TRILOGY COMPLETE

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!

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

Ozcast Episode Posted

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!

4 Stars from Shop.com

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

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

Baum Bugle Reviews Lost in Oz

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

How Bastinda Was Made

SPECIAL LOOK: Alice

Wonderland's Princess

SPECIAL LOOK: Bastinda

Happy New Year! Here's a special look at a piece of chapter art from Lost in Oz Rise of the Dark Wizard, featuring Bastinda, the Wicked Witch of the West.

Lost in Oz - Rise of the Dark Wizard Preview 2

NewHampshire.com excited for sequel

Click on the link below to read the article.

http://cs.newhampshire.com/blogs/granite_state_stuff/archive/2007/12/20/New-Hampshire-author-displays-his-own-computer-art-in-his-second-novel.aspx

Book 2 Full Cover Preview

Author Joshua Dudley Donates 500 Books

Joshua Patrick Dudley, author of the novel Lost in Oz, welcomed the Christmas season with spirit earlier this week, when he donated over 500 copies of his book to schools and libraries all over the country.

" 'Tis the season for giving and there's no better gift then a book," Joshua said as he hand delivered a few copies to the Nashua Public Library.

Joshua believes firmly in reading to and with children and has started a new reading campaign that parodies the famous milk mustache ads. The "got books?" campaign will kick off in February of 2008 and will feature some famous minds of literature.

With the sequel to Lost in Oz due out next year, Joshua vows to spend the rest of his time writing and giving back to the community. "There's no place like home (for the holidays)."

www.LostInOzBook.com

Hooksett Public Library

The Hooksett Public Library, in Joshua's hometown of Hooksett, NH has recently added Lost in Oz to their bookshelves!

If you are one of the few New Hampshire residents who has yet to read Lost in Oz, be sure to swing by the Hooksett Public Library for your chance to read it!

Click here to visit the Hooksett Public Library online!

JoshuaPatrickDudley.com

Check out the ALL NEW www.JoshuaPatrickDudley.com!Click here to visit www.JoshuaPatrickDudley.com!

The Times

Philip Potempa of the Times in Chicago, had this to say about Lost in Oz:

Book it

While at this year's 26th Annual Wizard of Oz Festival, one of the visiting guests I met was a young author from New Hampshire named Joshua Dudley, who is continuing the story traditions started by Frank L. Baum when he originally penned the first of 40 books about the land of Oz way back in 1900.

Dudley, 21, can be proud of his new book, which is also his first book, "Lost in Oz" (May 2007 www.Lulu.com $10.95).

It's not only selling well, it also has a great story, including the author's own experiences and voice as one of the characters.

It's all about four friends who find themselves lost in a mysterious place and all sharing the same goal: to find a way home. (Sound familiar?) Of course ... their only way home is to catch up with a little girl wearing magic shoes. For more information, visit www.lostinozbook.com.

Click here to read the article on nwi.com

Update: Hardcover Cover Art

Indiana Oz Festival Recap

Jean Nelson, founder of the festival and Joshua Dudley
This past weekend I finally attended the 26th Annual Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival in Valparaiso, IN. I had a completely wonderful time.
Thursday we were met at the airport by Carla Sellers and her mother Sandi and two beautiful limousines. Riding in the limos with us was John Henson, who works with Broadway Bears and the Broadway Cares foundations, Jerry Marren the lollipop kid and his wife, Elizabeth and Roger and Charlene Baum.
Roger is the great grandson to L. Frank Baum and also an Oz author. We were all surprised to find out that we had purchased Cairn Terrier puppies from JackiesPups, which is a great distance for both of us to travel. It’s such a small world!
We attended the welcome dinner that night where my manager Tim and I saw some familiar faces from past festivals including, John Fricke and Donna Stewart-Hardway, which is always a pleasure. I was also very pleased to meet Brenda Maynard, the director of the event and the woman responsible for my attendance. Everyone we met, of course, was a pleasure.
Friday morning was probably the most pivotal moment in my entire weekend. Tim and I got to meet our ambassador for the weekend, Janet Korzow. Janet has fought off many challenges in her life and in the short time we spent together, I feel she gave me a new outlook on the world. I was truly blessed to have her this weekend. We also had her husband Nick as an ambassador, he was also a great companion and always ready to help. Tim found solace in Nick as another sports fan and they had many great conversations, while I would chat with Janet about Oz! Two amazing people who will forever be in our hearts.
Friday evening was the Gala and we enjoyed many beautiful moments including a performance by John Fricke. I sat at one of the head tables of the celebrities and was the first to be interviewed. I was terribly nervous as I knew very few people. Luckily John Fricke went easy on me and I was able to answer my question to the best of my knowledge and share a wonderful memory about myself and my grandmother, to whom my first book was dedicated. The night was beautiful and so was the event. Tim and I returned to the hotel, eager to rest and prepare for the next day.
Saturday morning opened a bit chilly and we shivered our way through the parade, twice. Seeing the smiles on all the kids faces made me think about when my parents would take me to parades and I jump into the street after candy. We then moved into the celebrity court, that I shared with the munchkins, John Fricke, John Henson and Michael Sieward, who displayed his beautiful Judy Garland dress collection. The event was a smash and I got to meet some great new fans of the book. Some had already read it and discussed their thoughts with me. It was truly one of the most awarding experiences I’ve had.
Sunday started with the breakfast with the munchkins and we were again interviewed. This time I was asked about the sequel, Lost In Oz Rise of the Dark Wizard, which I decided to be more discreet about and create a feeling of mystery (haha). People who saw the cover artwork for the second book were very impressed which made me feel great. I love writing but I also love creating my own artwork for my books. I’m working with a new illustrator for the second book and I can’t wait to reveal some of his work.
At the end of the festival, I almost shed a tear thinking of all the fun I had, but I was happy to return home. After all, “there’s no place like home.”

--Joshua Patrick Dudley, 2007

Post-Tribune

Click here to read this article from the Post-Tribune.

Now Available at Target

Lost In Oz is now available at Target, both online and in stores!

Click here to buy from Target!