James Whitey Bulger

MICHAEL ESSLINGER is a historical researcher and bestselling author; his work has appeared in numerous film and television documentaries, including segments on the Discovery, National Geographic, Travel and History Channels. From the elusive crew of Apollo 11 to prisoners of Alcatraz, he has interviewed icons and others who have shaped history and continues to write on subjects that explore a vast spectrum of historical subjects.He was the co-author of Escaping Alcatraz: The Untold Story of the Greatest Prison Break in American History, winner of the 2018 International Book Award (sponsored by the American Book Festival) in the True Crime category.His other works, Alcatraz: The History of the Penitentiary Years and Letters from Alcatraz continue as best-selling references chronicling the island's rich historical past. He is the co-author of the movie memoir: I Want It Now! A Memoir of Life on the Set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, a magical memoir written with Julie Dawn Cole, the original "Veruca Salt" in the classic motion picture starring Gene Wilder. Current projects include a detailed chronicle of the 1946 Battle of Alcatraz, and a comprehensive history of the Apollo 11 Mission titled Apollo 11: From Launch to Recovery, documenting mankind's first lunar landing, and based on first person interviews with the Apollo 11 astronauts and mission support personnel including Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins.