By Joe Southern Interim editor
It was 22 years in the making and no sooner does Jill Zapata’s first book finally get published and it gets overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s ironically apropos for a book about something forgotten.
“Addy’s Suitcase” is a children’s book about a girl who goes away for a few days and forgets her suitcase.
“I personify the items in Addy’s suitcase, and they worry about how she’ll survive without them,” Zapata said.
The book is illustrated and published by Christian Faith Publishing in Meadville, Pa. It’s first draft was written by Zapata 22 years ago in Germany. Unable to find a publisher, Zapata put it aside, but kept her manuscript throughout several moves. Returning to Gonzales County, Zapata has retired as a fitness instructor at THRIVE Healthplex, Zapata and her husband John live on a small hobby form near Waelder. She recently revived the manuscript, made some revisions, and found a publisher.
Unfortunately, her book’s debut comes under the coronavirus cloud. Libraries aren’t open and book signings are not happening. She’s not on social media, so getting the word out about “Addy’s Suitcase” is a challenge.
“I’m hoping to do some book signings,” she said.
In the meantime, it is available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. She also has several boxes at home and will sell them in person to anyone who contacts her.
Zapata got the inspiration for her book when she was expecting her third child. The book’s main characters – Addy and Nicole – are named after her daughters and the grandmother in the book is inspired by her mother. In the story, Addy is going to stay with her friend Nicole for a few days while her mother goes to the hospital to have a baby. In the rush of things, the suitcase is left behind.
Zapata said the book is age appropriate to read to toddlers and to help youngsters who are just learning to read.
“I always read to my kids,” she said.
Zapata was encouraged by her mother and her high school English teacher to pursue creative writing. It’s something she excelled at in school and has dabbled in over the years. Now that she is a published author, she has no plans to stop writing.
“I have several other children’s stories in the works,” she said.
But first she wants to write a memoir about her experiences as a caretaker for her mother-in-law.
“She inspired me in so many ways,” Zapata said.
She said her caretaking experience was filled with “lots of tears and lots of laughter” and she wants the book to be both serious and lighthearted to reflect that.
Anyone interested in buying the book can find it online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble or they can contact Zapata directly at jillmichelle65@gmail.com or 512-574-3352.
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June 11, 2020 at 10:21PM
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Local woman publishes first children's book - Gonzales Inquirer
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