"The Kitchen Confidential of the State Department."You've seen them on the news, looking competent and concerned in their navy suits. They're in Beijing, Riyadh, Nairobi, Geneva, and of course Washington, DC. They look uneasy on camera. When they speak (which is as little as possible), it's with caution, hemmed in by protocol and the fear of causing an incident.These are the diplomats.Opening up a famously tight-lipped profession, State Dep...

Haunted by the deaths of his mother and grandmother, both of whom perished while hiking through Australias Blue Mountains, Sam Browne returns to the country of his mothers birth in search of his familys history and a way to make a place for himself within it. By reading his grandmothers memoirs, Sam begins to connect to his familys ancestral home and understand the reasons that she and her daughter after her were so drawn to the Australian landscape and the mystery found there. Drawing upon A...

The untold story behind a beloved classic.Making Mary Poppins reveals the extraordinary true story behind the creation of one of the most beloved films of all time—and the two little-known songwriters who helped make it possible.Long before Mary Poppins danced across the rooftops of Edwardian London and into the hearts of millions, Robert and Richard Sherman were struggling songwriters in Los Angeles, trying to find their voices—and their ...

Making Mary Poppins reveals the extraordinary true story behind the creation of one of the most beloved films of all time―and the two little-known songwriters who helped make it possible.Long before Mary Poppins danced across the rooftops and into the hearts of millions, Robert and Richard Sherman were struggling songwriters in Los Angeles, trying to find their voices―and their futures. In this vivid and deeply researched narrative, author and Disney historian Tod...

In this engaging, cradle-to-grave biography, award-winning author Todd James Pierce explores the life of Ward Kimball, a lead Disney animator who worked on characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, and the Mad Hatter. Through unpublished excerpts from Kimball's personal writing, material from unpublished interviews, and new information based on interviews conducted by the author, Pierce defines the life of perhaps the most influential animator of the twentieth century.

While the success of Disneyland is largely credited to Walt and Roy Disney, there was a third, mostly forgotten dynamo instrumental to the development of the park—fast-talking Texan C. V. Wood. Three Years in Wonderland presents the never-before-told, full story of "the happiest place on earth." Using information from over one hundred unpublished interviews, Todd James Pierce lays down the arc of Disneyland's development from an idea to a paragon of entertainment.In compel...

While the success of Disneyland is largely credited to Walt and Roy Disney, there was a third, mostly forgotten dynamo instrumental to the development of the park—fast-talking Texan C. V. Wood. Three Years in Wonderland: The Disney Brothers, C. V. Wood, and the Making of the Great American Theme Park presents the never-before-told, full story of “the happiest place on earth.” Using information from over one hundred unpublished interviews, Todd James Pierce lays down the arc of Dis...

Besides Walt Disney, no one seemed more key to the development of animation at the Disney Studios than Ward Kimball (1914–2002). Kimball was Disney’s friend and confidant.In this engaging, cradle-to-grave biography, award-winning author Todd James Pierce explores the life of Ward Kimball, a lead Disney animator who worked on characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, the Cheshire Cat, and the Mad Hatter. Through unpublished excerpts from Kimball’s personal writin...

FBI Special Agent Finn Wright, put on leave after bending the rules, decides to stay in England and help his detective friend with a new case: a noble has been found murdered in a spectacular historic mansion in the center of London, and with the media all over it, the clock is ticking before this killer strikes again. Was it random? Or is there a killer lurking in this world or privilege? “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.” —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐...

News is "one of the few things that connects us as a nation" observes the protagonist in the title story of Newsworld, a new collection by Todd James Pierce that explores America's obsession with news and entertainment culture. The characters in "Newsworld" seek to design realistic theme park attractions, such as "OJ's Bronco: The Ride" and "Seige at Waco," that allow park guests to experience the complexities of contemporary news events for themselves. In the story "Columbine: Th...

FBI Special Agent Finn Wright, put on leave after bending too many rules, stays with his friend in England when she needs his help: a body has been found in a spectacular mansion on a remote island. Rumored to be haunted, surrounded by envious locals, and owned by a family steeped in tragedy, Finn must sort through fact and fiction to find the real killer hiding amongst them…. “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.” —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ WHEN YOU’RE...

In this chilling portrait of America's Sin City, lady luck is just as likely to dispense cold hard cash as a cold-hearted killing.Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.Brand-new stories by: John O'Brien, David Corbett, Scott Phillips, Nora Pierce, Tod Goldberg, ...