The Wizard of Odd

Successful voice actor Miles Colbert, known in the industry as the Golden Voice, exchanges L.A. for the anonymity of house-sitting on remote Todd Island in the Pacific Northwest in an attempt to run away from his problems. The small community of quirky characters recognizes his signature calm voice and mistake him for the wise characters he's played. When they start to come to him for advice—as if he's someone who gives a darn, which he doesn't—chaos ensues.

Except just as his newfound friends start to fall apart around him, Miles unexpectedly discovers the value of community. And just like when the curtain is pulled back in the Wizard of Oz revealing the wizard is an ordinary man, an event takes place on Todd Island where the residents discover the house-sitter is not the all-knowing man they took him for.

Will he be able to put all the pieces back together again? Have they all learned to listen to their own heart rather than looking to others for the answers?

The Wizard of Odd is the 2024 winner of the Soon to be Famous Illinois Library Manuscript Project.