Author’s and Artist’s Alley - oz-stravaganza2019

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Headlining this Year’s Authors & Artists Alley

Welcome to all of our authors and artist that are attending this year Oz-Stravaganza!

Ron Baxley, Jr.

Ron Baxley, Jr. submitted a skit to a glossy youth magazine when he was 16, it was accepted, and he has written for publication ever since. Having written stories with cartoons and poems for many years in his youth, Ron continued in adulthood to submit to magazines and journals with great success. Ron has worked as a newspaper reporter for six years in his life as well.

   In later years, he added science fiction books and Oz books to his list of publications. He published the First Edition of The Talking City of Oz in 1999 (The Vanitas Press) which later appeared as a self-published Second Edition with illustrations by Gwen Tennille at a previous Oz-Stravaganza. The First Edition of this book earned him an invitation to participate in the festival nine years ago, and he has attended many years since with various Oz books.
   Ron was awarded a Lifetime Membership to the All Things Oz Museum by the International L. Frank Baum and All Things Oz Foundation in 2016. He attributes his success with books for children and youth to having been an educator for 15 years.
   To sign this year, Ron brings with him a novel for young adults and adults which combines Southern literature with Oz fantasy, O.Z. Diggs Himself Out (YBR Publishing) and a commemorative edition of his fantasy graphic novel (for ages 10 and up) which stars a version of his Pembroke Welsh Corgi and takes place partially in Oz: Ziggy Zig-zags the Light and Dark Fantastic (YBR Publishing). Using Ron’s story, concepts, and scripting, Vincent Myrand created the ink and watercolor illustrations for the graphic novel (with help in lettering and layout by Ali Tavakoly).
   Ron earned in B.A. in English from the University of South Carolina in 1998. He took several creative writing and poetry classes in his major. He later returned to work on his alternative certification to teach English.
   He has been a member of the International Wizard of Oz Club, is a member of the Oz writer and illustration group The Oz Inklings online, and was a member of the now defunct Not Yet Dead Poets’ Society for many years.
   For more information on Ron, please see his author page at http://rbaxley37.wixsite.com/ronbaxleyjrofoz .

Tom Hutchison

Tom Hutchison is the co-founder of Big Dog Ink comics as well as the writer and creator of The Legend of Oz: The Wicked West. The Wicked West is a re-imagining of the classic L. Frank Baum story but told with an old west twist. Instead of ruby slippers, Gale wears ruby spurs and her best friend Toto is now her trusty steed.

A life-long comic book fan, Tom first stumbled across comics at a flea market at the age of 10 and comic books quickly became a staple in his life. Tom has taken part in virtually every portion of the industry at one time or another, starting as a reader and collector and then managing a local comic book shop before moving on and owning his own store. Tom started assisting with other’s creator owned comics and now is writing and publishing his own stories as well as helping new creators with their projects in an editorial capacity.

Vincent Myrand

Myrand's "The Wizard of Oz" and "Return to Oz" paintings have gathered worldwide recognition. He burst on to the Oz art scene with his first appearance at Oz-Stravaganza in 2015 and started having guest appearances at Oz festivals throughout the U.S. and at the International Wizard of Oz Club convention gatherings. He has continued those to the present.

Vincent has devoted his life to the arts with many early arts accolades in his youth and was inspired by the movie "The Wizard of Oz" as a youngling. Shortly after this, Vincent discovered L. Frank Baum's books, and he fell in love with Baum's characters and started drawing them.

He worked for an art instructor for an after school program for many years and opened an art school of his own for a while, the nonprofit Myrand Art Institution. Vincent also toured many famous historical sites of Italy and gleaned much knowledge about the paintings, murals, and sculptures there. In addition, he has been a front man for many bands and has painted cover art for their albums.

He has attended Oz-Stravaganza as a participating artist for five years and has been a member of the International Wizard of Oz Club for many years, starting when he was just 12 years old.

James C. & Amanda Wallace

James C. Wallace II, originally a native of West Virginia, currently lives in Terre Haute, Indiana with his wife Amanda. They have been married more than 35 years, with a herd of 5 children and 15 grandchildren. His background covers over 34 years in children's education, including experience working for the world's largest children's museum; The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, where he was the Planetarium Educator for SpaceQuest Planetarium. In addition to children's books about Oz, he is recognized by NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a leading developer of web-based educational games, educational exhibit design, curriculum development and implementation. He is also involved in the DiscoverHover program, an educational program developing and utilizing hovercraft in a unique and fun way. He now serves as the Royal Liaison of Oz and endeavors to fulfill Princess Ozma's royal command to tell the tales of Oz to the children of the Great Outside. His charming wife Amanda, a Hoosier native and creator of the Legendary Potato Soup serves as the Royal Liaison to Princess Ozma and as co-author on their last 5 books. Currently, James & Amanda Wallace are working on presenting their latest creation, Aquareine in Oz, a rousing story of Aquareine, Queen of the Mermaid Kingdom, and her journey into the Land of Oz with Dorothy as her guide.