Book Title: The Lark

Series: n/a

Author Name: Laura C. Rader

Publication Date: September 23, 2026

Publisher: Echoes Publishing

Pages: 425

Genre: Historical Fiction

Any Triggers: No

Twitter Handle: @LauraCR_Author @cathiedunn @AuthorMichael57

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Book Title and Author Name:

The Lark

by Laura C. Rader

Blurb:

When The Wizard of Oz graced the silver screen in 1939, it changed cinema and popular culture forever. But the true story began decades earlier with the young composer who risked everything to bring it to the Broadway stage. 

At the turn of the century, twenty-three-year-old Paul Tietjens is a gifted classical pianist with dreams of greatness and a non-refundable ticket to Europe to study with the master composers of his time. 

But when the bank calls in the debt on his family’s Missouri farm, Paul forgoes his dream to save them from financial ruin. Desperate to find a new road to success, he moves to up-and-coming Chicago, where he persuades author L. Frank Baum to collaborate on a comic opera of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, setting the stage for the defining cultural touchstone that we know today.

Paul embarks on his opera with high hopes, but scandal threatens his soaring ambition when he falls in love with his best friend’s beautiful but married sister, and his fears grow as the Wizard of Oz demands not only his talent but his soul.

Inspired by Paul’s 1901 diary, The Lark follows Paul as he journeys from the theaters of Chicago to the streets of Manhattan, from his family’s Missouri farm to the beaches of Michigan, fighting to hang onto the chance of a lifetime, his integrity, and the woman he loves. 

Excerpt 2:

From Chapter Eighteen:

Kate closed her parasol and set it aside in a casual manner before leaning back on her elbows, holding her pale face up to the sun, her eyes closed, her long lashes brushing her high cheekbones. Curly tendrils of honey-brown hair framed her face beneath her straw hat and caressed her long neck. 

She opened her blue eyes and looked at me. For a moment, I was lost in them, heard in my heart the whispered German words “blaue Blume,” the blue flower that symbolizes desire, love, and striving for the unattainable. Never had I held a gaze so long nor felt such a stirring from within.

“This is lovely, isn’t it?” she said, gently awakening me from her spell.

“Very. I’m pleased to see you looking so well today.” I removed my hat, ran my hand through my hair, and fanned myself with it before settling it again on my head.

“My trouble comes and goes. I wish the doctors could help, but they only tell me to take it easy, that there’s no fix for my defective heart.”

Her lack of guile or self-pity touched me deeply. I’m sure if I had such a severe malady, I would either withdraw from society or torment everyone with complaints.

“There’s no remedy?” I asked.

“I take that new BayerÒ aspirin now, which eases the pain. I’m told both foxglove tea and quinine may help with my irregular heartbeats, though I’ve tried both without noticing much improvement.”

She stroked Vita’s curls tenderly. “William used to hold me in his arms when I had an attack, which at least made the events less frightening.”

My thoughts leapt to the sensation of holding her in my arms on our calamitous walk last month—not to mention all the times I’d imagined doing so. She had opened Pandora’s box, and I decided to explore it. Cautiously.

“You must miss him.”

“Very much. Still, I haven’t heard from him for months, and I’m beginning to fear…although…”

I wanted to prompt her as the silence stretched on. I held my tongue.

She stared at her wedding band. “I truly am at a loss for what to think. I am worried. And lonely.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure it’s just the difficulty of getting mail through. Trans-continentally.”

My heart ached for her with both sympathy and longing. I met her gaze and, almost as a lark, I slowly closed my right eye. You are beautiful. When I opened it again, she smiled at me. Emboldened, I briefly closed both eyes. May I kiss you?

To my shock, when I opened them, she raised her eyebrows. Kiss me. I grasped her hand, brought it to my lips, and tenderly kissed the back of her knuckles. It was her left hand, and my lips brushed the chill of her wedding band.

“We can’t,” I murmured, but kept hold of her hand.

“We haven’t.” She kept her gaze locked on mine.

“You are so beautiful.” I held my breath for her response. A thrill ran through me, reminding me of my moments with Abby, but this was much stronger and more frightening, knocking me speechless.

“You know the language.” She stroked the back of my hand with her thumb. A bow drawn across the strings of a violin, making them tremble and sing.

I met her gaze again and reached out, my fingertips grazing her cheek. She caught my hand in hers and kissed my palm.

“Kate.” I choked on her name.

“Yes?” She kept hold of my hand.

“I’m trying to be honorable. I’m failing miserably.”

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/m0RDZV

Author Bio:

Laura C. Rader is the award-winning author of the biographical historical novel Hatfield 1677. When she isn’t writing, you can find her conducting research, playing her 1905 antique piano, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets.

A native of Southern California, she now lives north of Raleigh, North Carolina.

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