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Crime, True Story, Mob, Immigration, Biopic, Italian American, Fiction
Mama Dallas and Augie is an epic novel that brings to life the Italian American experience, centering on New York’s first “Godmother,” Concetta. Her journey begins in Italy and leads to New York’s notorious Five Points, where she fiercely protects vulnerable young prostitutes. After tragedy strikes and she believes her son, Augie, is dead, Concetta dedicates her life to her family and the struggling poor in the Italian sector slums of New York.
But Augie survives, posing as an American spy and diving into a dangerous underworld that spans from New York to France and Turkey, eventually becoming embroiled in the infamous pre-WWII "French Connection" drug trade. His charm and cunning keep him one step ahead of both mobsters and law enforcement as he navigates in the shadows that intersect with powerful OSS agents and German operatives, leading to his capture and imprisonment in Dachau only to return to America to bring justice to his family name.
Based on a true story, Mama Dallas and Augie spans decades of love, betrayal, espionage, and war—an unforgettable saga of loyalty, resilience, and family bonds.
About the Authors
Jody Fasanella grew up in the theater world in New York. As a veteran stage performer, she has appeared in numerous film and television productions, including The Moving Picture Co. 1914, Good Grief, Tight, Vartan LLP, Steel, The Others, Profiler, and L.A. Law.
On stage, she played the lead, Tessie, in John Morgan Evans' comedy Daughters. According to the Los Angeles Times, “…the cast gives heartfelt performances during the passages of tender reflections.”
Jody has since turned her talents to writing and producing and is dedicated to sharing the true story of her great-grandmother, “Mama Dallas,” and her uncle, “Augie,” as standalone features or mini-series with Little Studio Films.
Sandi Jerome, a UCLA Advanced Screenwriting graduate, is an accomplished screenwriter and novelist. Her animated sci-fi script is in production, and she recently sold her tech company to pursue writing full-time. With over 20 scripts recognized as finalists in Nicholls, Page, Final Draft, and Austin Film, her work shines across genres.
Her young adult novels, Kira and Henry (a 2024 Kindle Book Review Semifinalist) and Wilma Wallaby: Genius Girl Detective, are in development. Sandi also wrote the feature adaptation of Hijacked, based on the true story of Flight 705.
A Cherokee Nation member and 2023 Native American Media Alliance Fellowship winner, Sandi is married to an Italian and enjoys her love for pizza.
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