Blog Archives
It’s Just the Spark
The Broken Weathervane follows a woman trying to unravel a family mystery who takes a new job with an English professor who is working on a biography that he does not realize is tied to her family. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My dad shared a family story about his father and uncle who were in business together with a younger brother who struggled quite a bit. The two older brothers did everything in their power to help him succeed in his own businesses and later let him work at theirs. I loved the way they cared for him despite all the difficulties they encountered.
This was the spark of the 1950s timeline in my novel. However, it’s just the spark. It’s not a story about my family, and the characters took on lives of their own.
In the 2015 timeline, I needed two people at cross purposes with each other—both seeking the same information for different reasons.
I found Leslie to be a very well-written and in-depth character. What was your inspiration for her and her emotional turmoil throughout the story?
It was important for Leslie to have understanding of mental health issues, some from experience, some from study and observation. Having safeguarded her family’s identity and history her entire life, she wrestles with how to handle newfound information she’s been wondering about for years.
Since her life had to overlap Greg’s at the university, I gave her an education background (previously a high school English and literature teacher) and made her a grants officer at the college so she’d have to work directly with Greg from time to time.
Part of her turmoil comes from keeping secrets from Greg who doesn’t even know she’s part of the Buckwalter family that he’s been researching. While honoring her grandmother’s wishes for privacy, she could be putting Greg in jeopardy by withholding information.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
In the 1950s timeline, one of the characters deals with mental illness. My hope is to reduce the stigma of mental illness by learning about it, discussing it, and having empathy for those who suffer.
Directly related is the question of transparency and truth. When is it important to be transparent and when should privacy and protection of loved ones take priority? There are no easy answers.
The Broken Weathervane is conducive to great book club discussion. There are resources and nine questions at the back of the book and on my website. I’d be happy to visit any book club in person or via Zoom.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My next book is historical fiction, as usual, but it goes back further into time than my other books. Rain in the Wilderness is Biblical fiction set in the time of Christ. The main character is Rebekah, mother of three adult children. One son works for a Roman centurion; another despises all things Roman.
In Jerusalem and beyond, the Jews writhe under the oppressive Roman Empire, longing for a political Messiah. At the center of controversy, Jesus of Nazareth seems an unlikely prospect. Ruthless debates unite his enemies while further dividing Rebekah’s family.
After years of research and writing, I’m thrilled this novel will finally be published on October 13, 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Bookbub | LinkedIn
As Leslie Wickersham, Raymond University grants officer, seeks information to unravel a family mystery, English professor Gregory Stafford seeks an elusive interview with one more Buckwalter relative for his upcoming author biography. While Greg and Leslie guard coveted details from each other, her goals are further complicated by letters of blackmail threatening to reveal all she has worked hard to hide.
In this dual timeline novel alternating between 2015 and the 1950s, loyalty is tested and secrets abound when family honor collides with truth. Leslie grapples with the trade-off: how far will a person go to help a loved one thrive?
The Broken Weathervane
The Broken Weathervane tells the story of Leslie Wickersham, a grants officer carrying both ambition and the heavy weight of family secrets. She steps into a new job at Raymond University, only to find herself working alongside the proud and difficult Dr. Gregory Stafford, a man intent on finishing a biography of author Fritz Buckwalter. Leslie, however, has her own hidden connection to Buckwalter, one she has been asked to keep quiet. The novel weaves past and present together, drawing on family turmoil, mental illness, hidden journals, and long-buried truths. It’s a tale of secrets colliding with the need for honesty, of pride giving way to humility, and of love tentatively growing in unlikely soil.
Reading this book felt like being drawn into a living, breathing world. The writing was rich without being fussy, and it held me with its rhythm. I admired how the author took big, heavy topics like mental illness, shame, and betrayal, and approached them with care. Some scenes made me ache because they felt so true to life. Leslie’s self-doubt rang true to me, and her push-pull with Greg had the kind of sharp banter and underlying tenderness that I didn’t expect at first but grew to enjoy. I found myself rooting for her not just to succeed in her career, but to make peace with her past and claim her own story.
Greg’s arrogance rubbed me the wrong way, but that seemed intentional. I wondered if he could have shown more cracks sooner. The family history sections fascinated me, especially the 1950s journal entries, yet I sometimes felt yanked between timelines. Still, I can’t deny that the mystery of what really happened to Leslie’s family kept me hooked. I would sit down, meaning to read for half an hour and end up lost for an evening, chasing one more revelation.
The Broken Weathervane is a book about secrets and how they shape us, about how shame passes through generations until someone has the courage to face it. It left me thoughtful, a little sad, but also hopeful. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy family sagas with layered characters, a dash of romance, and questions that don’t have easy answers. If you like Amanda Cox or Lisa Wingate, this will probably be right up your alley.
Pages: 424 | ASIN : B0FHDTSPH6
He Created the Land of Oz
A Hundred Magical Reasons follows two women from different eras who meet by chance and bond over the story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its creator, L. Frank Baum and wind up on a journey together for solace, inspiration, and purpose. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
After reading a biography of L. Frank Baum, I was smitten. He was an innovative, larger-than-life personality—which is no surprise, given that he created the Land of Oz.
Baum was also a family man with a keen understanding of children and a high regard for women. His mother-in-law was a suffragist! His humor, unstoppable imagination, and tenacity gave him the capacity to bounce back from failure many times.
Fun fact: Baum and his family summered at the same lake where my family vacations yearly near Holland, Michigan. Though we were at opposite ends of Lake Macatawa—and opposite ends of the century—this sparked additional interest in his life. Thus, my novel focuses on the summers he spent at Macatawa (1900-1909).
My story spotlights a young girl, Janie, whose pious parents have no use for fun, frivolity, fairies, fantasy, or fiction. Then Janie meets L. Frank Baum. This tension was the premise for the novel.
Your book has some very interesting characters that have their character flaws but are still likable. How do you go about creating characters for your story?
Baum’s life, family, and career ups and downs shaped the story. I wanted my two protagonists, Janie (in both timelines) and Carrie (1980), to be impacted by his influence. I just had to figure out how. I wanted to spotlight the Baums’ summers at Michigan’s Macatawa Resort and his friendship with young Janie (AKA Charlotte). Janie takes on challenges inspired by some of Baum’s career choices.
I wanted young Janie to be bright and imaginative, despite having harsh parents. L. Frank Baum’s role was drawing out more of Janie’s imagination, giving her the courage to chase her dreams.
However, decades later in 1980, when Mrs. Gordon (Janie all grown up) hires college-age Carrie, she’s a bitter, critical, and cynical old woman. The question is why. I needed Carrie’s life to have parallels to Mrs. Gordon’s earlier challenges and goals.
Carrie wants to run a literary-themed café against her parents’ wishes. So, like young Janie, Carrie struggles against their demands, criticism, and expectations. Additionally, she’s been dating parent-approved Brian for six years and he’s about ready to pop the question. Then she meets Dirk . . .
The most challenging part of this story was capturing L. Frank Baum’s personality. I did a ton of research so I could learn as much as possible about him and the early 1900s, and stay true to the facts. But my purpose went beyond knowing the facts and events of his life. This was about creating his essence on the page so readers can experience what it was like to be with him—whether running a printing press or sipping lemonade together on his Macatawa porch.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Baum’s stories are all about stirring the child’s imagination, so that’s a key element of my novel. Janie is at odds with her rigid parents—the perfect foil for a man like L. Frank Baum who stretches her imagination in every way possible. I firmly believe everybody is creative in their own way, so I hope this story inspires readers to value and use their own imaginations.
But many themes are woven throughout, such as learning to be yourself when others try to keep you in a box, embracing the role of stories and fairy tales in our lives, plus following your passion and conquering fear with brains, heart, and courage.
With 14 thought-provoking questions at the end, A Hundred Magical Reasons would make a great book club book. I hope the story raises questions and produces some pondering.
What is the next book that you’re working on and when can your fans expect it out?
It’s another dual timeline novel, set in 2015 and the 1950s, hopefully available in 2026. The story involves a family mystery, a literary icon, and two co-workers at cross-purposes for wanting more information—one to share in a biography, and the other to keep it hidden while resolving family issues. Loyalty is tested and secrets abound when family honor collides with truth.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | BookBub
Dragons of a different kind pursue Carrie Kruisselbrink.
During 1980, the summer of her private rebellion, Carrie defies parental expectations and pursues her café dream. While waiting for funding, she takes a job with Mrs. Gordon.
As Mrs. Gordon unfolds the story of her oppressive childhood and delightful friendship with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum, Carrie never expects to encounter her own fears and soul-searching.
In this modern-day fairy tale that weaves between 1980 and the early 1900s, Mr. Baum’s influence impacts each woman’s personal quests on a hero’s journey neither anticipates. Can Carrie and Mrs. Gordon find common ground in battling their respective dragons?
A Hundred Magical Reasons
Laura DeNooyer’s A Hundred Magical Reasons is a dazzling blend of history, whimsy, and heart. It tells the intertwining stories of two women from different eras, Janie in the early 1900s and Carrie in the 1970s both of whom find solace, inspiration, and purpose through their connection to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its creator, L. Frank Baum. At its core, this novel is about the magic of storytelling, the search for belonging, and the power of imagination to shape lives across generations.
One of the most striking aspects of this book is its rich, immersive world. DeNooyer paints the past with remarkable detail, making 1900s Macatawa, Michigan feel alive. The way she brings L. Frank Baum into the story, mentoring young Janie, inspiring her creativity, and offering wisdom wrapped in playful charm is nothing short of enchanting. A standout moment is when Baum encourages Janie to write her own fairy tales, telling her, “Imagination’s a fine place for characters to reside, but it’s just the beginning.” That sentiment lingers throughout the book, echoing in both timelines as Carrie, decades later, grapples with her own dreams and struggles.
But it’s not just the history and literary references that shine; it’s the emotional weight carried by both Janie and Carrie’s journeys. Janie’s quiet rebellion against her strict mother, her secret visits with Baum, and the heartbreak of losing her writing mentor create a deeply moving arc. The scene where Janie’s typewriter, a gift from Baum, is sold by her father is gut-wrenching. Similarly, Carrie’s strained relationship with her own mother and her search for personal freedom in the 1970s add layers of depth and relatability. The contrast between the two eras, one where imagination is nurtured in secret and another where it fights to break free from societal expectations, gives the novel an emotional richness that lingers long after the last page.
Beyond the heartfelt storytelling, DeNooyer’s writing is brimming with warmth, wit, and a touch of nostalgia. She masterfully blends real-life historical figures with fictional characters, making it all feel seamless and organic. Some moments, like Carrie’s realization that “a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight,” hit hard, reminding us of the importance of chasing dreams despite the odds. There’s a deep love for literature woven into every chapter, and it’s hard not to get swept up in the joy of it all.
A Hundred Magical Reasons is the perfect read for dreamers, storytellers, and anyone who’s ever felt out of place in their own world. Fans of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will find even more to love, but even if you’ve never read a single Oz book, this novel stands beautifully on its own. If you love historical fiction with heart, compelling characters, and a touch of literary magic, this one’s for you.
Pages: 534 | ASIN : B0D4Q1VK1C
LITERARY TITAN 