Interview with Jackie Wallace, Author of ‘Vinny’s World Tour: An Adventure in Imagination’

An interview about Vinny’s World Tour: An Adventure in Imagination by Jackie Wallace, presented in partnership with The Children’s Book Review.

We sit down with author and life coach Jackie Wallace to talk about Vinny’s World Tour: An Adventure in Imagination and her belief that imagination is the starting point for every dream.

Inspired by her grandson’s boundless curiosity, Jackie Wallace created Vinny’s World Tour: An Adventure in Imagination as both a magical adventure and a meaningful guide for young dreamers. In this conversation, Wallace reflects on observing a child’s fearless sense of wonder, translating lifelong mindset and goal-setting principles into a story for kids, and why imagination is the foundation of confidence and resilience. She also shares the heart behind Vinny’s Secret Map—a creative tradition designed to help families nurture belief, connection, and a legacy of dreaming big together.

Vinny’s World Tour is dedicated to your grandson, Vincent John Price. What moment or quality in Vincent inspired you to build an entire book around his sense of wonder?

Jackie Wallace (JW): Being a grandparent is such a different experience from being a parent. You’re more relaxed. You don’t stress as much; you just observe. I babysit Vinny once a week, and when he comes over, he opens every door, looks in every corner, and explores everything. He is curious about the world in front of him. It made me realize we all had that same sense of wonder at one point, but life slowly teaches us to stop using our imagination. I’ve always believed in vision boards and the power of imagination. It made me wonder, what if Vinny learned how powerful his imagination was at a young age? Would he grow up more confident? More resilient? Those thoughts became the seed for the entire book.

You’ve written six books and are a successful podcaster and entrepreneur. What was different—or perhaps more personal—about writing a children’s picture book compared to your other work?

JW: I now have three children’s books published, and each one comes from a personal life lesson that I wanted to teach my own kids, and now my grandson. Writing a children’s book forces you to simplify powerful ideas into something pure and easy to understand. It’s a harder process for me, but more fun than writing for adults. This book was especially personal because the power of imagination was something I learned to appreciate later in life, but I wanted Vinny to learn it early on and carry it with him his whole life.

You co-authored this book with Jacqueline Marie. What was your collaborative process like, and what did each of you bring to the project?

JW: Jacqueline Marie is my pen name, so the collaboration was really between my creative side and my coaching side (Jackie Wallace). One side dreamed up the story and imagination, and the other made sure the message was clear: that impossible goals begin in the mind. It allowed me to create something meaningful while still keeping the story fun, magical, and relatable for kids.

The book centers on the idea that impossible goals are just waiting to be achieved. As a certified life coach with over 35 years of experience, how did you translate adult goal-setting and mindset principles into a story that resonates with young children?

JW: What holds many adults back isn’t lack of ability, it’s fear. Fear of failure. Fear of embarrassment. Fear of looking foolish. I wanted Vinny’s character to show the opposite. He wasn’t afraid to try. He wasn’t afraid to imagine something bigger. And he shared that joy with others. If we teach kids early that failure is part of success, and that imagination is their greatest gift, I believe they’ll try more things. And the more they try, the more confident they become.

Your personal motto is that “everything is possible,” and you’ve said your superpower is curiosity. How do you see curiosity and imagination working together in a child’s development, and how does Vinny model that in the story?

JW: Curiosity and imagination are the beginning of everything. Every invention, every dream, every goal starts there. If we nurture those qualities when kids are young, they won’t grow up afraid to try new things. Vinny represents that fearless curiosity. He doesn’t question whether something is possible; he just explores. And that mindset is powerful.

Tell us about Vinny’s Secret Map. Where did the concept of a child creating a map powered by imagination come from, and how does it mirror the vision board work you do in your coaching practice?

JW: When my kids were younger, I used to have treasure map birthday parties for them. Kids love treasure maps because they feel like they’re on an adventure. I combined that idea with my love for visionboarding. Vision boards help adults visualize their future adventures. The Secret Map does the same thing for kids; it gives them ownership over their dreams. It becomes their personal journey, their own adventure, fueled by imagination.

You’ve created the Secret Map Challenge as a yearly birthday tradition for families. Can you walk us through how that works and what you hope families will experience when they open that folder at age 18?

JW: Like many parents, we create traditions and keepsakes for our kids. The Secret Map Challenge is a simple yearly tradition where parents help their child create a new secret map on their birthday, and then they save it. Over time, it becomes a collection of their dreams.

My hope is that when Vinny opens those maps at 18, or any milestone birthday, he’ll see more than just drawings. He’ll be reminded of how much his parents believed in him and his dreams. He’ll feel love, support, and encouragement. And I hope that one day, when Vinny is an adult, he’ll continue the tradition with his own kids, continuing the legacy of belief, imagination, and a way to honor his parents, who believed in him first.

What’s next for Vinny—and for you? Can readers expect more adventures, and how do you hope this book will grow into a larger movement around the Secret Map Challenge?

JW: Yes, Vinny will continue exploring new adventures, each one helping him grow into a confident, curious, and resilient young man.

My vision is that the Secret Map becomes more than just a book. I’d love to see families adopt it as a tradition. Because the memories it creates, the conversations it sparks, and the confidence it builds are things money can’t buy. This is how imagination can strengthen family bonds and create family legacies.

About the Book

Vinny’s World Tour: An Adventure in Imagination

Written by Jackie Wallace and Jacqueline Marie

Ages: 5-8 | 56 Pages

Publisher: Independently Published (2025) | ISBN: 979-8282439939

Publisher’s Book Summary: What would you be doing differently if you learned at a young age to go for impossible goals?
What if your child could learn to dream beyond limits?
Would thinking this way help them become more resilient, optimistic, and unstoppable?
Don’t many things seem impossible before someone makes them possible?

Join Vinny, a curious little boy from a small town, as he embarks on a magical adventure, armed with nothing but his imagination and a special art set from his parents. Vinny creates a Secret Map that takes him on exciting journeys, showing him that with creativity, the world is full of endless possibilities. Through fun illustrations and thrilling adventures, kids will learn that their imagination is a powerful tool for dreaming big and achieving impossible goals.

This book doesn’t just tell a story; it empowers! At the end, kids and parents can create their own Secret Map, just like a vision board, making this activity a memorable bonding experience. It’s a perfect way to help children envision their dreams while reminding adults to reconnect with their imagination.

Whether in the classroom or at a birthday party, this book sparks teamwork, creativity, and the belief that nothing is impossible. Let Vinny’s adventure inspire your child to start dreaming and reaching for impossible goals today!

Empower your child to believe that impossible goals are just waiting to be achieved!

Buy the Book

About the Author

Jackie Wallace is a serial entrepreneur, podcaster, and author whose passion for learning through trial and error has consistently driven her to transform obstacles into opportunities. As a business owner and self-starter, she’s passionate about sharing insights with ambitious professionals and spotlighting their unique success stories. To date, she has interviewed over 300 people who took the leap of faith to pursue their passions.

With over 35 years of leadership experience, she is also a certified life coach who helps others gain clarity, build confidence, and move forward with purpose. 

Her professional background includes a B.S. in General Management from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and a Professional Life Coach Certification from the World Coach Institute Inc. 

Above all, Jackie is most proud of being a wife, a mother of three, and the owner of two rescue dogs.

For upcoming releases or more information, you can visit her at www.gamechangercoaching.today or check out her podcast.

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This interview — Interview with Jackie Wallace, Author of ‘Vinny’s World Tour: An Adventure in Imagination’ — was conducted between Jackie Wallace and Bianca Schulze.