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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