KEY BISCAYNE, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/26/07 -- A SLICE OF HEAVEN might sound like a scrumptious piece of pie, but it's actually a new novel that delves into the heartache of eating disorders -- and the hope for recovery. The poignant story by former entertainment journalist Sherryl Woods, about a teenaged girl who almost dies from anorexia, goes on sale February 27 during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

"With high profile celebrities suffering from eating disorders and the media-induced frenzy to be thin, the importance of openly discussing eating disorders has never been greater," Woods emphasized from her Key Biscayne, FL home. "Since this is a commercial women's fiction novel, with nationwide distribution, I'm hoping Annie's story will spark dialogue among teens and their parents about the life-threatening nature of eating disorders."

In book two in Woods' Sweet Magnolias trilogy for MIRA Books, teenager Annie Sullivan lands in the hospital, seriously malnourished, with a weakened heart. As in many real-life cases, Annie reacts to her parents' divorce by controlling the one thing she can: her food intake. Conversely, mother Dana Sue is a borderline diabetic, who uses food as a comfort mechanism, creating her own health problems.

Woods said despite intensive research, she didn't appreciate the complexity of an eating disorder, its dangers and the difficulty in managing it until speaking with specialists at The Childrens' Hospital in Denver.

"This is not a problem to be ignored or wished away," Woods said, "especially with younger and younger girls developing self-image issues and resolving them with extreme eating behaviors such as anorexia or bulimia."

Woods, who just earned a #25 ranking on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list with STEALING HOME, is doing her part to combat some of these issues. She has created an online readers forum called Tips from the Corner Spa, on www.sherrylwoods.com. The forum is a place to discuss health and fitness issues and to share tips that have helped others.

Emphasizing that she is not a healthcare professional, Woods said suggestions found in the forum should be run past someone who is before the tips are incorporated into a diet or exercise program.

For more information on symptoms, warning signs, health consequences and treatment options for eating disorders, visit the National Eating Disorders Awareness website, www.edap.org.

For a review copy of A SLICE OF HEAVEN, contact Nancy Berland Public Relations, 800-308-3169, kmiller@nancyberland.com.

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