“Katy waves her own magic wand, that of the pen, delicate and intricate, lacy and evocative of the illuminated manuscript of her girlhood journal, belying truth, beauty, and humor.”
- Andrea Foster, also known as The Booklady, author and founder of Creative Quills
“A spellbinding generational story filled to the brim with illusion, longing, big magic, and even bigger dreams. Dazzling and unputdownable!”
- Deborah Burns, award-winning author of Saturday’s Child
“Engaging… engrossing… offers a rare glimpse of an intriguing world.”
- Kirkus Reviews
“Fans of magic and memoirs alike will love this unique and charmingly written story… refreshing… pulls back the curtain and allows us a glimpse…”
- Los Angeles Book Review
“A fascinating account of Katy Grabel, as a young girl, traveling with her parents in their big illusion show. Her father, Lee Grabel, was one of the greatest magicians of all time. He was also my friend and trusted confidant… Amazing in detail and tone. I love this book!”
- Lance Burton, Master Magician
“Katy waves her own magic wand, that of the pen, delicate and intricate, lacy and evocative of the illuminated manuscript of her girlhood journal, belying truth, beauty, and humor.”
- Andrea Foster, also known as The Booklady, author and founder of Creative Quills
“A spellbinding generational story filled to the brim with illusion, longing, big magic, and even bigger dreams. Dazzling and unputdownable!”
- Deborah Burns, award-winning author of Saturday’s Child
The Magician’s Daughter – a Memoir is a coming-of-age story set within the motion and light of a traveling magic show. Fourteen-year-old Katy has a craving for grandeur and an imaginary world in her bedroom. She is the daughter of Lee Grabel—a former professional magician stuck behind a desk in the suburbs—who yearns to rekindle the lost fame of his former magic show. When he decides to hit the road again in a grand bid to be a Las Vegas headliner, Katy is delighted to enter the leagues of show biz as his stage assistant. With a floating piano, vanishing horse, and other wonderments, the Grabel family and their crew go on tour across the Western states. Trouble ensues with wayward roadies, stage mishaps, and the increasing unhappiness of her mother, The Beautiful Helene, who is disenchanted with the magic show even as she runs it with military precision from her stage-right table. In cities far and wide, tensions mount and betrayal is in the air. Through error and misstep, Katy must find herself outside the show's intoxicating spotlight. Meanwhile, the Grabels and their crew are getting closer to their booking at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the fate of the show will be determined. Never before has a daughter of a great magician written with such candor and beauty about this backstage world, where all outlandish dreams are possible, and the magic continues after the show leaves town.
Publication date: May 13, 2025
Jacket Art by John LaSala/gluedesign • Jacket Design by gluedesign