Ann's Amazing Adventure - a chat with the author, and a giveaway!

Today, I'm pleased to introduce you to Jeanetta Brancaccio, an author who I met through Bookpleasures when I reviewed her book.

Jeanetta's book Ann's Amazing Adventure is a beautifully illustrated children's book, with a great story. She has very generously offered to give some copies away to lucky readers of my blog, so leave a comment below or 'like' the post, and you might win a copy! Winners will be picked on 30th June 2012.

Here's my interview with Jeanetta, where you can find out more about the book and the fascinating story behind it:

The story of Ann’s Amazing Adventure started in 1959 when you lost a doll that belonged to your daughter. When did the story first come to you?

It was over 20 years later!!!! My husband, Don, and I were attending an antique show and spotted the doll in one of the booths. I had a flashback and remembered that our daughter, Nancy, had lost one just like it while we were on a road trip when she was four. We purchased the doll and gave it to her. She, of course, did not remember losing her dolly. We presented her with the “lost doll”. She was older and had a daughter of her own but we enjoyed her reaction ……...all smiles.

When I first read the book, I was left thinking that it was a very imaginative tale, and have to admit that to me it seemed a bit far-fetched. When I read about how it was based on something that really happened, it made the book more special to me and reinforced the idea that fact is stranger than fiction. I like the idea that the book will allow children to believe that anything is impossible. I'm interested to know whether the doll you found in the antiques fair was the actual one that you lost, or just one that looked exactly like it.

That would be one chance in a million! It was a popular doll and thousands of them must have been manufactured. In my imagination it was the same doll. One day, an idea for a story came into my mind. Wouldn’t it be fun to write about the doll’s experience during those 20 plus years she went missing?……..what happened to her?.........where was she?..........was she safe?.......hurt?........happy?

I understand that your original story was read to school children in 1988 and they enjoyed it. Did you not think of publishing the book back then?

The story was written in the 80’s and was read to a 3rd grade class in 1988. I had no thought of publishing it. At that time, my life was full with career and family……..a busy household which included six children and running a health food store. It wasn’t until 2007 or so that our youngest daughter asked me about “a story I had written years ago”. That got things going. She read it to her children, did some editing and then things just went forward one step at a time.



The illustrator, Sara Petrous, did a fabulous job with the book. I love the illustrations. How did you find her? Did you have any input into the way the characters look?

Sara’s Story: An ad was placed on Craig’s List. A dozen artists answered the ad, submitted their portfolio’s and were interviewed. Sara was not one of them. Two weeks went by with no decision being made. There wasn’t ONE that was just right and I was about to settle for one artist, who ended up canceling her appointment because of a family problem. The very next day a letter came from Sara.
When I read her letter, I just knew she was the right person. For some reason Sara never saw the ad when it appeared on Craig’s List and when she did see it she thought she’d be too late to be considered. We met, looked over her portfolio and there was no doubt. She was the one! She asked me if I had a visual of what I wanted Ann, my main character, to look like. I said “no, because every time I think of her, I have the image of the famous doll in my mind, the one that was actually lost!” So Ann, from Ann’s Amazing Adventure, is Sara’s creation as are the Teddy Bear and Randy, the dog, and all of the illustrations in the book, without any input from me.

I like the idea of the 'goodies' included on your website where children can print off pictures of the doll from the story. How did you think that up?

The idea for the ‘goodies’ on the web site with coloring pages to download was Sara’s idea and creation. Also the merchandise connected to the book. She found the Zazzle web site for various products. It was “Ann’s Amazing Adventure’s” good fortune for Sara and I to find each other.

What do you hope children will learn from the book?

The most important sentence in the book is “Nothing happens to you it happens for you” and that is what I want children to learn.

What is the target age group for the book?

It was difficult to place it in a specific category because there are too many words & pages to be called a picture book and too many pictures to be called a chapter book. I’ve had positive comments from teenagers AND Grandparents! Most of us can relate to something lost when we were a child. There is a group, though, of children who are too old (age 8 or 9) for picture books, and yet Chapter books don’t hold their interest.

You have had very positive feedback from children about the story and some of those reviews are printed in the book. Do you have a favourite review by a child, or something they've said to you about the book that sticks in your mind?

Yes, the feedback has been very positive. My favorites are from a 90-year old who told me she was “enthralled” and a third grader who said the “story warmed my heart”.

I read in your bio that you collect Pinocchio memorabilia. When did you start your collection, and do you have a favourite item in the collection?



Awww, Pinocchio. The little jumping-jack puppet from Italy was given to me when I was about 12 and it was a favorite. The collection grew and grew over a period of 65 years! It was a story of unconditional love and hope. I think Ann & Pinocchio could be best friends.

I understand that you also write poetry. Do you have any plans to publish your poems? Are you working on any other books?

There are no plans to publish the poems I wrote as an 11 year old and, no, I am not working on another book. The passion I have now is writing family stories to pass on to the next generation which include our six children and 12 nieces/nephews. It’s so amazing that as I approach my eighth decade, I am remembering more and more of our family stories to write about.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their books that you like?

It’s impossible for me to choose a favorite author, but I always look forward to reading the next book in the “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” series by Alexander McCall Smith. The stories are so positive and uplifting in their simplicity. I love Precious, the main character. Come to think of it, she AND Ann AND Pinocchio would get along just fine. (smiling).

Where's the best place for people to buy your book?

To purchase Ann’s Amazing Adventure, go to the website where it’s available through Pay Pal, check or Amazon.

Thank you, Jeanetta!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember to 'like' this post or leave a comment for Jeanetta below, if you'd like to win a copy of her book! Good luck :)