Vanishing avocados, mega-million dollar conferences, haute couture jewels, and mysterious beings--all are part of Diana S. Zimmerman's amazing life and career.

Like the first book, "Kandide and the Secret of the Mists," (www.kandide.com) in her fantasy adventure trilogy, Diana's role in the performing arts, as well as the business world, transcends the ordinary. She has been a performer, entrepreneur, and businesswoman since the age of eight when she invested all of her resources into a small magic trick. With a total capital outlay of 47 cents, Diana parlayed her investment into a spectacular 25-year stage and television career as the "World's Foremost Lady Magician."

Her innovative business approach to this unique art form catapulted her into the limelight. It is this same highly creative thinking that has allowed her to flourish in the corporate world.

Today, Diana is the President and CEO of CMS Communications, Intl, multi-million dollar, award-winning and highly innovative marketing communications agency that is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA., with offices in Phoenix, Orlando, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City. CMS' client list reads like the "Who's Who" of the Fortune 500. Special Events Magazine named CMS in the "TOP 50 Event Companies" for an unprecedented seven consecutive years. Diana's business philosophy has just two rules: "Reinvent yourself every couple years. Be the leading industry innovator, in every area: technology, service, and creativity."

She sits on three Boards including the prestigious Academy of Magical Arts Educational Foundation, Inc. (the 501c3 sister organization the AMA/Magic Castle), was an Ernst & Young "Entrepreneur of the Year" finalist, and 2008 LA Woman of the Year nominee. Her dazzling road of business achievements is also paved with equally impressive journalistic credentials. Having had 100's of articles published in the elite haute couture jewelry industry, "Kandide and the Secret of the Mists" is the first of her three fantasy adventure novels. Diana is also the co-author of the business strategy book "Tactical Abyss."
During her performing years, Diana also invented magic illusions for Lance Burton and David Copperfield, among others, and remains a highly respected lecturer, writer, and teacher in this field. She sponsors the Junior Magicians' Club--a youth group she founded in 1974 with the help of legendary actor, Cary Grant--at Hollywood's famous Magic Castle.

Leaving her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 18, Diana filled her car with magic tricks, costumes, and a great deal of ambition, and headed for Los Angeles with $45.00 to her name. "Even back then," she explains, "that wasn't very much money. But when you grow up living on the wrong side of the tracks, what have got to lose?" Admitting that it was pretty tough getting started in a town like LA, and she wasn't always sure where her next meal would come from, nothing mattered to Diana except pursuing her dream of becoming a world-class performer. Doing magic to support herself (and pay for college), her novel approach, along with her remarkable creativity and talent, eventually catapulted her toward success.

Diana starred in her own television show, "Enchanted Palace" as well as her own magical revue show in Lake Tahoe. She appeared on virtually every major TV talk and variety show, toured the world, and later became a much sought after corporate spokesperson for companies as diverse as Ore Ida Potatoes and the Avocado Advisory Board. She also became known for motivational speaking. Her speech, "Success, Mastering the Art of Illusion," garnered standing ovation after standing ovation in the corporate world.

An avid collector of faery art, her collection of bronzes, clocks, paintings, sculptures, books, and porcelains is one of the largest in the world with pieces dating back to the 1700s.  (www.kandide.com)