MARK SEAL

A compelling story of African adventure romance and intrigue perfect for readers of bestselling true crime such as WHITE MISCHIEF and MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL WILDFLOWER is the gripping life story of the naturalist filmmaker and lifelong conservationist Joan Root From her passion for animals and her hard fought crusade to save Kenya s beautiful Lake Naivasha to her storybook love affair Root s life was one of a remarkable modern day heroine After 20 years of spectacular unparalleled wildlife filmmaking together Joan and Alan Root divorced and a fascinating woman found her own voice Renowned journalist Mark Seal has written a breathtaking portrait of a strong woman discovering herself and fighting for her beliefs before her mysterious and brutal murder in Kenya With a cast as wild wondrous and unpredictable as Africa itself WILDFLOWER is a real life adventure tale set in the world s disappearing wilderness Rife with personal revelation intrigue corruption and murder readers will remember Joan Root s extraordinary journey long after they turn the last page of this compelling book

This wickedly pacey page turner Total Film unfurls the behind the scenes story of the making of The Godfather fifty years after the classic film s original release The story of how The Godfather was made is as dramatic operatic and entertaining as the film itself Over the years many versions of various aspects of the movie s fiery creation have been told sometimes conflicting but always compelling Mark Seal sifts through the evidence has extensive new conversations with director Francis Ford Coppola and several heretofore silent sources and complements them with colorful interviews with key players including actors Al Pacino James Caan Talia Shire and others to write the definitive look at the making of an American classic Library Journal starred review On top of the usual complications of filmmaking the creators of The Godfather had to contend with the real life members of its subject matter the Mob During production of the movie location permits were inexplicably revoked author Mario Puzo got into a public brawl with an irate Frank Sinatra producer Al Ruddy s car was found riddled with bullets men with connections vied to be in the cast and some were given film roles As Seal notes this is the tale of a movie that revolutionized fil

With compassion and an unswerving regard for the truth, veteran journalist Mark Seal lays bare the deeply moving, inspirational story of Joan Root, a dedicated environmentalist and Oscar-nominated wildlife filmmaker. He covers her early days in Kenya as a shy young woman with an almost uncanny ability to connect to animals; her whirlwind courtship with the dashing Alan Root, their marriage, and the twenty years of nonstop adventure and passionate romance that followed, both in Africa and around the world; the shattering disintegration of the marriage and partnership; and Joans triumphant struggle to reinvent herself as the protector of her lakeshore communitys fragile ecosystema struggle that would lead to her tragic death in January 2006. Joan Root dreamed of a bright future for Kenya, a country blessed with unmatched beauty but scarred by decades of colonization and a culture of corruption. She spent her life fighting to make that dream a reality. Her life ended too soon, but thanks to Seals meticulous re-creation, her extraordinary life lives on. (People, four-star review)