At some point in my adult life, I realized that the books has several authors. So I wrote my own Oz story and sent it off to Reilly & Lee on January 13, 1950. At that time it was called "Rocket Trip to Oz," because that's how I transported Jam to the magical land. Jam's father, a scientist, had an experimental rocket ship ready for a scientific flight, and Jam just happened to touch the starting switch accidentally when he was alone in the ship.
I chose Percy as a main character, because I worked with white rats in the laboratory. They are fascinating, clever, and a very necessary part of medical research. Without the help of such laboratory animals, we'd never be able to develop new cures for old and new human maladies. So I added Percy, the Personality Kid, to the group of animal characters so beloved by Oz fans. Another one who has caught the fancy of many readers is Spots, the Leopard with the Changing Spots.
Elizabeth Laing Stewart, an editor at Reilly & Lee, replied on April 7, 1950, returning my manuscript. She wrote a very encouraging letter telling me that she'd read my story to her eight-year-old "critical" son who loved it and, a week later, told Mama to ask me to write another one. My first fan! What Mrs. Stewart liked best herself were Percy's personality, the suspense and good plotting, and the ingenious way I wove in the other Oz books without interrupting my own story.
She suggested a few minor revisions and said that if I had not heard from them in a year, I should contact them again to see if they were ready to publish another Oz book.
So I revised my manuscript and retyped it having learned after submitting a single-spaced typescript the first time that manuscripts should always be double-spaced. The on January 11 1951, I received a letter from Frank O'Donnell saying that Reilly & Lee might publish an Oz book by a new author in the fall, and he asked me to resubmit "Rocket Ship." I worked like mad to finish the fair copy, and I mailed it on January 14.
On February 20, Mr. O'Donnell wrote to say that the decision on my book would be made soon but they wanted to change the title. He also asked for some biographical information which I sent on February 24. At the time, I had a neighbor who was an editor at one of the major publishing houses, located in New Jersey, and he offered to look over my contract or any offer I might receive from Reilly & Lee. As I knew exactly "zilch, nada and less-than-nothing" about the business end of writing, I welcomed the favor.
On April 3, Mr. O'Donnell offered to buy my manuscript outright; but my friend advised me to ask for a royalty contract, and I sent my counter offer on April 5. On April 9, Mr. O'Donnell explained the royalty situation with the Oz books: the Baum estate was entitled to a share of all monies earned by every Oz book, because they retained all publication rights to the series started by L. Frank Baum. I felt this was only fair. I was promised ten cents per book, the same royalty paid to Ruth Plumly Thompson and Jack Snow.
On April 16, I agreed to Reilly & Lee's terms.
Mr. O'Donnell wrote on April 18 that the book would be published that fall. He asked for additional title suggestions, and I sent some April 20 (although "The Hidden Valley of Oz" wasn't one of them). On April 26, ny contract arrived.
They also wanted to change the way Jam got to Oz as they had rejected another manuscript which also used a rocket ship. They suggested a flying saucer. I did a quick revision of the first part signed the contract, and sent it all back to Chicago on April 29.
On May 9, Mr. O'Donnell wrote that he needed copy for my dedication page as well as the introduction. These I mailed on May 13. On May 18, Mr. O'Donnell said that they had decided that the flying saucer was too similar to the rocket ship and they needed still another way to get Jam to Oz.
Mr. O'Donnell also suggested a new title, The Hidden Valley of Oz, which was fine with me. (I have never read books by title! I usually read by author-or, in the case of the Oz books, by series.) In his letter, he included Mrs. Stewart's suggestion that I send Jam to Oz via kite, as I had a kite chapter in my story. This made good sense, so I reworked the beginning again while laid up with a broken ankle. This revision and my acceptance of the new (and final) title went out on May 20.
On June 5, Mr. O'Donnell asked for some minor changes which I sent on June 9. On June 22 he sent me a revised chapter one (I had never heard a child say "golly," nor have I since then. And Jam never said it again in the book! Oh golly gee whiz!) On July 12, they wrote that they had asked Robert Peck, the advertising executive who handled the Oz account, to go over the poetry.
After forty years, I'd have to look at my original manuscript to tell what I wrote and what he did.
Since Hidden Valley, I've written a lot of other books (my forty-second is due out in August 1991) and I can't possibly remember every detail of all of them. In the letter of July 12, I also received a tear sheet from the latest Reilly & Lee catalogue advertising my book.
My copies of The Hidden Valley of Oz arrived on Election Day, November 6, 1951. I wrote Mr. O'Donnell on November 7, telling him how much I liked the book, including the artwork by Dirk.
And now, forty years later, I'm amazed at the speed with which all this happened. Today the time from signing the contract until the book appears on the stands can be two years or more.
Perhaps in some ways we lived slower lives then-but publishing certainly was far speedier than it is now!
Did I ever write another Oz book? Of course I did, as soon as they accepted Hidden Valley. I hope that someday my second book, The Wicked Witch of Oz, will also be published. Then those who liked Hidden Valley may read more adventures of characters they met there as well as meet new ones, including my own Wicked Witch! I created her, because I've always liked the various witches in Oz. Mombi, in particular, has always been one of my favorite Oz characters. To have a real story you have to have a villain, and the wickeder that villain, the better.
The Hidden Valley of Oz was my first published book, so it is very special to me. It disturbs me that over the years the Oz books have been banned from some schools and libraries. I believe that fairy stories stretch the imaginations of children, which is very important. I worked for many years as a scientist, and the truly important new discoveries are often made by the people who allow their minds to take giant leaps into the unknown. This takes imagination. And imagination, as with all other skills, needs to be exercised to stay strong and healthy.
This is how I created a new tale of Oz and was privileged to see it in print. Now, forty years later it gives me great pleasure to see my book, long out of print, reissued. I hope it will give a whole new generation of children many hours of reading pleasure.
RACHEL COSGROVE PAYES "Royal Historian of Oz"
Brick, New Jersey October 1990
The Hidden Valley of Oz Page 15
