed in this exciting new adventure.

Created by author Joshua Patrick Dudley and one of Bulgaria's best Sims Video Artists, this computer animated mini-series is sure to be full of surprises. One fifteen-minute episode will be released a week over a two month period, and will be viewable on both this site and YouTube.com. The series will debut around Christmas 2008.

TEASER POSTER

2008-05-28T02:08:00.000-07:00

Click on the image to view it full size!

4 Stars from Shop.com

2008-05-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

SHOP.COM recently rated Joshua Dudley's second novel, Lost in Oz: Rise of the Dark Wizard, 4 out of 5 stars!

Nashua Telegraph Article

2008-03-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

Nashua man shares his passion for the Land of Oz in a series of books
By DARRELL HALEN Telegraph Correspondent

When he was a young boy, Joshua Patrick Dudley fell in love with "The Wizard of Oz" and yearned to travel to the story's magical land.

So he did – in his imagination. Now, the Nashua author is sharing the second story of his "journey" in the Land of Oz.

"Lost in Oz: Rise of the Dark Wizard," the second installment of Dudley's twist on the classic Oz stories, recently became available at online bookstores. It continues the saga of four teenagers who stumbled upon their own journey down the yellow brick road.

• "I'm not in this for monetary gain at all," said Dudley, 22. "It's just spreading my love of Oz, spreading my interpretation of it."

Dudley's obsession with the story started early. When he was about 3, he fell in love with the classic 1939 film starring Judy Garland when he watched it for the first time.

He would watch the film again "thousands of times," he said, wearing out several copies of the movie.

"It was a completely different place for me, to see different colors and Munchkins and the Yellow Brick Road and crazy things like that," recalled Dudley, who was also heavily influenced by reading L. Frank Baum's Oz books. "Stuff kids dream about. It was awesome."

Dudley's stories are written in the first person. Joshua is joined on his journey in the Land of Oz by his twin sister, Tamara, his best friend, Tommy, and his friend, Laura.

In Dudley's first book, "Lost in Oz," the teens' presence in the land has altered the original story and they must deal with the consequences.

In his sequel, the group searches for Glinda's Great Book of Records, which keeps track of everything that happened in Oz, to erase that they had been there. Meanwhile, the Dark Wizard wants to steal the book so he can put into motion evil plots of destruction.

Dudley grew up in Hooksett and was heavily influenced artistically by his mother, Laurel Levesque, a teacher. He graduated from Manchester Central High School in 2004, and earned a degree in musical theater from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.

Dudley designed his own book covers and also drew the pictures in his second novel. His love for Baum's stories isn't confined to his writing – his bedroom is filled with Oz collectibles and memorabilia and he has performed in four theater productions of "The Wizard of Oz."

Dudley, whose book tours take him to Oz festivals, book fairs, middle schools and book signings, has heard from kids as young as 5 who enjoyed reading his first novel with their parents, as well as longtime Oz lovers in their 60s who like his fresh twist on the classic story.

"The Wizard of Oz," a perennial classic with its engaging story, lovable music and technical artistry, was a ratings hit when it first aired on television in 1956.

"The basic Baum story is so well known, it's one of the few things that hasn't gone out of style," said John Fricke, a Manhattan-based writer and producer who has chronicled Judy Garland's career and the appeal of Oz. "It's a real pop culture phenomenon that shows no sign of fading."

It's a film that kids fall in love with immediately, Fricke said. They relate to Dorothy's love for her dog, Toto, and the Kansas farm girl's desire to travel to a better place.

"I think everyone wants to find that place – just like in the song 'Over the Rainbow' – where they feel completely comfortable with themselves," added Dudley, who plans to write a third installment. "Oz is for, has always been and always will be about the kids. You get sucked in when you're a kid. You love this fantasy world so much you want nothing more than to be a part of this world, and it just stays with you for life. The characters are relatable. You feel for Dorothy during her entire journey."

Nowadays, the Baum books – he wrote 13 sequels to "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" – appeal primarily to kids younger than 12, said Fricke. Dudley's books are geared to older readers, especially middle school students and teenagers, he said.

"I think he found an untapped audience with his first book," said Fricke, who met Dudley at an Oz festival in Lancaster, N.Y., where the young author was promoting his first book. "He's been an entertainer, so he's good with the public. He's very personable. He has that youthful energy that's so much like Oz."

Click here to read the article on NashuaTelegraph.com

Telegraph Photo Gallery

2008-03-29T23:56:00.000-07:00

Check out the Nashua Telegraphs collection of Photos featuring Joshua and his collection.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ONLINE GALLERY

SEQUEL RELEASED!

2008-03-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to finally announce the release of my second book, Rise of the Dark Wizard. I cannot thank everyone enough for all of your support and I hope you all enjoy reading about my latest journies through Oz.

It's available online now at
www.Target.com
www.BN.com (Barnes and Noble)
www.Amazon.com
and many others!

Sincerely yours,
Joshua Patrick Dudley

1 day until sequel!

2008-03-12T01:59:00.000-07:00

Only one more day to wait! Rise of the Dark Wizard hits online bookstores in merely hours, but is available now through www.LostInOzBook.com and www.LuLu.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMMY!

2008-03-12T01:58:00.000-07:00

Happy 21st Birthday to Tommy Murphy!

NewHampshire.com Sequel Article

2008-03-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

Our friends over at NewHampshire.com were kind enough to run this article: Click here to go to NH.com to read the article!

Rise of the Dark Wizard Press Release

2008-03-05T14:19:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joshua Patrick Dudley continues to give a fresh look to the stories of Oz with the release of his second book, Lost in Oz: Rise of the Dark Wizard.

Nashua, NH —2008— Joshua Patrick Dudley, a 22-year-old New Hampshire resident, is gearing for the release of his second book, Lost in Oz: Rise of the Dark Wizard

Told in first person, present tense, Rise of the Dark Wizard picks up where the first book left off. Joshua, Tamara, Tommy and Laura have been trapped in Mifkets Asylum for some time and have been trying to find any means of escape. Unfortunately for Joshua, his friends find a way out but he must remain alone in the asylum while the others return to Oz in search of Glinda’s Great Book of Records which keeps track of every event that happens in Oz as it happens. Their goal is to erase the fact that they were ever in Oz by tearing the pages from the book that contain their story. The Dark Wizard, the newest and most evil villain to ever set foot on Oz soil is also searching for the Great Book of Records to set all of Oz’s most evil deeds into motion at once. Can Joshua return to Oz and aid his friends in destroying his prophecy or is Oz forever doomed?

Full of twists, turns and many unexpected plot points, Rise of the Dark Wizard promises to revive the Fantasy genre that has lost steam since the end of Harry Potter. The second book also boasts interior illustrations (photo-manips) created by the author himself!

The book will be available at all online book retailers beginning March 13, 2008 and is available for purchase online now at www.LostInOzBook.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Joshua Patrick Dudley
lostinozbook@yahoo.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joshua Patrick Dudley has a wide array of interests and hobbies that drive his life. His greatest passions in life are all art-related and include writing, graphic design, acting, singing and dancing. Joshua also serves as an advocate to the arts by appearing in middle-school classrooms to teach creative writing workshops. Joshua lives and writes in Nashua, New Hampshire, where he is busy working on the third installment of Lost in Oz.

Lost in Oz: Rise of the Dark Wizard by Joshua Patrick Dudley
ISBN-13: 978-0-6151-8871-3 Format: Paperback, 205pp

COUNTDOWN: 10 DAYS

2008-03-03T22:22:00.001-08:00

10 days until the release of Rise of the Dark Wizard!

Keep your eyes peeled

2008-03-03T22:21:00.000-08:00

And stay on the look-out if your a subscriber to the Nashua Telegraph. A new interview with Joshua discussing his second book, Rise of the Dark Wizard, will hit newsstands soon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

2008-03-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

And many moooooooooooore.

Happy Birthday Mom!

2008-02-06T09:40:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday mom!

I hope this year brings you more joy than ever.

Love always and forever,
Joshua
xoxo

UPDATES!

2008-02-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

The photos page got another make-over, thanks to our good friends over at www.goodwidgets.com! The photos page also has some new, never-before-seen photos from the Indiana Oz Festival, more chapter artwork from book two and various others.

The rest of the site got a major clean-up and the entire site has some new FLASH elements added. If they are not working, visit www.adobe.com to downloaded the latest version of Flash Player.

Baum Bugle Reviews Lost in Oz

2008-01-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

Re-Writing Oz History
Published in the Spring 2007 issue of the Baum Bugle, The Official Wizard of Oz Fan-Club Magazine, Volume 51, Number 1
The very concept is nothing short of brilliant. It is something I haven’t seen done before anywhere. Instead of presenting Oz as an actual land, it presents Oz as merely a place in the storybook The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The primary characters here are four teenagers (one of whom is the author himself) who get caught in the storyline from the book. The problem is that, since they were not in the original tale, their presence is causing the details of the story to change. As a result, the pages in their copy of the book turn blank and the book starts rewriting itself as the altered events transpire. If they alter the plotline too much, they could jeopardize the ending and prevent Dorothy from ever getting home. If that were to happen, they could all be trapped in this unfamiliar version of Oz forever.
The four teenagers start out amiably, but after the group splits up over an argument between Joshua and his sister, things start to become less pleasant for all of them. I’ll not reveal the ending here, but suffice to say that I did not expect it.
The author’s profile states that he has a background in theatre, which isn’t hard to believe when one reads his writing: the novel is told in the present tense, in the style of stage directions. This can get awkward at times, particularly when he shifts tense. For example, a sentence on page 29 reads: “As quickly as it was said, we all rose to our feet and start our long journey to the city of emeralds.”
I had been warned in advance that this book includes killing and death. Although that is true, one needs to remember that this is essentially a re-thought version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. While many modern Oz fans remember the story as seen through the MGM-colored glasses, it actually has a great deal of killing in it. The Tin Woodman chops up an army of wolves (as well as a wildcat); the Scarecrow twists the necks of a flock of crows; and a couple of Kalidahs are made to fall to their deaths. Reading the books side by side, I actually find Baum’s the bloodier of the two. I will mention, though, that as a vegetarian, I was very put off by a segment in which our human heroes are served a type of meat that clearly wasn’t picked from a lunch pail tree. I think it best not to offer details here.
There is one fight segment that I could have done without. The characters with whom we are supposed to sympathize with actually start fighting with Dorothy and her friends. I don’t have a lot of respect for anyone who would punch Dorothy, or bite her or pull her hair. And they also tear the Scarecrow into pieces in that segment. Indeed, as Joshua himself laments later on, “We’re the bad guys!”
Taken as a whole, this book has a lot of action and excitement. I hope to see many more books from this author in the future.

-CHRIS DULABONE