Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Campanella.
Hi Ann, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born into a family of word lovers, and I’ve been a reader and a writer for most of my life.
In college, I took my first Creative Writing course and quickly declared: “I want to be a poet!” But it wasn’t long before I learned that while poetry fed my soul, it could not pay the bills. So, I found a job as an editorial assistant for a magazine conglomerate in Atlanta, GA. I worked on Today’s Living, Better Nutrition and Cashflow magazines, gradually moving up the ranks from assistant to associate to managing editor. When my husband was transferred to Houston, I shifted to newspapers and became the executive editor of three editions of a weekly, then managing editor for a daily. I also freelanced for Horseman Magazine.
When we moved back to North Carolina, we built our small horse farm, and I divided my time between teaching horseback riding lessons and doing freelance writing. I also picked up poetry again and was honored to win several awards, including the North Carolina Poet Laureate Award twice. These awards gave me the confidence to pursue my personal writing on a deeper level, and I began to write creative nonfiction. During the past few decades, my focus has been on writing my three memoirs, Motherhood: Lost and Found, Celiac Mom and The Shoulder Season.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not always been smooth. I’ll share two struggles I faced in my career. The first one was when I was in a high-performing role as a managing editor for a daily newspaper outside of Houston. The second was a challenge I had in publicizing my second memoir, which came out during the “lock-down” days of COVID-19.
During my stint as a newspaper editor, I enjoyed the creative side of working with my staff, planning and organizing a high-quality, appealing paper for others to read. Keeping to a daily deadline was easy for me. However, being “on” 24 hours a day was not. Sometimes I was called in the middle of the night when the press broke down, and there were many late nights following elections or unexpected tragedies that needed to be covered. Over time I realized my poet’s heart was suffering under the weight of the daily news.
As the lead editor for our seven-newspaper group, I made the decision to step down when our company was sold to a new owner whose goals did not align with mine. For a few months I felt at sea, not used to having any free time, even though I began teaching Journalism and Mass Media classes at a community college. However, this “break” allowed me to prepare for our move back to North Carolina and to spend more time freelance writing. My looser schedule also gave me the freedom to explore other types of writing that nourished me in a deeper way, which led me back to poetry and ultimately towards memoir writing.
Another struggle I faced was marketing my book, Celiac Mom. It was released in July of 2020, in the middle of the pandemic when there were no in-person events or readings. During that time, I created my Instagram account @glutenfreeforgood as a means to share information about celiac and a gluten-free lifestyle. The account grew quickly, and I was also invited to be a guest on a number of podcasts including The Celiac Project Podcast in the U.S., The Healthy Celiac Podcast in Australia and A Canadian Celiac Podcast. I was grateful to be able to connect with people all over the world, and my book has become well known in the celiac community.
I’m amazed at how our struggles so often push us to be creative in seeking new ways to overcome them. I also believe that challenges can help us find the path we were meant to be on.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
After years of being a magazine and newspaper editor and journalist, I am most known for my memoir writing. I specialize in sharing about health topics that my family members and I have experienced. I’m most proud of how my books have raised awareness of the challenges inherent in Alzheimer’s disease, miscarriage and infertility, celiac disease and recovery from major injury.
What sets me apart from other writers is that I give the personal story behind each of these conditions, sharing intimate details along with the hardships and how I have coped with them. I’ve also made an effort to reach out to communities facing these health issues, and I’ve been honored to connect with others who are struggling and looking for answers, encouragement and support. For example, for eight years I worked as a manager/director for AlzAuthors, an organization that provides resources for dementia caregivers. Giving back to individuals and communities in need has been deeply fulfilling.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
For those who are struggling with particular health issues, I’d like to share my books and how each one can provide support.
Motherhood: Lost and Found tells the story of my mother’s descent into Alzheimer’s at the same time I was struggling with infertility and had a series of miscarriages. This memoir shares the real story behind caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, and it also reveals the hidden pain many women suffer when faced with infertility. Most of all, it helps dementia caregivers feel like they have a companion on the journey.
Celiac Mom shares the story of my daughter’s celiac diagnosis and our family’s transition to a gluten-free lifestyle. This book offers an eye-opening look at celiac disease and provides tips for going gluten free, easy recipes, shopping lists and much more.
The Shoulder Season: A Memoir of Fracture and Grace is about my own serious shoulder injury that required two years of rehabilitation and recovery. I share what it’s like grappling with unexpected circumstances, difficult surgeries and chronic pain. For anyone going through a difficult season — whether it be physical or emotional — this book provides encouragement, perspective and the hope that healing and transformation are possible.
My books can be ordered through your local independent bookstore or found online.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://anncampanella.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glutenfreeforgood
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anncampanella.author/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-campanella-9927a2a/
- Twitter: https://x.com/authorAnnC
