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June 26, 2004 — Author Susan Ashlee is seeking illustrators, age 4 to 16, to illustrate an upcoming children?s book dealing with the feelings associated with divorce. Feelings Only I Know helps children identify and deal with the emotions experienced by children whose parents are divorcing, or headed for divorce.

What makes Feelings Only I Know unique is that the storybook is meant to be read together by both the parent, or parents, and their children. The book helps both parents and children recognize a child?s needs during divorce, and helps both effectively cope with those needs. Feelings Only I Know is designed to unify the parent-child relationship during a time when the family unit is being otherwise pulled apart.

According to Ashlee, Feelings Only I Know is a teaching tool to assist children in communicating their feelings and needs to their parents, when they might otherwise go unnoticed during a stressful time. ?By hearing and addressing the child?s needs before, during and after a divorce,? Ashlee said, ?it is a well-documented fact that children carry less emotional baggage into adulthood, and experience fewer problems as a child.?

Ashlee, who is a Pediatric Nurse by profession, as well as an experienced motivational speaker and educator on divorce and single-parenting topics, explained that there exists a real need for a book such as this. ?This is a much-needed book,? said Ashlee, ?since there are very limited resources for younger children in this regard. All too often, children tend to get lost in the shuffle when their parents are going through the trauma of divorce. This book is written primarily for children as a means to tell their parents what they?re feeling. By using children to illustrate it, I?m expecting the illustrations to add a visual expression of what children feel when presented with the emotions associated with divorce.?

Any children interested in illustrating a portion of the book should send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: The Ashlee Corp., 1092 Dartmouth Lane, Waterford, MI 48327. Complete details, including a release form that must be signed by a parent or responsible adult, will be mailed to interested parties. The deadline for submitting illustrations, along with an accompanying release form, is July 30. The author will then select the illustrations that will be used in the book, and notify the selected artists by mail. Compensation will be a mention of the illustrator?s first name and age on the page where the illustration appears.

Feelings Only I Know is slated for release in the Fall of 2004. For questions, send an email to: ashleecorp@aol.com.