Denise Zarrella is an Emmy Award-winning reporter who has
spent the past two decades covering hard news. She has met with historic
figures, including U.S. Presidents and roc stars, but the people she has been
most touched by are the children at the center of many of her stories.
Zarrella began her career at Fox’s “America’s Most Wanted,”
where she researched cases involving unsolved crimes and missing children. From
there, she shifted gears to news and headed to Atlanta, where she became an
Associated Producer at CNN’s World Headquarters. While at CNN, she began
reporting for TBS’s morning show “Interact America,” and her on-air journey
began.
She left CNN and TBS to become a full-time Anchor/Reporter
at WBBJ, in Jackson, Tennessee. She has also world in Champaign, Illinois, and
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, which returned her to her hometown in the Poconos.
VS: What do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life?
Denise: Writing
this children's book fit right into the atmosphere around here! I am a
reporter and anchor for a local TV station, who writes for television for a
living, but I wrote this children's book for my kids. I have two fast
growing toddlers - at least they were toddlers when I started my book
project.
VS: How long have you been writing?
Denise: For
as long as I can remember. I was in fifth grade when I wrote my first
novel on an old fashioned typewriter. I still have that old
manuscript. It's hilarious!!! I used to carry around an E.T. book bag
with my latest works and ideas in it. I would write whenever I got a
chance. All summer long, I would write while I was at the babysitter's
house. My mom always said that the Beatles song, "Paperback
Writer," reminded her of me.
VS: Is your family supportive of your writing?
Denise: It
was my husband, who wholeheartedly encouraged me to write, "Not even the
Sky is the Limit." He saw a need, just as I did, for a book out
there that would give people with Down Syndrome a platform to show the world
all the great things they are doing. There is spectrum of severity of the
chromosomal disorder, just as in Autism, for example, but many people with Down
Syndrome are doing more with their lives than some people I've met without
disabilities. They live life to the fullest and love without limits
too!!!
VS: Can you share a little with us about your book?
Denise: "Not
even the Sky is the Limit," is a book that grew out of my need to know
that my life with my daughter, Gianna, who has Down Syndrome, would be just as
fulfilling and fun as what other children experience. I connected with
other parents with children with Down Syndrome before and after Gianna was born
and constantly found myself asking everyone what their child could do, what
they loved doing together. My husband Tony and I were talking one night,
and I was so excited about some of the cool stories some parents were sharing
with me that I said, "I wish there was a book that I could go to and see
all of this right in front of me - especially on the days when I'm worried
about Gianna and her development." Tony said, "Why don't you do
it?" I said, "I think I will," and I did. A
little over one year later here I am. People are connecting with this
book in a way that I hoped they would, but the feedback is even beyond what I
expected. Everyone from right to life groups, to special education
teachers, to people who just support the idea of empowering people with
disabilities are ordering the book and rallying around it.
VS: Do you have any other works in progress?
Denise: I
have a book I've wanted to write my entire life, but I can't seem to bang it
out! I have piles of notes and piles of pages of free writing, but I need
to pull it all together in a form that someone would be able to
follow. Someday, I'll be submitting another manuscript to my publisher.
Wish me luck.
VS: What are the basic ingredients for a good book?
Denise: In
terms of "Not even the Sky is the Limit," I think I have an
audience of people who are just as passionate about creating equal
opportunities for people with Down Syndrome as me. So, when it comes to
my children's book, I've got great pictures and graphics and simply written
words that kids love, but that adults are inspired by as well. When it
comes to telling a great story though, in general, I think it's important to
write something that people can relate to, to not hold back and to tell the
truth. The truth, as they say, is better than fiction!
VS: What do you feel as parents we need to do to help our children see success?
Denise: I
think that most importantly we need to nurture their strengths and help them
deal with their weaknesses. They need to feel like anything is possible
with hard work and a winning attitude. We also need to teach them though,
that success is so much more than the material things we are taught to
associate with "making it." At the end of the day, character
counts. Family counts. Dreams count. This book was my
dream. I am lucky I was brought up to be resourceful, to never give up
and to never let fear get in the way of what I wanted to accomplish.
VS: What is required for a character to be believable?
Denise: Characters
must be like us - motivated by much of what drives us, confronted with dramas
many of us face, making decisions that either make us hate them or love
them. In the case of the most dynamic characters, we feel a little of
both. But I think they also must be somewhat intriguing - living a life or
doing things we want to know more about or want to be more connected to even if
we may not want to admit that openly.
VS: What part of your book do you feel stands out to you personally?
Denise: In
"Not even the Sky is the Limit," my daughter is the part of the book
that stands out to me personally. Because Gianna has Down
Syndrome, I also feel personally connected with every single child and
adult in the book. They are all such beautiful and inspirational people -
perfectly created by God. Spend some time with me and my family and
you'll feel the same way.
VS: What
did you find to be the most challenging part of writing your book?
Denise: Honestly,
funding this book was the most challenging part, but even that fell into place
in a way I never predicted it would. I have now seen first hand how
listening to your inner voice and putting something out there that the world
needs to see can take on a life of its own. Once I started talking to
people about my idea for "Not even the Sky is the Limit," where
I would showcase and focus on the abilities of people with Down Syndrome, there
was so much support for my idea, that things just took care of themselves. This
book was so much fun to do. Because so many believed in my mission, it
turned out to be the easiest and most fulfilling thing I've ever done.
Not Even The SKY Is
The LIMIT, is inspired by the authors daughter Gianna, who has Down
Syndrome. The book is also meant for adults, who will clearly see by turning
the pages that there are no limits to what those living with disabilities can
do.
A portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to
organizations that improve the lives of people who live with Down Syndrome.
Publisher: Halo Publishing, Int.
ISBN: 978-1-61244-199-3 (hard cover)
$14.95