Publish Ben's Zipper - Free to Children's Hospital
Donation protected
Ben's Zipper is a touching story of a little elephant and his family going through the difficult process of a childhood heart transplant. This book was written by a mother-daughter team of Susan and Laura. Laura is an occupational therapist who collaborated with her mother, who is the co-writer and illustrator that put the book together. It was written about a friend and his family who were going through the process of a transplant. Susan noticed Ben’s sisters looking on through all of this, and wondered if there were siblings out there that needed help understanding, in a not so scary way, what was going on during this difficult time. It was produced 5 years ago but it never got published.
The publishing industry is very, very competitive and complicated. A children's book that has such a narrow genre forced us to self-publish the book. Working with the Children's Hospital Association that includes 220 hospitals nationwide, COTA is the Children Organ Transplant Association, and UNOS the United Network for Organ Sharing we found the best groups that were the most interested in the book and served the transplant community.
Fast forward to last year when my husband Author Bobo Nikce needed an illustrator for his children's books and we met Sue. Sue is this amazing woman with a great smile and a big heart even though she suffers from a debilitating disease that has her wheelchair-bound and suffering from several health issues. Illustrating is what she was born to do and it gives her great comfort and purpose to do the work. I am the editor for Bobolin Media, working to produce my husband, Bobo's books, and made a commitment to Sue that I would get her book Ben's Zipper published. Learn more about Sue and her work
This is where you come in, none of the groups could sponsor the book because they fundraise, support, and educate the public about transplants. So here I am asking you to help us publish and distribute the books to these organizations. We need roughly $8,000 to print at cost and distribute 1,500 books and to set up a free ebook for those who can't share books because of germs. Books will be distributed in mid-November.
Any additional funds over what we needed for the production and distribution will be split by two thirds between the organizations mentioned in the book and one third to Sue and Laura in order to help keep them producing more therapeutic books for children.
Sadly this is not the end of the story. This summer Sue's husband and Laura's father died in a freak accident while riding his bicycle with friends. Sue and her children made the brave decision to donate Tom's organs and tissue for transplant. After the death of her husband in a tragic bicycle accident, Susan had to leave her home of 34 years and move to an apartment in Madison. This helped make it easier for her 2 loving kids and their spouses to help take care of her daily needs. (The many chores and caretaking that her husband so lovingly did for her as a woman with pretty severe disabilities.)
That is why publishing Ben's Zipper means so much. Please help us with this cause.
The publishing industry is very, very competitive and complicated. A children's book that has such a narrow genre forced us to self-publish the book. Working with the Children's Hospital Association that includes 220 hospitals nationwide, COTA is the Children Organ Transplant Association, and UNOS the United Network for Organ Sharing we found the best groups that were the most interested in the book and served the transplant community.
Fast forward to last year when my husband Author Bobo Nikce needed an illustrator for his children's books and we met Sue. Sue is this amazing woman with a great smile and a big heart even though she suffers from a debilitating disease that has her wheelchair-bound and suffering from several health issues. Illustrating is what she was born to do and it gives her great comfort and purpose to do the work. I am the editor for Bobolin Media, working to produce my husband, Bobo's books, and made a commitment to Sue that I would get her book Ben's Zipper published. Learn more about Sue and her work
This is where you come in, none of the groups could sponsor the book because they fundraise, support, and educate the public about transplants. So here I am asking you to help us publish and distribute the books to these organizations. We need roughly $8,000 to print at cost and distribute 1,500 books and to set up a free ebook for those who can't share books because of germs. Books will be distributed in mid-November.
Any additional funds over what we needed for the production and distribution will be split by two thirds between the organizations mentioned in the book and one third to Sue and Laura in order to help keep them producing more therapeutic books for children.
Sadly this is not the end of the story. This summer Sue's husband and Laura's father died in a freak accident while riding his bicycle with friends. Sue and her children made the brave decision to donate Tom's organs and tissue for transplant. After the death of her husband in a tragic bicycle accident, Susan had to leave her home of 34 years and move to an apartment in Madison. This helped make it easier for her 2 loving kids and their spouses to help take care of her daily needs. (The many chores and caretaking that her husband so lovingly did for her as a woman with pretty severe disabilities.)
That is why publishing Ben's Zipper means so much. Please help us with this cause.
Organizer
Linda Z Nik
Organizer
Milwaukee, WI
