Barbara Feinman Todd has spent a lifetime helping other people tell their stories. In the early 1980s, she worked for Bob Woodward, first as his research assistant in the papers investigative unit and, later, as his personal researcher forVeil, his bestselling book about the CIA. Next she helped Carl Bernstein, who was struggling to finish his memoir,Loyalties. She then assisted legendary editor Ben Bradlee on his acclaimed autobiographyA Good Life, and she worked with Hillary Clinton on her bestsellingIt Takes a Village.Feinman Todds involvement with Mrs. Clinton made headlines when the First Lady neglected to acknowledge her role in the books creation, and later, when a disclosure to Woodward about the Clinton White House appeared in one of his books. These events haunted Feinman Todd for the next two decades until she confronted her past and discovered something startling.

Revealing what its like to get into the heads and hearts of some of Washingtons most compelling and powerful figures, Feinman Todd offers authentic portraits that go beyond the carefully polished public personas that are the standard fare of the Washington publicity factory. At its heart,Pretend Im Not Hereis a funny and forthcoming story of a young woman in a male-dominated world trying to find her own voice while eloquently speaking for others. Written by Barbara Feinman Todd. Paperback;323 pages.

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