By Staff
Sherry Parker Zangas is an Auburn graduate, but she used her love for Alabama football as the basis for an alphabet children’s story.
Getting “A Is for Alabama Roll Tide Roll” published has turned Zangas into not only an author but a marketing expert as well.
Zangas, a Brewton native and 1990 T.R. Miller graduate, wrote the story several years ago, but time off during maternity leave gave her a chance to revisit the idea of turning it into a book.
Zangas found Mascot Books, a company that helps authors publish their stories and focuses on children’s titles for colleges, universities and professional sports teams. “A Is for Alabama” is licensed through the University of Alabama and the Collegiate Licensing Committee.
Rather than use an in-house illustrator for Mascot, Zangas looked to the Internet to help find someone to bring her story to life.
Zangas posted requests on Web sites for illustrators to provide samples. She had one important qualification for her collaborator.
She found Tim Williams, a Georgia resident with not only artistic talent but a knowledge of the subject matter.
Zangas’ book cover features Big Al and Denny Chimes, and other familiar Alabama symbols fill the book.
Zangas has held book signings in Tuscaloosa and Fairhope, and she spent some time in Brewton recently to seek local stores to sell her book.
Marketing her own book has been an interesting experience — especially as she tries to fit in sales calls around her full-time job as a third-grade teacher in Louisiana and her role as wife and mother.
Zangas has quickly learned the ropes — and found time to write a second book, “A is for Auburn War Eagle Hey.” Williams is already on board to illustrate.
Although she grew up an Alabama fan, Zangas followed in her sister’s footsteps and graduated from Auburn.
Her sister Rhonda Adams is now a teacher at Brewton Middle School. Zangas is also the daughter of William Larry Parker and Betty Parker of Brewton.
She has two children, Hunter Harris, from a previous marriage, and Brodie with husband Phillip. A true Alabama fan, Zangas named Brodie after the former Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle.