Published Books
The book Portrait of the Outer Banks: A Pictorial Tour includes photos from the Outer Banks of North Carolina with seascapes, old fishing boats, sunsets, and aerial photography. The second and third books in our Outer Banks series, Portrait of the Past: The Civil War on Hatteras Island and Portrait of the Past: The Civil War on Roanoke Island, showcase the Outer Banks' important impact on the outcome of the Civil War. Imagery found in the books includes timely photographs and artwork of actual scenes during the war, as well as current photos illustrating how some things have changed while others have remained the same.
Other books published by Aerial Perspective include Sandpiles, a children's poetry book with colorful paintings, and Lion Killers, a paperback book about General Billy Mitchell's life and contributions to military aviation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Portrait of the Outer Banks: A Pictorial Tour
Mornings are generally quiet on the Outer Banks, as fishermen, whale-watchers, and beachcombers alike revel in the breathtaking sunrises that only the North Carolina coastline can offer. The hypnotic sound of seagulls flying overhead is interrupted by mustangs galloping across acres of undisturbed land. Portrait of the Outer Banks captures the essence of these delicate barrier islands with an artist's eye while weaving a timeless history between the mesmerizing images.
Sunsets fading from pink to fiery orange against the ocean, with the clouds lit up like halos. The lone fisherman, seated patiently in his skiff, waiting in an undiscovered cove for his next catch. Mustang ponies, awaiting a summer Nor'easter. These are all images of the Outer Banks, and they are what will make Portrait of the Outer Banks a treasured addition to every book lover's collection.
Portrait of the Outer Banks is a timeless history that envelopes the essence of America's coastline: pristine beaches, weathered lighthouses, and salty old fishermen, along with a dose of unparalleled charm and beauty.
The Civil War on Hatteras Island
Portrait of the Past is a fascinating history of how one of America's most treasured islands played a significant part in the Civil War. It will appeal to anyone from a curious reader to a Civil War collector or enthusiast.
Hatteras Island has achieved a well-deserved reputation as a summer getaway and a wildlife refuge on North Carolina's coast. However, most visitors are unaware of the crucial role that Hatteras played in the Civil War. Portrait of the Past offers a new view of Hatteras' history, interweaving historical facts, archival drawings, and current photographs of how the Island looks today.
In addition, this book reveals the largely unknown journals of Edwin Graves Champney, a Union soldier who was stationed on Hatteras from 1862 to 1863. Champney's prose and artistic talents, along with the photographs of soldier Charles F. Johnson of the Ninth New York, shed new light on the experiences of Civil War soldiers stationed on the Outer Banks during that time.
The Civil War on Roanoke Island
Fans of Aerial Perspective's last book were left wanting more, and they now have what they wanted. Portrait of the Past: The Civil War on Roanoke Island is the latest masterpiece to come from the partnership between photographer Robert Drapala and writer Drew Pullen.
Even though Portrait of the Past: The Civil War on Hatteras Island ended with the capture of Hatteras by Union forces, the Outer Banks' role in the war did not end there. The Civil War came to Roanoke Island in 1862, causing great upheaval and dissonance to the simple lives of the islanders. As with Aerial Perspective's other books, the pictures can almost tell the story on their own, but the rich historical detail in the text is absolutely fascinating.
Portrait of the Past: The Civil War on Roanoke Island is practically required reading for anyone hoping to learn more about the integral role that these small towns played in one of our Nation's most important periods.
The Lion Killers: Billy Mitchell and the Birth of Strategic Bombing
This is a story about the birth of airpower and the people who fought for its existence. One such man was William "Billy" Mitchell. A staunch advocate of airpower, Mitchell's ideas were controversial when the General and the Admiral were deemed the sole proprietors of modern warfare.
The bombing test that took place off the Outer Banks in 1923 proved the strength and future of airpower conclusively. This is a history uniquely American. It includes the faces and stories of a small coastal community, of world leaders, and of the man who brought them together.
When author William Schwarzer moved to Hatteras Island at age eleven, he had already moved twenty times, living in New York, New Jersey, Turkey, and Massachusetts. This was his first book.
Sandpiles
Have you ever wondered what goes on beneath the waves and on the beach when no one is looking? Perhaps there really are jellyfish that come in a variety of fruit flavors or flamingo models that strut their stuff across the sand, draped in feather boas. And, you've probably never heard of an octopus equipped with invisible ink for writing love letters.
Old Salt, a fish that has seen just about everything over and under the sea, introduces the reader to an assortment of colorful characters. Followers of E.M. Corsa's art will recognize some of these beach residents like the Regal Seagull, Starfish, and the Undertoad. But new creatures have also come out of hiding to make an appearance in the book, along with her son Zachary's delightful poems.
