Tom Casalini has been practicing his craft for more than forty years – his entire professional life. He has been focused on portraiture work exclusively for approximately the last two decades.

Always socially aware, with a strong sense for human equality, this book is the culmination of almost four years of effort and intentionality. When the project was not much more than an idea, Tom gathered together his trusted collaborators – Barry Doss, Marti Healy, and Jason Smith. All share an appreciation for artistic excellence and integrity, as exemplified in this completed work.

Tom has long been recognized for his exceptional portraits – locally, nationally and internationally; this book brings a spotlight to his capacity for capturing the true humanity and individuality of every person he photographs.

Based on the human sexuality and gender identity spectrum, Tom identifies as a straight male. Almost as comfortable in a kitchen cooking authentic Italian meals for others as he is behind a camera, Tom holds a genuine love for nourishing and interacting with all who come into his life – especially those who allow themselves to be honest, open, and spiritually engaged.

Marti Healy listened to the stories that Tom had to tell after his interviews with each of the people pictured and profiled in this book. From there, she found the heart of each story, and crafted each into the words that best expressed the experience.

She researched the underground “code” found in the Oz books, and influenced the titling of the book accordingly, with honesty and in honor of those individuals.

A professional writer for more than 40 years, Marti is the author of a number of other published books. She and Tom have also been collaborating on various projects for decades, finding a shared bond of creative expression between them. Both are storytellers – with a knack for uncovering the truth of a subject, verbally and visually.

In her personal life, Marti identifies as a straight female, who embraces a deep affection for all authentic beings, especially the most vulnerable among us – both human and animal.

Barry Doss served as overall creative director for this work. President of The Design Group Press, he guided the book’s progress from inception through conceptual development, design and production, and ultimate printing.

For more than four decades, Barry has collaborated with Tom on a myriad of projects, with Barry consistently providing a path involving the highest standards of excellence. He brought to this work – as to all projects with which he is connected – an inherent sensitivity and understanding, and a depth of originality and creative thinking and expression. He kept the project moving forward, never losing sight of the goal and the necessary journey to reach it.

Barry identifies as a straight man who wears pink shirts and respects women, and has an unfailing regard for the full spectrum of the human sexuality and gender experience. He also spends much enjoyable personal time developing his Thoroughbred horses.

Jason Smith began conceptualizing about this project with Tom more than four years ago. His background is in creative development for a wide range of projects, and finding innovative ways to enhance or expand on an audience’s ultimate experience of those projects.

From the beginning, Tom and Jason envisioned the possibility of allowing the readers of this book to also hear for themselves some of the very words of each person profiled – in their own voices. It is through Jason’s efforts that the work is thus available to the reader through a personal smart phone. To this end, Jason participated in, recorded, and edited every interview; and, along the way, what began as a sense of exploration and learning for him, became personal growth in understanding and sensitivity.

Jason identifies as a straight man, who began this project thinking that meant he had to be tough and edgy and to own a Harley and a big dog. But he was so impacted by this work, he now allows his vulnerability to show through regularly – and is rather proud of it. He still owns a Harley and a big dog.