TODD JAMES PIERCE
I am the author of four books, including A Woman of Stone, a novel, and Newsworld, a collection of stories that won the 2006 Drue Heinz Literature Prize and was a finalist for the John Gardner Book Award and the Paterson Literature Prize. Earlier this year, I turned in a new novel--albeit a very short one--to my literary agent, and for the past four years I have been doggedly researching and writing a narrative history of the early cinematic theme parks (such as Disneyland and Freedomland). For this project, I have conducted scores of original interviews with park designers, most in person. The best moment in an interview was when one retired park designer told me, “You know, I interviewed a lot of these people back in the 60s, and I think I still have the reel-to-reel tapes in my garage.” The worst was when Dick Nunis, former executive vice president for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, introduced himself by saying, “You may have heard that I’m a nice guy, but really I’m a son-of-a-bitch.”
While on this site, you can explore links to my books, short stories, and other articles. Also, if you have an ipod or a CD burner, you can download free audio versions of a few short stories and poems over on the “Audio” page. Check the audio archives for older readings. Or subscribe to the free audio podcast to get new readings sent to you directly via iTunes every couple months. If you’re like me--with a 45-minute commute--a short story is the perfect thing to take you from your garage to the office each day.
I live in Santa Barbara County (though in a little town you’ve probably never heard of, called Orcutt), and I’m an assistant professor of English at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, California.
Enjoy!
The Update - Apr 2009
Most people clicking over to this site are here to ask just one question: Is the theme park book done?
For the past four years I’ve been researching material for a narrative history of theme parks built in the late 1950s. And yes, that includes Disneyland, but also Freedomland, Pleasure Island, Bible Storyland, among others.
Presently I have a full draft of the manuscript, complete with the epilogue and end notes. It’s weighing in at 626 pages. The finished manuscript is now with my agent, ready to be sent to publishers. I’m very pleased with how this manuscript developed. The narrative line works; the individuals in the story have depth; and best of all the manuscript is filled with many new stories about the original theme parks (including Disneyland) that have not yet made it into print.
Now that it’s done, I can say that the book contains one hell of a story--about a group of charismatic con men who intended to build 35 “Disneyland-style” theme parks across the country. A tale of engineering marvels, peppered with arson, extortion, adultery, and revenge.
And as long as you’re visiting this website, I hope you’ll check out my other books. Newsworld is the newest, a collection of short stories that won the 2006 Drue Heinz Literature Prize. But A Woman of Stone, a novel, is by far my most popular book. It’s regularly taught in both college and high school literature classes.
--TJ Pierce
