WonderCon Experience 2012

We traveled to Anaheim over St. Patrick's Day weekend to check out the WonderCon convention, which took place on one of the rainiest weekends Southern California has had all year.

While we missed out on Friday's events, there was still a lot to see and share. Check out additional photos on our WonderCon Pinterest board. 

Are you excited for Comic-Con in San Diego this summer? We have a lot to reveal and get ready for but we'd love for you to stop by the Insight Editions Booth #1035 and see what the upcoming books we'll be featuring, including The Dark Knight Manual, Batmobile: The Complete History and The Art of Blizzard.

John & Yoko

John Lennon married Yoko Ono on March 20th, 1969. 

In November 1980, on the eve of John Lennon's untimely death, photographer Allan Tannenbaum had unique and total access to John and Yoko, who were emerging from five years of seclusion and avoiding the media. As one of the few photographers with whom John and Yoko were close, Tannenbaum was privileged to be able to capture many intimate moments between the two. John cherished these images of Yoko and was moved by their beauty and grace. The result is this moving book of photography about John and Yoko together, in the last weeks of his life.

"The photos are beautiful and give one a sense of intimacy of John and Yoko's life together."  - David P. Reader

John & Yoko - A New York Love Story

Yoko Ono shares many of these photographs on her Facebook page and she's getting ready to release a collection of John's artwork published by Insight Editions this fall in John Lennon, The Collected Artwork.

Real Love: Drawings for Sean was released in 2011.

Happy Birthday Quincy Jones

Quincy Delight Jones, Jr., known to his friends as "Q," is the most prolific individual music producer and creative force in American popular culture. He is the visionary behind Thriller and Michael Jackson's solo career, the compositional master of more than 33 film scores, the patron producer of Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith, the founder and CEO of Qwest Records and Broadcasting, a platinum selling musician, and the all time Grammy nominee. 

As a paragon humanitarian he was the major supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Operation Breadbasket, a founding member of the Institute for Black American Music and the Black Arts Festival, and is creator of the Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation, which works to build homes in Africa and educate children in global conflict zones. Jones currently resides in Los Angeles and at the age of 74 works tirelessly as a versatile performer, producer, philanthropist, and impresario. Quincy Jones' talents are legendary, his compassion universal, and his life too much for words.

The Complete Quincy Jones
Photos, Letters, Memories & More from Q's Personal Collection

The Complete Quincy Jones, My Journal and Passions examines the diverse virtuosity of Quincy Jones, celebrating his prolific contribution to American art and culture. Comprised of personal interviews and recollections with Jones, this collection peers behind the veil of celebrity, with extraordinary access to his creative inspirations and labors. Through private notebooks, correspondence, and photographs included in the book, Jones offers unprecedented introspection into the depths of his creativity and the histories of his ventures. From the volumes of his memorabilia, Jones emerges as a contemplative and dynamic maestro, thriving on intuition and ceaselessly pursuing the soul of his art.

The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journal and Passions
by Quincy Jones
Preface by Maya Angelou
Introduction by Bono
Hardcover, $45.00

Memorable Moments in Los Angeles Angels' History

25 Angels' Memorable Moments

If you're an Angels' fan and history buff, you'll recognize many of the highlights below that call out the great players and moments that stand out among the Los Angeles Angels timeline.

A more complete visual timeline can be found inside Under the Halo: The Official History of Angels Baseball by Pete Donovan.

• May 5, 1962 - Bo Belinksy Tosses First No-Hitter in Angels History
• 1964 - Dean Chance's Cy Young Season
• 1966-1993: Nolan Ryan by the (Amazing) Numbers
• July 3, 1970 - Clyde Wright's No-Hitter
• October 1, 1970 - Alex Johnson Wins AL Batting Title
• April 6, 1973 - Frank Robinson's Debut
• 1979 - Don Baylor's MVP Season
• September 25, 1979 - Autry Has Another Champion
• June 26-27,  July 9-11, 1982 - Six Big Wins
• July 6, 1983 - Lynn Hits Historic Grand Slam in All-Star Game
• 1986 - Wally World
• August 29, 1986 - The Great Comeback
• April 11, 1990 - Langston, Witt Combine for No-Hitter
• 1993 - Tim Salmon: Rookie of the Year
• June 10, 1997 - Jim Edmons: "The Catch" 
• July 29, 1997 - Chuck Finley Becomes Angels' All-Time Leader in Wins
• May 15, 2003 - Arte Moreno Becomes New Angels Owner
• July 14-15, 2003 - Garret Anderson Shines as an All-Star
• June 2, 2004 - Vladdy's Big Night
• October 2, 2004 - Angels Rally for AL West Crown
• 1995 - 2004: Percival Sets Club Saves Record
• November 8, 2005 - Colon Wins the Cy Young
• June 18, 2007 - Figgins Collects Six Hits
• September 13, 2008 - K-Rod Becomes Single-Season Saves Leader
• August 18, 2009 - Nine For Nine

Everyone who has been associated with the franchise over the years has worked hard to build an organization of which our fans can be proud, and I think this book depicts the level of pride everyone within the organization feels for Angels baseball.  —Mike Scioscia, Angels Manager

Under the Halo: The Official History of Angels Baseball
(Insight Editions, 2012)

Through first person accounts by Anels past and present, Under the Halo brings fans into the dugout with an all-star roster, including Garrett Anderson, Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, Dean Chance, Chuck Finley, Nolan Ryan and many, many more!

Accidental Inventions

It's hard to imagine a world without Coca-Cola, Post-its, or Velcro, but have you ever stopped to wonder how and when these items came to be? Accidental Inventions reveals the fascinating stories behind the toys, foods, gadgets, and tools we now consider indispensable. From peanut butter to penicillin, roller skates to radioactivity, dozens of essential inventions are spotlighted.

Fully illustrated with over 240 photos, Accidental Inventions traces the path from inception to "ah ha!" for more than 60 products, and introduces the cast of clever, hardworking inventors behind them. Engaging narrative and colorful design make these stories accessible to readers of all ages, illuminating the happy collision of accident and inspiration that would profoundly change our lives.

Accidental Inventions: The Chance Discoveries that Changed our Lives

America’s incredible success is primarily due to the dreams and inventions of its many citizens. Few people realize however, that from the time the U.S. Patent Office was formed by Thomas Jefferson in 1790 and throughout the industrial revolution, inventors were required to submit a working, scale model of their invention when applying for a patent. The Rothschild Collection is the world’s largest gathering of viewable U.S. Patent Models.

The Curious World of Patent Models exhibit will include a variety of Patent Models that children and adults alike will enjoy: household, agricultural, medical, toys, musical instruments, tools and more. Here is the list of the traveling exhibit dates and venues through 2013.

International Women's Day

It's a great day to be a woman as International Women's Day celebrates moms, sisters, daughters, female athletes, artists, actresses and women of all walks of life.

We have a great list of female names and faces among our publications, whether she's the subject of the book or the author. 

Celebrate in style with these books by or for women everywhere:

Charmed by Audrey

The World's Best Advice From the World's Wisest Women
written by BJ Gallegher

Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars
written by Trisha Biggar

Accidental Inventions

written by Birgit Krols

The Titanic Notebook
written by Claire Hawcock

Charles Dickens
written by Lucinda Dickens Hawksley

Jerry Garcia
written by April Higashi

Christmas with the First Ladies
written by Coleen Christian Burke

The Art of Madagascar 3
by Barbara Robertson

National Treasure

In 1956, a twenty-one-year-old Elvis Presley was at the beginning of his remarkable and unparalleled career and photographer Alfred Wertheimer was asked by Presley’s new label, RCA Victor, to photograph the rising star. With unimpeded access to the young performer, Wertheimer was able to capture the unguarded and everyday moments in Elvis' life during that crucial year, a year that took him from Tupelo, Mississippi to the silver screen, and to the verge of international stardom and his crowning as "The King of Rock 'n' Roll.” As Alfred Wertheimer photographed Elvis during 1956, and again in 1958, he created classic images that are spontaneous, unrehearsed and completely without artifice. 

 
Wertheimer’s photographs of Elvis are extraordinary and he appears almost ethereal, whether reading a newspaper while waiting for a cab, or washing his hands during one of his many train trips. After 1958 and Elvis’ induction into the army, the world seemingly forgot about Wertheimer’s magical photographs- for nineteen years- until Aug 16, 1977, the day Elvis died and Time Magazine called. “The phone hasn’t really stopped ringing in the last thirty years,” observes Wertheimer. 

 
Many of the photographs in this visual treasury are previously unpublished and some have become almost as famous as the man himself. 

Elvis (One on One)

"Alfred Wertheimer's photographs of Elvis Presley are a national treasure. They are a unique visual record of the most exciting and influential performer of our time." - Chris Murray

Elvis at 21
 Limited edition features: 1,500 copies, comes in a clamshell box with a signed photograph and contact sheet, clothbound portfolio case containing four limited edition photographic prints (11 x 14), and an exclusive edition of Elvis Ships Out (a 48 page, cloth bound, 8 x 10, keepsake archive of Elvis' stint in the US Army).

"These photographs of Elvis Presley are without a doubt the most important and compelling images ever taken of the greatest rock-and-roll icon of all time. No other photographer has ever come closer to catching Elvis Presley's magic than Alfred Wertheimer." - Chris Murray

Happy Birthday to John Carter Cash

John Carter Cash has been one of the best authors we've had the pleasure of working with. His willingness to travel to sign books and be interviewed for TV and radio has been amazing, along with his enthusiasm for sharing the story of his parents and revealing a side to the Man in Black that fans wouldn't otherwise get a chance to see.

Today, March 3rd, is John Carter Cash's birthday. He was born to Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash in 1970 and spent the majority of his youth traveling with his parents as they toured the globe.

Johnny Cash and John Carter Cash
Photo from Cash Productions

In his 2011 book, "House of Cash," John Carter shares memories of his parents, a true love story as told  and recalled by their son. Along with hand-written notes and never before seen photographs and documents from the family archive, "House of Cash" is a wonderful piece of history as well as a true glimpse at the life and times of the Man in Black.


A Johnny Cash museum, to be named House of Cash, is due to open this summer in Nashville.

March Madness in Portlandia

Portland has been put back on the map, big time, by the comedy show on IFC, Portlandia, but it's the city's basketball team that really unites the people of Portland.

Blazermania, The Official History of the Portland Trail Blazers, is guaranteed to delight basketball fans of all ages.

Blazer Mania: This is Our StoryThe Official History of the Portland Trail Blazers
by Wayne Thompson
Fordword by Bill Walton

Four decades of history are presented alongside more than three hundred rare photographs to create an authoritative time line chronicling the birth of "Rap City" and the team's rise to prominence; Dr. Jack Ramsay's arrival and the road to the 1977 NBA Championship; the legacy of Bill Walton, the team's mercurial center; Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and the beloved two-time Western Conference champions; and a new tradition of excellence led by Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Are you ready for March Madness?

Spring Training

Update: All of our Sports titles are on sale! Don't miss out. "Like" us on Facebook for the discount code.

The Angels join the teams covered by Insight Editions among our baseball titles which include books devoted to the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies.

                 

Whether you're rooting for your favorite team or the all-star players, spring means the beginning of baseball and we're pleased to be a part of it.

Generations of Angel fans can relive their favorite team moments in Under the Halo, with an introduction from Mike Scioscia, vintage scorecards, removable game tickets and a timeline highlighting the franchise successes throughout the past five decades.

Fans will be pleased to see how up-to-date this book is, ending with photos of the latest players to join the Los Angeles Angels, Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson.




Under the Halo
The Official History of Angels Baseball
by Pete Donovan
Foreword by Tim Salmon; preface by Arte Moreno; Introduction by Mike Scioscia
Hardcover | 256 pages | $50.00