Audrhea Lande, Winnipeg author of Annie’s Bright Idea, is a former teacher and principal with a knack for writing.
About five years ago Lande started to write a story that her mother used to tell her and her siblings when they were young. At the time, she didn’t know it, but the story that her mother told her had been a true one.
The back cover of the book describes it as "a true Christmastime adventure. It is about 9 year-old Annie and her little sister Olly who set out on the morning of November 18,1933 to find Santa Claus. Making their way through unknown parts of the city to the Eaton's department store, Annie and Olly discover Santa in unexpected places. Using actual photos and newspaper clippings from 1933, Annie's Bright Idea draws a picture of Winnipeg during the Dirty Thirties and proves that with the unwavering faith of children we can all find the magic in Christmas - even in the darkest of times."
Annie’s Bright Idea is geared towards children ages 7-9 as the two characters in the book are aged seven and nine. “When I was a teacher, I noticed that children are most interested in reading about children their own age.”
“It wasn’t until I was older that I realized it had been a true story and began to wonder if it could be turned into a children’s book. I started mapping it out about five years ago and wrote it as a historical article for a magazine. Then I had been asking mom for details exactly where they went started research and walked the route.”
Lande went to children’s author Sarah Ellis and went through the book with her making the first edits. “She told me what was fine, what to add, and what to leave out.” Heather Nicol, a publisher in Regina helped with the second edit, helping to fit it on 32 pages.
“Everyone who was involved was great and we worked like crazy to get it out by Christmas.”
When asked to describe her writing style, Lande couldn’t put her finger on one particular style and says she writes a whole variety of things. “Because I am a retired teacher I feel I am not aiming to be a writer I just have these stories to tell.”
Though Annie’s Bright Idea is Lande’s first published work, she enjoys writing in different genres.
“I have finished a manuscript aimed at adults about a Icelandic Manitoban pioneer teacher named Miss Sigurbjorg Stefansson. I write true stories of real lives of real people. Normal lives that are in some aspects heroic.”
Something interesting about Annie’s Bright Idea are the photos and newspaper clipping shown that were gathered from the University of Manitoba archives and the Provincial Archives of Manitoba. “What makes this book unique is that it was my mother’s story she told me, and now she is gone. What else makes it unique is that it is unique to Manitoba. It draws a picture of Winnipeg in 1933.”
To get this soon-to-be Christmas classic, you can pick up a copy at McNally Robinson, Chapters, Prairie Sky Bookstore in Wolseley, Toad Hall Toys, and at the gift shop at the Manitoba Historical Society.
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