While my “About page” covers my writing and Disney-related interviews, this page is a bit more personal, for anyone wondering just what makes me tick.
Zanna is short for Suzannah, a nickname I picked up online many years back when it was much easier to write share than trying to get people to spell my name right. My full name always confuses people and results in lots of “Suzzanah” “Suzanne” “Susanna” and “Susan”s. It kind of bothers me that people can’t take the time to pronounce or spell my name right but I stopped trying to correct people long ago. I used “Zanna Do!” as the title for my first zine (see below) as a nod to the campy Xanadu film from the 80s, and it just kind of stuck.
Child of the EPCOT Center 80′s - see blog entry: Remember the Magic. I’ve been coming to Walt Disney World since I was in diapers, falling hopelessly in love in 1983, when I cried the entire last day of our visit because I didn’t want to go home. My mom snapped pictures of the entire Journey into Imagination ride so I could remember when we got home. As a result, I remember (and write about) many of the extinct aspects of Walt Disney World.
Mom of 3 – Son – C, born in 1999, Daughter – S, born in 2000, Son – G, born in 2008
Married to my high school sweetheart – J.F. DiMarzio. The above 4 people are my Universe!
Worked as a IATAN certified Travel Agent for a while after working at Walt Disney World for a bit. While there I became a Disney Certified Agent, Sandals Resorts Certified, Princess Cruise Certified (anything I could learn, I did!), as well as obtaining my ACC and MCC classifications through CLIA (Cruise Line Industry Association). The MCC (Master Cruise Counselor) is the highest qualification a cruise agent can earn. Also worked briefly for The Disney Store and the Disney Travel Co. (And Starbucks…I like to work with all my addictions.)
I have been on the internet since waay back in 1991. I remember my first account was through the Prodigy service (anyone remember that company?). I hung around on the Tori Amos and David Bowie and Disney BBS (Bulletin Board Systems – precursor to forums and communities and actual websites!). When my first son was born, I stumbled across a little site called iVillage.com. They had communities for moms with children born in the same month and year. I stayed there for a while, becoming a community leader for 14 different message boards at one time. They have since grown quite a bit! I learned about LiveJournal in 2000 and have been actively blogging there (tho not publicly) ever since.
ZannaLand has existed since 2004. I began it as a place to sell jewelry I made, then as a place to promote my writing. It has been reincarnated several times, with the most recent face-lift being in spring of 2009, when I ventured into the blogosphere.
I once wrote and published a zine (pronounced like magazine) entitled “Zanna, Do!” The first issue was about searching for my dream job in life. I had initially planned to do other issues, but found a different outlet for my writing.
I also had an essay published in the book “If Women Ruled the World” (credited as Suzannah Mitchell DiMarzio) it’s a cute little bit of fluff writing, amid a sea of amazing stories within that book. I also contributed to the second edition of the famous-among-zines zine, Mamaphiles. I love to write and am finally taking steps toward making that a focus in my life.
Moved 26 times in my life, throughout 5 different states. I used to consider Massachusetts/New England ‘home’ although I have now lived in Florida almost as long as I’ve lived in New England, so it’s a close call. We recently moved to the town of Celebration and are loving every moment.
I am a passionate person. When I commit to something, I do it with all my heart. As a result, my writing imbues that passion and emotion, and while I do write objective news stories now and then, most of what I write shares a personal aspect. If I can’t give something my best, I don’t want to do it at all. I am constantly looking for ways to improve myself or the things I’ve accomplished. I am inspired by nature, music and creativity I find along the way, either in art, movies, photography, or at a Disney park. I hope you enjoy your time here at Zannaland.
Any questions or requests for blog topics? Reply here or click the Contact Me button on the left of Zannaland’s home page. Thanks for reading!
