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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