The Article About Me in the Contra Costa Times (July 20, 2012)
In case you can't read it, here is what it said;
Disneyland has become a destination for young and the young at heart since it opened this week 57 years ago. With its ever-changing array of attractions, the park can be a bit overwhelming, especially when tugging along after the youngsters and trying to find your way around the park without getting lost.
Joshua Shaffer has some ideas that might help make for a much better trip. The Antioch resident has spent the past six years working on publishing his ideas, fun Disney facts and more in his new book "Discovering the Magic Kingdom: An Unofficial Disneyland Vacation Guide." The book offers readers not only ways to save money but interesting facts he's accumulated about the so-called happiest place on earth.
Shaffer started his book in 2006 after spending time talking to the cast members of the park and people who frequented the park.
"I started making a list that I could share with people that I met on future trips to the park," he said. "Waiting to learn new stuff wasn't enough, so I purposefully started researching the history and creation behind the attractions to learn as many new things as I could. After a while, it ended up turning into a book, and I decided to get it published sharing everything I learned."
Publishing the book took several tries as Shaffer said he was continuing to find out new information on a regular basis.
"The park is always changing," he said.
In September 2010, Shaffer was finishing his last edits before printing but soon decided that he wanted to add a few more things. At the time, the book was only 67 pages.
"I sent in the PDF of the book a few different times to my publisher, and something would need to be fixed. So after all that, it was finally published with 220 pages and nearly 1,000 fun facts and tons of other information about the park and the Disney Company in general," he said.
Inside the pages of the book, readers will learn how to save money, utilize AAA for park passes, read some ghost stories, find out about the park's history and get lots of movie trivia. The black and white book, with the exception of the cover, has 114 photos and cartoon drawings inside.
Shaffer has taken a few creative writing classes, but this is the first book for the Contra Costa County Animal Services technician. It won't be his last, as Shaffer is already working on his next edition of "Discovering the Magic Kingdom."
"So many new things to add and old things to take out," he said about the second edition. "So far, there are about 200 new fun facts. Even though I know a lot about Disneyland, I am learning new information every day."
Copies of the current edition of the book can be found locally for $20 in Pittsburg at the Railroad Book Depot and in Brentwood at Stories: A Family Owned Bookshop and Little Miss Everything. Those interested in purchasing online can pay a little more and order through Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
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