I love Cory Leonardo’s books, and was thrilled to feature her debut, The Simple Art of Flying. In THE HEDGEHOG OF OZ, Leonardo deviates from the birds and follows Marcel, a hedgehog with a big heart, in his journey toward hope.
Marcel the hedgehog used to live with his beloved owner Dorothy, but since getting hopelessly lost, he’s tried to forget the happy home he left behind. Now, Marcel lives a quiet life in the abandoned balcony of The Emerald City Theater where he subsists on dropped popcorn and the Saturday showings of The Wizard of Oz.
But when he’s discovered, Marcel is taken far away from everything he knows and ends up lost once more. His quest to return to The Emerald City Theater leads him to Mousekinland, where he meets Scamp, a tiny mouse armed with enormous spirit (and a trusty sling-shooter). Before long, they’re joined by an old gray squirrel, Ingot, who suffers from bad memories and a broken heart, and Tuffy, a baby raccoon lost and afraid in the forest. And the travelers attract the attention of an owl named Wickedwing, who stalks them as they search for the old theater.
From field to forest, glittering theater to the gutter, the animals’ road home is a dark and winding journey. But sometimes you need to get a little lost before you can be found.
It seems we have a mutual love of Wheel of Fortune…what are your thoughts on Pat Sajak’s imminent departure?
I’m torn. On the one hand, I’m extremely nostalgic, and let’s be honest, Wheel of Fortune just isn’t Wheel of Fortune without Pat and Vanna. On the other hand, as someone who had the childhood (dashed) dream of replacing Vanna White, don’t we have a responsibility to pass the torch onto the next generation? It’s too late for me (despite all the practice emerging from behind the curtain using any window dressing handy), but if there’s another kid out there with a dream to host the Wheel, I want to see that dream fulfilled. I’ll live vicariously.
Same here. In our last interview, you said THE HEDGEHOG OF OZ “is an adventure story that’s filled with my favorite things–hope and heart–and it’s about facing your fears, finding your family, and accepting this one simple truth: our path can be a dark and winding journey, and straying is easier than you’d think . . . but maybe we’re all a little lost until we’re found.” Since the book’s release, have you seen readers respond to this particular theme?
You know, it’s definitely been more of a challenge to connect with readers due to all the complications of launching a book during the Covid years. So many of those books got lost in the mix, I think. But the interactions I have had have been very sweet. One particular reader will stick with me. She and her mother had moved states away on a very exciting journey, only to come back home feeling defeated and disillusioned. Probably my favorite thing about books is that magical kismet that happens when a reader picks up the right book at the right time. Her picking up Marcel’s story gave her hope that yes, the road got twisty, but it doesn’t mean twists and turns can’t lead you to good places in the end. She thought she didn’t want to go home, but words on a page helped her make peace with it. I’m wildly honored to have one of my books act as a little pebble on her road to hope.
What a beautiful story! Why do you think mainstream publishers might be resistant to animal stories, and do you think there might be anything that could move the needle on this trend?
I think we’re seeing a turning of the tide in regard to animal stories. For a long time they were avoided by agents and publishers like the plague. Contemporary animal stories seem to be the preferred genre when it comes to these types of books at present, but I think one of the biggest reasons they’re finding the spotlight again is because . . . kids love them. They’re classic and timeless and who doesn’t love reading about a cute little ball of fur or feathers? I would also say that, personally, when the world feels like it’s on fire, the last thing I want to read is a book about current affairs or weighty issues. Animal books are escapist in the best, warmest way, and I’ve seen signs the industry is dipping its toes back into animal stories. I hope I’m right about this. As for moving the needle, I’m not sure there’s much one can do except to read and write darn good animal stories and hope for the best.
That’s what I plan to do! If you could tell your younger writer self one thing, what would it be and why?
I’d tell her you’re not moving forward if all you’re doing is looking in the rear- and side-view mirrors. Write what you love, write what sparks a passion–just get that pen to paper. It’s so easy to get distracted by all the marketing pressure, what the market wants (No, animal stories! Yes, animal stories!), by the trajectories of other books, other authors, or your own expectations. This is a weird business and it will tinker with your head if you let it. I think I’m getting better at “eyes forward.” Just keep dreaming up stories, just keep writing them. Have faith some of them will see the light, and if others don’t, hold them loosely and don’t look back. They were part of the journey too.
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