A heart-warming story of friendship and courage, and of turning fears of the unknown into a warm acceptance of others who are different.
“Living With A Legend” is an homage to Iwao Takamoto by daughter Leslie E. Stern about Disney and Hanna-Barbera animator and creator of Scooby-Doo
Multi-Award-Winning non-fiction book LIVING WITH A LEGEND by Leslie E. Stern offers touching personal stories about her acclaimed stepfather, Iwao Takamoto, who designed such animation masterpieces as Scooby-Doo, Astro, Mutley, and Dino. He directed Charlotte’s Web and had worked on classic films such as Lady and the Tramp and Cinderella. Leslie’s musings of growing up in a multi-ethnic home amidst cartoon genius tells the story of her stepfather’s influence on her, stories of her youth, and Iwao’s influence on others. This full-color coffee table book includes never-before-seen personal drawings done by Iwao for Leslie and for her mother, drawings done by other famous animators for Iwao, as well as rarely-seen photographs and drawings. These are a delight to behold for anyone who is a fan of Scooby-Doo, The Pink Panther, The Flintstones, and The Jetsons. A must read for any cartoon lover and a pleasure to read for anyone with a heart. Iwao Takamoto is considered a legend in the animation industry.
A fantasy/historical fiction book based on a U.S. Secret Service case in 1898.
A trio of children enter the Mousegate at Walt Disney World and each one becomes embedded with one of the three main characters. They see and feel the emotions of the characters and they live the history.
By reading Leslie’s book I’m inspired again by the story of a truly unique American whose well-lived life will hearten us all.
Living With A Legend
“I smiled through every page of Living With A Legend”
Living With A Legend
A wonderful read with insight into a great man and artist!
Living With A Legend
Psychological Saga of Sailing Industry Proves Novel Without Antagonists Is Still an Emotional Roller Coaster in “Dreams Fulfilled” by Leslie Stern
“Dreams Fulfilled,” is the first book in the Dreams Quartet, an epic novel of two men who help pioneer the modern sailing industry using philosophies that help them avoid potential actions that could destroy their industry. Leslie E. Stern combines her MA in English Literature, doctoral work in philosophy, and experience as a sailor, racer, and daughter of a legendary luxury sailboat designer to immerse readers in the intriguing world of wind and water and explore the idea that novels don’t need antagonists to enthrall readers.
As world headlines blare war, entrenched partisanship, and negativity in almost every sector, author Leslie E. Stern uses her new novel “Dreams Fulfilled” to shine a bright light on what humanity could be.
The Dreams Quartet is an epic novel that takes place in the 1980’s and portrays two men who help pioneer the modern sailing industry using philosophies that help them avoid potential actions that could destroy their industry – unlike the greed and ruthless corporate behavior cataloged in daily news stories.
Graham Bennington, the patriarch of the American family in this new fiction saga, designs the highest quality sailboats ever seen. In “Dreams Fulfilled” the reader not only becomes entranced with the depth of the characters but learns how to sail and why boats sail, they learn how sailboats are built, and get a the behind-the-scenes look at the sailboat building industry.
Edward Oxford is the patriarch of the English family in the saga. Coming from wealth in the real estate industry, Edward dreams of a marine parts empire and creates the first aluminum masts and booms which make an extreme change in the sailboat industry. He continues to expand, building Oxford Marine, Ltd. as the largest parts conglomerate in the world.
Graham and Edward become friends during their first boat show and that friendship endures throughout their lives. But it is their children who take all their dreams of achievement and transcend them.
Graham has a daughter, Katia, whom he his forced to raise by himself due to the death of his beautiful wife. Katia has the depth of mind, emotional spirit, and forward thinking that makes Bennington Yacht Corporation more successful than even Graham had dreamed. While all the other sailboat manufacturers are closing, Katia’s imagination overcomes all the obstacles that have plagued the industry.
Edward has three sons. His eldest, Thomas, is a professor of English literature and begins the saga as a stodgy Brit with a dull-as-dishwater wife. Kevin, the middle son, becomes an international sailboat racer and is the cheeky adventurer. It is Bryan, Edward’s youngest son, who is his pride and joy from the beginning. It is Bryan who takes Oxford Marine, Ltd. to new levels.
Katia Bennington and Bryan Oxford met when they were in Middle School and they dream of each other throughout their teens, meeting again once but always missing each other as ships passing in the night.
Each book in the Dreams Quartet takes the reader further into the world of Bennington Yacht Corporation and Oxford Marine Limited, as well as the personal lives of the characters. In Dreams Fulfilled the reader is introduced to the world of sailing and the love of nature, family, and business.
Non-fiction “Living With A Legend” is an homage to Iwao Takamoto by daughter Leslie E. Stern about Disney and Hanna-Barbera animator and creator of Scooby-Doo
ATLANTA – Multi-Award-Winning non-fiction book LIVING WITH A LEGEND by Leslie E. Stern offers touching personal stories about her acclaimed stepfather, Iwao Takamoto, who designed such animation masterpieces as Scooby-Doo, Astro, Mutley, and Dino. He directed Charlotte’s Web and had worked on classic films such as Lady and the Tramp and Cinderella.
Leslie’s musings of growing up in a multi-ethnic home amidst cartoon genius tells the story of her stepfather’s influence on her, stories of her youth, and Iwao’s influence on others. This full-color coffee table book includes never-before-seen personal drawings done by Iwao for Leslie and for her mother, drawings done by other famous animators for Iwao, as well as rarely-seen photographs and drawings. These are a delight to behold for anyone who is a fan of Scooby-Doo, The Pink Panther, The Flintstones, and The Jetsons. A must read for any cartoon lover and a pleasure to read for anyone with a heart.
Iwao Takamoto is considered a legend in the animation industry. He would ultimately design cartoon icons like Scooby-Doo, Astro, Mutley, The Great Gazoo, and Penelope Pitstop for Hanna Barbera. He began his career at Disney Studios when he was a young man, fresh out of the Manzanar concentration camp. In fact, he was the first inmate to be released because he had been recruited by Walt Disney. He worked as an animator on classics films such as Lady and the Tramp (he helped design Lady), Cinderella (he designed the loveable mice), Sleeping Beauty, and 101 Dalmatians. When he was asked to join the start-up company Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera were creating, he leapt at the chance.
Non-fiction “Living With A Legend” is an homage to Iwao Takamoto by daughter Leslie E. Stern about Disney and Hanna-Barbera animator and creator of Scooby-Doo
ATLANTA – Multi-Award-Winning non-fiction book LIVING WITH A LEGEND by Leslie E. Stern offers touching personal stories about her acclaimed stepfather, Iwao Takamoto, who designed such animation masterpieces as Scooby-Doo, Astro, Mutley, and Dino. He directed Charlotte’s Web and had worked on classic films such as Lady and the Tramp and Cinderella.
Leslie’s musings of growing up in a multi-ethnic home amidst cartoon genius tells the story of her stepfather’s influence on her, stories of her youth, and Iwao’s influence on others. This full-color coffee table book includes never-before-seen personal drawings done by Iwao for Leslie and for her mother, drawings done by other famous animators for Iwao, as well as rarely-seen photographs and drawings. These are a delight to behold for anyone who is a fan of Scooby-Doo, The Pink Panther, The Flintstones, and The Jetsons. A must read for any cartoon lover and a pleasure to read for anyone with a heart.
Iwao Takamoto is considered a legend in the animation industry. He would ultimately design cartoon icons like Scooby-Doo, Astro, Mutley, The Great Gazoo, and Penelope Pitstop for Hanna Barbera. He began his career at Disney Studios when he was a young man, fresh out of the Manzanar concentration camp. In fact, he was the first inmate to be released because he had been recruited by Walt Disney. He worked as an animator on classics films such as Lady and the Tramp (he helped design Lady), Cinderella (he designed the loveable mice), Sleeping Beauty, and 101 Dalmatians. When he was asked to join the start-up company Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera were creating, he leapt at the chance.
Young Author Pens Poetry Book “Rising Higher Than Ever”
Author and poet Marc A. Beausejour brings readers an inspirational poetry book, equipped with subjects that brings the struggles of young men and women to the forefront. He tackles subjects such as suicide, untimely death, domestic abuse, workplace abuse, early marriage and infidelity, not only through poems but through short story and short author reflections that readers can relate to from an emotional standpoint. Using verses from the New Living Translation Bible to encourage and uplift others, it is a book that may not only serve as a testimony to Christian and spiritual readers, but also plants seeds of hope in those in search of it.