They specifically suggested, “Why don’t you make Ozma and Dorothy meet and have a good time together?” So what else could Baum do but acknowledge that the fervorous recommendations of his readers were responsible for OZMA OF OZ, as they had been for its most recent predecessor. These are quotes from Baum’s “Author’s Note” at the onset of what would be the third Oz book, OZMA OF OZ (1907), and they stand as proof positive of the amazing hold his creations had on the daydreaming, thoughts, imaginations, and hearts of his following. “More about Dorothy,” they clamored, while going on to ask, “What became of the Cowardly Lion?” and “What did Ozma do afterward?” (meaning after she became the Ruler of Oz).

In summation, they enjoyed his other books, but their expressed glee and their primary requests were manifestly all about the country and characters of Oz. Along with his earnings through these years, the lifelong deluge of letters from Baum’s young readers also continued to increase. It’s essential that “public demand” be referenced here. By public demand, he’d followed that with a further tale of Ozzy fantasticks, including the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, in THE LAND OF OZ (1904). There’s no question, however, that he was principally and ever-more known as the man who created Oz – and Dorothy and her friends – in THE WIZARD OF OZ (1900). Best of all, he continued to turn out major fantasy fiction for youngsters, most recently QUEEN ZIXI OF IX (1905) and JOHN DOUGH AND THE CHERUB (1906).

To augment that income, he was branching out into the pseudonymous writing of series’ novels for more-or-less teenage male and female readers, as well as penning full-length narratives for adults. The musical comedy stage show of his book, THE WIZARD OF OZ, continued to produce revenue.

Oz of ozma