Overview

Several authors from the United States and Canada have submitted short stories and poems for the first annual TALES ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD anthology. Genres range from the Wonderful World of Oz to westerns, fantasy, science fiction, thriller, and more in prose and poetry.

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9798985208269

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Reviews

"Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite 5-star review Tales on the Yellow Brick Road 2023 is a collection of stories and poems that pays tribute to L. Frank Baum and his famous work, The Wizard of Oz. This collection features works from authors who love this world and have expanded it with stories such as Ron Baxley Jr.'s A Juicy Rags to Rich-Oz Story, James W. Krych's The Flight to Oz, and Scott Blanke's The Oz Almost Coven. These stories are wonderfully paired with poems from the likes of Jack Gannon, JC Sulzenko, and Frank W. Howard Jr. that are humorous, charming, and lighthearted. The collection features excerpts and short stories with the same quirky and delightful tone of the Oz-centric stories from authors such as Cyndi Williams-Barnier, John T. Wayne, and Jennifer Burns. The heart of the collection stems from a genuine love for the tradition created by Baum and carried on by authors such as Ron Baxley Jr. who is a notable Oz universe author, and Frank Blanke who had a connection to the saga from childhood. A Juicy Rags to Rich-Oz Story from Baxley explores several elements from the original series, expanding the world. The story is written using the same style as Baum with delightful phrases. Poems are featured throughout such as a Christmas tale about a white-haloed fur angel and Ode to Birdbath, which is a humorous and creative observation of a birdbath. Both are feel-good poems that have uplifting tones and feature curious subjects. The poems fit the style and ethos presented in the short stories and excerpts perfectly. Other stories in the collection include Xcalibur and the Knowledragon, which features delightful writing such as a bespectacled and shabby-chic-attired teacher. The Gardener revolves around a special garden and the important relationship associated with it, and Mother's Coffin focuses on the idea of accepting impending death through the story of a mother picking out her coffin and making arrangements for her funeral. Each one is different and there will be something in the collection for everyone. Tales on the Yellow Brick Road 2023 is a collection for those that love The Wizard of Oz and those that enjoy whacky, humorous, and lighthearted stories, poems, and excerpts. Reviewed by Helen Huini for Readers' Favorite- 4-star review Tales on the Yellow Brick Road 2023 by YBR Publishing is an anthology of stories and poems. Each story has a different cast, with characters from different backgrounds and orientations. For example, in A Juicy Rags to ""Rich-Oz"" Story, Margerie and Buttery escaped being held hostage by Mrs. Yoop, who had enslaved them. Princess Ozma uses magic in this narrative to prevent Mrs. Yoop from enslaving anyone again. In The Gardener, Israel's scientists have recreated the Garden of Eden on the moon, working on producing safe food for human consumption. The Ode to Birdbath is a poem (by Jack Gannon which) details how his cat and dog were his only companions while he was sick. Tales on the Yellow Brick Road 2023 features genres set in different settings, some fictional and others existing in the real world. This gave me a clear perspective of the time and space in which the events occurred. The characters have different traits and abilities, which suit their roles in the various stories where they feature. For example, through Princess Ozma, Ron Baxley, Jr. showed how magic could be used to do good and stop people like Mrs. Yoop, who wanted to manipulate others using their magic. I also appreciated the inclusion of images in The Flight to Oz, which complemented the vivid descriptions of the Sirenae Iustinianae Milites and enabled me to grasp its powerful abilities. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy short fiction genres that spark their imaginations."

Author Information

"While Jack usually writes with co-author Cyndi Williams-Barnier, receiving 5-star awards for three of their joint novels, and one 5-star award for his solo Christmas book, ""I Walked In Santa's Boots"", which was the book that launched YBR Publishing. They have four other books together, and after a few planning sessions he is at work on the next two in their ""Task Force"" series.Jack's career was in print media, starting as a carrier for The Beaufort Gazette before a summer job as an intern reporter. He later returned to the Gazette as the mailroom supervisor, working his way up in the Circulation Department to Circulation System Manager for both the Gazette and The Island Packet. After 23 years in management, Jack entered retirement.From 1993 to 2016, Jack also appeared as Santa Claus for Beaufort, SC, and the surrounding areas of upper Beaufort County. Although he retired from the couple dozen major events he anchored every year as St. Nick, he continued to appear at a couple smaller events in neighboring Jasper County for children's events as well as Toys For Tots. Jack was given a Toys For Tots pin from attending US Marines for his years helping to gather toys for needy children. His ""Santa's Boots"" book showcases his over two decades of major event appearances. He finally hung up his Red Coat after 30 years. I grew up in what was once the small town of Beaufort, S.C., with a population of approximately 6,300 in the early 1960s. Our small town now has a grandiose population of nearly 13,000, and the county 191,000! Things sure have changed! After graduating from Beaufort High School, I went on to the University of S.C.-Beaufort studying Advanced Composition. From there I worked for S.C. Probation, Parole, and Pardons. After a 20-year career with the Beaufort County Emergency Management Division, I entered retirement. About the same time, we moved to our retirement house in Ridgeland, S.C.In retirement I caught up with my dear friend Jack Gannon from Beaufort High School, where we often talked about writing books and were even planning out our storyline and characters for a book that we wanted to write. As fate would have it, we lost touch with each other after graduation. Fast forward some 32 years, we reconnected and finally began writing the book we talked about so long ago. To date we've written nine books in total with more to come!In 2016, Jack and I formed an LLC called YBR Publishing. Not long after, my husband Bill signed on as our Chief Editor and Staff Manager. To date, we have published 29 books for clients (including the one in your hands now), with many more to come.When not working on client's books, I can be found with my ""lap warmer"" cat, ""Scooter"". Ron Baxley, Jr., of Barnwell, South Carolina, is a prolific award-winning fantasy and ""Oz universe"" author and has been published for 31 years. An experienced former educator, Ron, who is a current caregiver for a relative, also works as a freelancer for multiple newspapers in S.C. and Georgia. Additionally, he also works as a travel specialist and as a full-time author. Also, for 13 years, he has been invited as an author to and has attended Oz festivals throughout the country, as well as a guest author at various conventions. During much of that time, Ron's Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Ziggy, was able to travel with him to events. In fact, Ziggy, who was adopted from a shelter at one year old, will be 11 this December and serves as Ron's emotional support dog. Also, in whole or in part, the zig-zagging Ziggy has inspired many of Ron's books. By the way, Ron, who has strong faith in God, does his best to be BOTH a good man and a good wizard. He is, of course, not a bad witch; if he were, he would be caught dead in the rain! Ron joined YBR Publishing as an author in 2017 and saw his first Oz-themed novel, ""O.Z. Diggs Himself Out"", published in March 2018. It became the first of his interconnected Oz-universe books exclusive to YBR. His books in chronological order are the children's book ""Goldey Goosey of Oz"", the graphic novel ""Ziggy Zig-Zags the Light and Dark Fantastic"", the novels ""O.Z. Diggs Himself Out"" and ""O.Z. Doesn't Diggs G.C.C. at Emerald City"". The sequel graphic novel ""Ziggy Zig-Zags the Light: The Ice Queen Hateth"" is projected for 2024, and the next ""O.Z. Diggs VII"" novel for 2024."

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