Today I chat with the author of the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, a very compelling and provocative retelling of the story of the green-faced villain from The Wizard of Oz. And yes, that book was turned into a pretty popular musical.

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If you’re a fan of the young adult genre (and if you are, you don’t need me to tell you that there’s more to it than vampires and werewolves), you’re probably heard the name of today’s interviewee.

By the end of high school, I was ready to graduate and get the hell out of Dodge.

Abraham Lincoln’s Invisible Mustache of Machismo Franklin Roosevelt’s Rocket-Powered Wheelchair John Adam’s Tiny Ruffly Bit of Legacy-Lace James A. Garfield’s Fury Beard William McKinley’s Vest of Strength Woodrow Wilson’s Pince-Nez of Prowess

I met today’s interviewee while doing the fun reading series Witty Women Writers at the Book Cellar. She’s is a former investor relations firm vice president turned insanely popular New York Times bestselling author who lives in the Chicagoland area.