Welcome

Jann here. Who am I?

I am an ex-teacher, author and aunty.

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