Jann here. Who am I?
I began writing poetry in my teens, however, never let anyone look at it,
Now years later, with the encouragement of good friends, I am the author of over forty books.
Jann Weeratunga began writing
in a wooden cabin in Knysna. Sunday afternoons were spent walking dogs followed
by sitting on the stoop overlooking the forested valley.
It was 2010 and the
excitement of the Soccer World Cup was in the air, prompting a children’s story
about a Magic Vuvuzela.
Fast forward to 2012 and the
closing ceremony of the London Paralympic Games, when Sir Philip Craven was talking
about how a young boy was reading with his mother. In the book, he saw a man
with an eye patch, a hook for a hand, a parrot on his shoulder and a wooden
leg. When asked who it was, he said:
“Well, he has only one leg,
so he must be an Olympian.”
Such was the strength of the
Games that it changed peoples’ perceptions of disability forever. The speech
made her both laugh and cry and gave her the inspiration for the Polly’s
Piralympics Series (Paralympics for Pirates) which are both unique in concept
as well as content and format – dealing with disabilities, bullying and
cheating.
However, everything ground to
a halt with a move to Johannesburg, until 2016. Why? Because she was afraid.
Afraid of not being good enough, being judged by her peers and, most of all,
the children wouldn’t like her stories.
A friend gave her the push
she needed with the words,
“Well, you’ll never know
unless you publish it.”
And so began the real
journey.
She launched Polly’s Piralympics, which is still her
flagship and she is now working on the tenth book in the series.
In March 2018 she set up the
Schools Reading Road Show – an NPO - to improve literacy for pupils in the Primary
Sector in South Africa. Along with her author colleagues, she visited schools
in KZN, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, reading to the learners and giving
motivational talks on anti-bullying, it’s okay to be different and encouraging
learners to write their own stories.
She addressed a Head Teachers
Conference (Embrace) in 2018 and 2019; where she gave workshops on the importance
of reading. She has also delivered workshops for YA pupils on how to write a
book and participated in panels at the JBBF (Jozi Books and Blogs Festival)
2017/2018, South African Children’s Book Fair 2018 and Kingsmead Book Fair 2019.
In March 2020, she ran the
Bennies Book Fayre, the only dedicated Children's and YA book fair in South Africa
with over 65 authors, including ten child authors, on the eve of Lockdown.
During Covid, like so many,
she was isolated, however, it became a time of writing.
Her latest series, Patch’s
Pirate Pals, saw the first five publications released June/September 2022 become
Amazon Best Sellers in several categories.
Sometimes she needs a break from writing children’s books and enjoys writing short stories and poetry for adults, she has written under her Pen Name JE Gallery
Polly’s Piralympics Series (Middle Grade) Set around the World
How Polly Became a Pirate,
Polly Finds Treasure,
Polly’s Piralympics,
Polly’s Inuit Piralympics,
Polly’s Hogmanay Holiday,
Polly’s Rainy Day Piralympics
Polly Returns to Africa
Polly Saves Captain Kipper
Polly’s Halloween Piralympics
Stand-alone set in Africa, (Middle Grade)
Richard the Rhino’s — an adventure set in
Africa
Polly’s Lost Friends — an adventure set in
Africa
The Toucane the Toucan Series (4-8
years). Set in South Africa
These are
colouring-in books with a story, song and activity included.
Toucane is Different,
Toucane and the Rubbish Rangers
Toucane Warns of Stranger
Danger.
The Yogimini’s Series – Set in the Middle East
The Yogimini’s New Friends
The Yogimini’s Visit the
Beach
The Yogimini’s Visit a
Bedouin Camp
Patch’s Pirate Pals
Bluebird’s New Ship
Redhair’s Snot Cannonballs.
Bluebird and the Ducks
Redhair’s Day at the Beach
Bluebird's Lost Pumpkins
Redhair’s Christmas Celebrations
Bluebird Catches a Leprechaun
Redhair Hates Maths
Bluebird’s Daily Journal
Redhair's Daily Journal
Pterodactyls and Other Dinosaurs Series
Terry Hates Bullies
