The Wizard of Oz

This week’s blogging challenge is books I love that became a movie or TV show. For this one, I’m going back to an old classic—The Wizard of Oz. 

When I was a little girl, my great-uncle used to send me books for my birthday. He’s the one who introduced me to Narnia and to The Wizard of Oz. But not just that story, the complete series. Every night before I went to bed, my dad would pull one of the books and read me a few chapters. I loved the story and the writing and the world L. Frank Baum created. And of course, I loved spending the time with my dad.

The movie, however, terrified me. To this day, I still have nightmares of an evil witch showing up at my door, the world outside alight in fire. And the witch is always the Wicked Witch of the West. But that never stopped me from watching Judy Garland in the movie, and peeking between my fingers when the witch showed up. I loved the progression from black and white to color and back again. I was fascinated to see the characters from Dorothy’s farm transform into the scarecrow and cowardly lion. And being able to carry on their stories throughout the series, to find out what happened later, was even better. 

Perhaps it’s one of the reasons why I like reading series, and why I enjoy writing them. When a character I connect with reaches the end of their story, I don’t want to part with them. I want to know that their happily ever after continues. I want to see where their life takes them and I enjoy making them pop back into other people’s stories to impart some wisdom they’ve learned or to share in a laugh or two. 

Tell me, what books did you love?

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge

Today I’m participating in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge, sponsored by The Long and Short Reviews. Their topic is “favorite TV show and why.” Since my husband and I spend many evenings watching TV, and I often get my writing inspiration from minor characters who flit through the story, this is perfect for me.

However, deciding on one favorite show is tougher. I love the British TV dramas that we watch in BBC America. Sherlock is fantastic. As is, of course, Dr. Who. Netflix and Amazon have great series, such as Man in the High Castle and the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Then there’s Game of Thrones and Outlander. And of course, lots of network shows. They all have one thing in common, though. High emotion and strong characters.

Those characters take control of their lives, even when it seems as if they have none. Seeing them rise above their challenges—whether it’s as a newly divorced Jewish woman in the 1950s, a young girl forced to make her way on her own in Westeros, or people facing the worst type of society in High Castle, somehow, each one of them finds their place and figures out a way not only to survive, but to thrive.

With all that is happening today, I find that inspiring. And therefore, when I’m creating my own characters, I make sure to infuse them with that “never-give-up” spirit, even when I and they want to give up. My writing is an escape from reality. It’s my chance to make my characters’ lives turn out the way I want them to. It’s my chance to give just the right comeback. I get to play God. It’s a heady experience and one that gives me an outlet when this crazy world we actually live in gets even crazier. 

So tell me, what’s your favorite TV show and why?