"Sometimes even the greatest detective needs to look through the magnifying glass..."
Julia is just your average middle schooler. She loves spending time with her family and friends, reading, and listening to music or podcasts. She especially loves listening to old-school Sherlock Holmes radio shows on YouTube. But Julia doesn't feel like everyone else. Having a vision impairment sometimes makes her feel like she doesn't fit in anywhere. She's not totally blind, but she's not sighted either. Her family and teachers for the blind encourage her to use adaptive devices, like a white cane, or assistive technology, like a screen reader, to help her, but Julia has no interest. She wants to be just like everyone else, specifically her older brother, John, the town hero, most popular guy in high school, mystery-solving, John.
When Cooperstown, New York is hit with another major mystery, everyone turns to John and his three best friends to solve the case. As the mystery unfolds, they realize they are "looking" in all the wrong places. Will Julia rise to the challenge, accept the help she may need, and use it to bring her brother and his friends through the magnifying glass?
Marcille, Frankie Ann: - Frankie Ann Marcille (she/her) is an author, educator, actress, and advocate who just sohappens to be legally blind! Her first children's book, "Yes: The Story of a Dreamer" (illustrated by Patrick Regan and published by Leaning Rock Press) was released in 2021. She is so excited to be sharing her second book with you!Frankie Ann earned her BA in Theatre Arts in her home state of Connecticut (WesternConnecticut State University) and her M.S.Ed/dual certification in Vision Rehabilitation Therapyand Orientation & Mobility from Hunter College. Frankie Ann is certified as a DIR Floortimetherapist- a method of therapeutic instruction for students with Autism and other neuro-developmental delays.Over the past decade, Frankie Ann has traveled throughout the country, teaching and advocating for individuals of all ages with multiple disabilities. Most recently, Frankie Ann has joined the team at VISIONS Services for the Blind as a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist and Orientation & Mobility Specialist. Frankie Ann is also proud to work as a script writer, voice actor, and puppeteer for Let's Write About, a fully accessible children's television program created by Donnie Welch Poetry and airing on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network. The series consists of full length episodes and asynchronous shorts, which serve to share creative, accessible, and educational activities for students of all abilities. The writing team was honored to recently receive an educational arts grant from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Center to fund their latest episode, "Let's Write About Braille" (written by Frankie Ann). She is also very grateful to have had the chance to star in the short film, The Runner, created by Mack Productions. The film is currently making its way through the 2022-2023 film festival circuit, and she cannot wait for everyone to see it!To learn more about Frankie Ann, please visitwww.frankieannmarcille.com
Regan, Patrick: - Patrick Regan is an illustrator, graphic, and motion graphic designer from New London, Connecticut. He had an ambitious and creative drive from an early age. Growing up, Patrick was inspired by Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and Batman. He spent countless hours at the kitchen table bringing his imagination to life, and in doing so, he created and destroyed hundreds of fictional characters and universes. Ultimately, this led to his enrollment at the Hartford Art School, where he began to refine his skills. He received a BFA in illustration in 2016. Since graduating, Patrick has worked full time as an in-house motion graphic designer for Astor Place, Inc, a video production and marketing company. He also has worked on hundreds of freelance illustration and design projects, including book cover art, beer can art, T-shirt designs, album art, logo designs, book layouts and illustrations, concept art, tattoos, private commissions, and more. When not working on commissioned projects, Patrick is busy designing, illustrating, animating, and bringing to life his own fantasy world projects. He enjoys collecting comics and vinyl, reading, and spending time at the beach. Patrick can be reached at: patrick_regan@sbcglobal.netHis portfolio can be viewed at: faireharbourart.com
