About Us
About the Illustrator
Sandy Branam
Illustrator Sandy Branam works in oils, acrylic, pastels and watercolors, gouache, pen and ink, 3-dimensional work and ceramic sculpture. She studied art at Berea College, Leeds University (England), and at the University of Kentucky. She is also a lecturer, art teacher, and an Association Montessori Internationale certified teacher. Sandy has served as president of the Savannah Art Association. Her work is in the Telfair Museum’s permanent collection and has been exhibited in numerous galleries. Collaborating with her son, author Christopher Branam, on Rise of the Dough Boys was a wonderful, bonding experience, and her desire to capture his hilarious story brought out the very best in her illustrations. Sandy and her husband Harold live in Thunderbolt, Georgia and have two sons, four grandchildren, one parrot, two cats, and one dog.
About the Author
Chris Branam
Chris is a family physician residing in Milton, West Virginia. Rise of the Dough Boys arose from the high-pressure necessity of coming up with a bedtime story for his children on a nightly basis. Chris reports not being able to recall any stories from his childhood that seemed appropriate for small children, so he created his own. The theme of a baker creating pizzas that come to life and try to survive the fate of being eaten seemed to evoke eternal laughter from his children. This current story is only one of many adventures that the pizzas experienced. His children requested a new “pizza story” every night for years. Chris recognized that the characters involved would be perfect for showcasing his mother Sandy Branam's vast, humorous, illustrative talent, a talent Chris has come to increasingly respect, appreciate, and be amazed by over his lifetime.
