Back in June, BookExpo and BookCon came to Jacob Javitz Convention Center in NYC where book lovers galore swarmed publishing booths, with industry people there for the expo and book fans for the con. One of the most interesting booths I visited was Weldon Owen, an imprint of Insight Editions (of such visually brilliant tomes such as Die Hard: The Ultimate Visual History and The Art Of The Strain). They have a plethora of beautiful books coming out that I am dizzy with excitement about.

Here’s some details about the upcoming books here below.

FIRST Official Downton Abbey Cookbook
Hardcover
By Annie Gray
Foreword by Julian Fellows
Release date: September 17, 2019

This is the first official cookbook from the Downton Abbey series, with 300 million viewers worldwide and the most sucessful British series of all time, and timed to coincide with the release of the Downton Abbey movie in September 2019.

This engaging and historically accurate cookbook presents more than 100 recipes that showcase the intrinsic role of food in the Crawley household and narrative””and bring this exciting gastronomic time to modern kitchens and Downton fans.

The period between 1912 and 1926, when Downton Abbey is set, was a tumultuous one and marked by numerous significant historical events and huge technological advances. Culuturally it was a time of jazz, art deco, and evolving Victorian values. Across all six seasons of Downton, the impact of these events and developments””on the Crawleys and their wider household””are visible: Downton Abbey looks solid and never changing, but this was an era in which everything changed, and did so very fast. Food, too, underwent change from the late Edwardian era to the swinging twenties, and it was an especially exciting time gastronomically.

The recipes are grouped by occasion, which include breakfast; luncheons and suppers; afternoon tea and garden parties; picnics, shoots, and race meets; festivities; upstairs dinner; desserts and canapés; downstairs dinner; downstairs supper and tea; and the still room.

Sample recipes include:

Upstairs

Victoria Sandwich
Oysters Au Gratin
Macaroni with a Souffle Top
Cucumber Soup
Raspberry Meringue
Potato Cakes

Downstairs

Lamb Stew with Semolina
Beef Stew with Dumplings
Jam and Custard Tarts
Gingerbread Cake
Summer Pudding
Flavored Butters

Downton Abbey Cocktail Book
Hardcover
Release date: September 17, 2019

Timed to coincide with the much anticipate Downton Abbey, this enticing collection of cocktails celebrates the characters, customs, and drinking way of life at Downton Abbey.

Drinking was very important at Downton, whether upstairs, downstairs, at village fairs, or sporting events. At least three types of wine were served with every upstairs meal, plus port for the gentleman after it; spirits were also drunk, especially whisky (always Scotch), Cognac, and Armagnac. There was alcoholic punch at parties, plenty of Champagne, and, especially as the years went by, the steady creep of the cocktail. By the last season of Downton Abbey, cocktails of many different hues were a mainstay. This well-curated selection of recipes is organized by where the drinks were served and spans everyday sips to party drinks plus hangover helpers and more. In addition to classic concoctions like Ginger Beer, Prince of Wales Punch, and the Bosom Caresser, this collection features character-specific variations such as a Cora Manhattan.

Star Trek: The Official Guide to The Animated Series
Hardcover
By Aaron Harvey, Rich Schepis
Release date: September 3, 2019

The first and only guide to the beloved and star-studded Star Trek: The Animated Series, the in-canon (mostly) continuation of the iconic Star Trek: Original Series.

When the beloved and now iconic original Star Trek show was cancelled in 1969, and went into syndication, nobody was expecting how much fan support was out there for the Enterprise and its crew. As it became clear to CBS that there was a great appetite for further adventures, they debuted a Saturday morning cartoon that continued that epic five-year mission, with a number of episodes penned by science fiction notables.

The Star Trek Animated Show was produced by Gene Roddenburry and featured the voices of virtually every named star, including William Shatner Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, and the rest of the crew in 22 animated episodes that are considered canon by Trekkies the world around.

This book is the first to document the animated series, each episode lovingly and authoritatively described by authors who had astonishing access to behind-the-scenes tales, original scripts, and the talent who made it all happen.

PEANUTS Holiday Baking: Sweet Treats for Every Occasion
Hardcover
By Various Authors
Release date: October 8, 2019

Join the Peanuts gang for some of their favorite year-round holiday treats! From Charlie Brown’s? (Un) Happy Birthday Cake and Snoopy’s Dogdish Apple Pie to Linus’ Lemon Drop Bars and The Great Pumpkin Cheesecake, Charles Schulz’s beloved characters inspire delightful riffs on delicious, kid- friendly recipes for every occasion. A colorful array of classic comic strips and original illustrations offers festive embellishment on every page.

Peanuts Holiday Cookbook brings the whole family together for irresistible goodies to make for year-round holidays and special occasions. Featuring over 50 delicious recipes””from spooky Halloween candy to whimsical Christmas gingerbread doghouses””and more than 75 classic comic strips and original illustrations, kids will share the kitchen with Charles Schulz’s beloved characters, including Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Pig Pen, Schroeder, and many more!

The Official MacGyver Survival Manual: 155 Ways to Save the Day
Hardcover
By Dr. Rhett Allain
Release date: September 17, 2019

155 field-tested hacks, tips, and on-the-fly solutions for the next time you’re captured by Russian spies.

For over 30 years, the name MacGyver has been synonymous with astonishing feats of ingenuity, from fixing a car with nothing but water and egg whites to busting out of jail using a hairpin and a pair of repurposed handcuffs to, of course, saving the world with his favorite weapon, a simple paperclip.

What you might not know is that every trick that the resourceful secret agent pulls off on CBS’s hit show has been tested and fact-checked by experts, and really works . . . most of the time. No one is saying that you should craft a DIY airplane out of trash bags and a lawnmower engine. But with this book, you could.

The first official how-to guide to the MacGyver universe, this book is packed with how-to drawings and step-by-step descriptions of the hacks that made this character the world’s most resourceful secret agent. Based on the hit new series, with shout-outs to the classic show that started it all.

Each section introduced by Dr. Rhett Alain, the show’s resident physicist, who helps ensure the show’s science is based in . . . something resembling reality.

Full-color photos illustrate Angus MacGyver in his element (which is to say, danger!), and illustrated how-to drawings show exactly how it was done. The best hacks to try at home for yourself are highlighted (as well the ones you really, really should never do without a team of physicists and a first aid kit handy). So grab a paper clip, a pen knife, and some duct tape and prepare to save the day!

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram.