Show Your Emotions; Two Books With One Goal

Hello!

My name is Kate Ramirez, I am an artist, and I have written and illustrated two books. The books have been gathering virtual dust in my computer for a few years now, but with your help, I plan to liberate one by Christmas and the other soon after (nothing concentrates the mind like a deadline!).

The first (for ages 18 and up) deals with the very dark and, sadly, increasingly common illness of depression. The second (for ages 2-6) is all about naming and knowing your emotions. Although they were created for very different audiences, the point of the books is the same; understanding and being able to share your emotions (those ever-present sensations that have such an extraordinary impact on everyone's lives) is crucial for maintaining the health and equilibrium of your mind.

The books:

Bleak & Blue: Rendering the Inexpressible Devastation of Depression with a Paintbrush, is an illustrated book of 17 symptoms of depression, along with the tale of the drawings and my long path through the illness. Using the revelatory power of images, it delivers instant, clear, universally accessible insight into the devastating effects of the disease. While millions of words have been written about depression, Bleak & Blue offers a new way to look into the minds of those fighting the illness, and in doing so, it provides them, and those who love them, an invaluable tool to understand and be understood.

Angry to Zany: and All the Feelings in Between, is a seek-and-find/ABC book that illustrates a different emotion (and many objects) for each letter of the alphabet. Through facial expressions and rhyme, it teaches children to recognize, understand and name their feelings, and encourages them to voice what they are feeling loudly and often.

My ultimate goal is to make the books a central part of a tool kit and presentation for school staff and other group organizations who are having to find ways to understand and deal with the dramatic rise in depression rates among the young people in their care.

Your donations will enable me to pause my monthly mad scramble for work long enough to finish the books. Donations will cover the cost of getting the books edited & formatted; Angry to Zany uploaded to the Kindle Direct Publishing site by Christmas; constructing a website; starting the presentation, and uploading Bleak and Blue in the new year. They will also cover the cost of the ISBNs needed for both books in each format (digital and print-on-demand).

Thanks so much for your support!

Donations $150 and above will receive a copy of both books.