Della Yannuzzi
Della Yannuzzi's dreams for children are a lot like her own life--don't get discouraged, you can achieve whatever you want. Della's optimistic, never-give-up personality has brought her far in her writing career. In talking with her, right away one can see the twinkle in her eye that spells love for what she does--write every day, set goals, research the markets and send out proposals over and over again. "Eventually, if you really love it and you persevere, you will publish," is her advice to anyone who dreams of a career as a writer.
Della began writing for the adult market, trying out different genres and submitting stories and articles to local publications and mainstream magazine markets. At the same time, she finished her degree and began teaching in early childhood education. After selling many stories and articles a nice break came, as she describes it--her first publication in Highlights for Children. The article, "A Visit to Old Quebec," in 1975, was followed by a feature in Highlights on Native American Susette La Flesch, which Della then turned into a book. While that book didn't sell, she persisted, selling stories to Cobblestone, Young World, New Moon and other magazines. Writing for children had now become her greatest love, especially non-fiction and biographies.
When asked how she decided to pursue biographies, Della points out that most of her work began with articles and stories. In 1990, her story on Native American Olympic runner Billy Mills was published in Highlights for Children and received the Highlights Sports Feature of the Year award. Della proceeded to turn the Billy Mills story into a book and this time, a rejection slip from the publisher was accompanied by a winning idea--write the biography of Native American Wilma Mankiller. Della took up the challenge and published her first biography, Wilma Mankiller-Leader of the Cherokee Nation.
Biographies intrigue her, as she enjoys studying people's lives to understand how they accomplish what they have done, especially under adverse conditions. She sometimes relates their lives to her own--by looking at how they reached their goals and comparing her own progress. "They are role models for me," she says. Della believes strongly that if the people she writes about affect her in that way, children should feel the same challenge from reading her biographies. "I want children to pick up my books and get the message that it's possible to overcome obstacles, to keep trying."
To start a biography, she looks first for people who have overcome great odds to succeed, generally selecting from publishers' suggested lists. She does extensive research to be sure there is enough information available, by searching library collections, the Internet and pursuing interviews. With the personal decision made, she writes an outline, drafts a first chapter and sends these off for consideration.
Della is a "multi-tasker," able to keep many things going at once. She describes her work as a balanced day, mixing up her writing with research, market analysis, and exploring new ideas. She has multiple book or story projects going at once, and when a contract comes through, settles into that single project to meet deadlines. She has two prospective books outlined now, and is currently working on the story of a writer about whom much has already been written. But she's found a new angle, and through reading, has discovered there are parts of his life that haven't been explored.
Della's success with her first biography was followed by six more, which we can see from the titles, reflect people who have lived challenging lives. Zora Neale Hurston-Southern Storyteller explores the life of a folklorist/writer of the Harlem Renaissance who entertained writers and artists with "lying stories" (tall tales) she had grown up with, and who later became a storied African American writer.
The life story of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel in space and the biography, Ernest Hemingway-Writer and Adventurer, followed with the Hemingway biography making the 1999 New York Library's Notable Book List for Teenagers. Della says the biography of Ernest Hemingway was one of the most interesting books she has written. Asked why she chose such a much written-about personality, she shared her belief that "there is always room for one more." She'd read all of his books, admired his writing, and learned that one can be a fine, respected writer yet live a volatile life. Della was honest in her book, not ignoring Hemingway's flaws, yet showing different aspects, such as how the women in his life inspired and helped him. And her belief proved true--that often, many published titles about a subject are an invitation for one more.
Della's Madam C. J. Walker: Self-Made Businesswoman, the story of the first African American woman to become a millionaire, is the story of a truly inspiring life. Likewise, Della was intrigued with the story of Aldo Leopold, a lesser-known personage who overcame illnesses to become the "Father of the National Wilderness Program." Della's most recent biography, Gregor Mendel, is scheduled for publication by Scholastic in 2004. Having been a part of a reader's group for Della during the birth of these two books, I can attest to her diligence in sorting through the details of life or science with extreme care, to bring just the right point of view to her readers.
Della finds that such a critique group, which she helped organize ten years ago, has been most helpful to her success. "No one in our group gives up," she says. Key ingredients: always writing, open to critiques and willingness to support others.
The most difficult part of writing biographies, she finds, is having to shorten or lengthen the final book, per publisher's request. In some lives there is so much going on that the author must be very selective in choosing a focus. Augmenting the book might change that. Harder yet is trying to stretch material to lengthen a work.
Della is a self-described "late-bloomer." When her daughter Cara arrived, Della continued to write and work part-time. With a very supportive husband, she persisted. "That elusive sale of a children's book didn't happen until many years after I began my writing career. Some people won't wait that long. But my philosophy is, 'never say never.' Things change as you grow personally, and if you don't get done what you want, persevere. My writing means much more to me, though. It's something strictly of my own," she says. "It gets me through life, it's my identity, and I need this for myself. It puts me in another world, of characters, places and stories. I simply can't stay away from my writing." It's a good thing, too, as there is so much to learn about life through biographies like Della's.
Reviews
Ernest Hemingway: Writer and Adventurer
Della A. Yannuzzi
Hemingway's adventurous life and personal relationships provided the subject matter for his novels. What this biography does best is illustrate that connection. Hemingway lived each minute to the fullest, participating courageously in two wars, running with the bulls in Spain, socializing with famous artists in Paris, and hunting and fishing throughout the world. He gave meaning to these remarkable experiences with a clear writing style that won him the Nobel Prize for a new narrative voice that was as powerful as it was concise. This biography also reveals the troubled life that often overshadowed his literary success. Readers will discover a robust sportsman, a daring adventurer and a dedicated writer whose goal was always to write "one true sentence." They will also encounter a moody, boastful and heavy-drinking man whose amorous affairs led to four marriages and whose depression led to suicide. Yannuzzi's treatment of his flaws is straightforward and non-judgmental, not unlike Hemingway's own method of "writing in clear sentences without explaining or overstating too much." Readers will gain an interesting and fair overview of the legendary author in this addition to the "People to Know" series. It includes black-and-white family photographs, index, notes, chronology and additional reading. 1998, Enslow, $20.95. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Betty Hicks
ISBN: 0-8949-0979-7
Best Books:
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Mae Jemison: A Space Biography
Della A. Yannuzzi
This is a well-organized, well written account about the first African-American woman in space. It will especially appeal to children who are interested in becoming an astronaut. Organized into five chapters, the book begins with Dr. Jemison's lift off into space aboard the space shuttle. Next, a journey through her early years of school until her graduation from medical school and volunteer work with the Peace Corps. Photos of Dr. Jemison's life are interspersed. The next couple of chapters detail interesting insights into her training with NASA and finally her blast off into space. A concluding chapter describes what Dr. Jemison has accomplished since her travels into space. The book ends with a chronology of her life, a glossary of space terms, further readings on the subject of space and an index. This is a wonderful account of a positive role model for girls. Readers will learn many interesting experiences about Dr. Jemison's journey along with the hard work and dedication that it takes to become an astronaut. This is part of the "Countdown to Space" series. 1998, Enslow Publishers Inc., $18.95. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Melissa A. Caudill
ISBN: 0-8949-0813-8
Best Books:
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Madam C.J. Walker: Self-made Businesswoman
Della Yannuzzi
Hard work, intelligence and a belief in yourself can go a long way, but Sarah Breedlove McWilliams a.k.a. Madam C. J. Walker is a real inspiration. Close to forty, she pulled up stakes and went to Denver to open up her own business selling hair care products to African American Women. She prospered and eventually established a factory and in just seven years she had a network of 1500 agents. Although she lacked formal education, Walker hired tutors for herself and was a strong supporter of education. She made contributions to schools and even established Leila College to train her agents. She became a millionaire and unfortunately died fourteen years after establishing the business. The concluding chapter brings readers up to date about the fate of the company, her daughter and adopted granddaughter as well as the beautiful homes she owned in New York. This interesting biography, which features selected black-and-white photographs and illustrations, also includes a chronology, notes and index. Part of the "African-American Biographies" series. 2000, Enslow, $19.95. Ages 11 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
A shining example of the "American Dream," Madam C.J. Walker rose from humble beginnings picking cotton and washing laundry to a dazzling reign as one of the wealthiest African-American women in the early twentieth century. Inspired by the elegance and poise of Margaret Murray Washington, the wife of Booker T. Washington, Walker began experimenting with making hair products. At first, she simply went door to door selling the hair care products she had created herself; eventually, Madam C.J. Walker's Manufacturing Company was a thriving business. This addition to the "African-American Biographies" series chronicles the life of a woman who was literally self-made. Describing in detail Walker's hard work, the expansion of her company, her financial success and her work as an activist, this biography is thorough and inspiring. It would add diversity and breadth to a unit study of the American Dream or serve as an appropriate highlight during the recognition of Black History Month in the classroom. 2000, Enslow Publishers, $20.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Leah Hanson
ISBN: 0-7660-1204-2
Aldo Leopold: Protector of the Wild
Della Yannuzzi.
Leopold, not well known to children today, was a leader in efforts to preserve and protect American wilderness and wildlife. A graduate of the first Yale Forest School in 1909, he was influenced in his choice of career by both his father and grandfather, both of whom loved the outdoors and passed on that love and respect to their children and grandchildren. One of Leopold's most important early jobs was protecting forestlands from overgrazing, which led to erosion and less food for wildlife. When ill health forced him to take a desk job, he began researching wildlife management, which became the focus of his work, his writing and his teaching at the University of Wisconsin. Citizen groups began to take up his message and today there are nearly 105 million acres of federally protected wilderness. This brief biography, arranged chronologically, covers the basics of Leopold's life and work. Large (often full page), black-and-white photos are liberally sprinkled throughout the text, adding some visual interest. The writing is matter of fact and does not capture Leopold's passion for his work. Its length makes it more appropriate for second and third graders, but its vocabulary is higher than that. It is probably too brief for use by intermediate students as a book report; but it might be helpful if working on a report on wilderness management. Part of the "Gateway Green" series. 2002, Millbrook Press, $24.90. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Peg Glisson
ISBN: 0-7613-2465-8
Added 04/30/03
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