All proceeds from sales of the book,“The Secret in the Clouds,” to benefit Hospice work
“The Secret in the Clouds” is an uplifting new children’s book written by Tallahassee power couple, Ron Sachs, a nationally respected communications consultant, Gay Webster-Sachs, a licensed mental health counselor. The book aims to help young children deal with grief and loss associated with family members taken by the COVID-19 virus. The story combines positive mental health principles, a little bit of science, and some magical fantasy. It is brought to life with beautiful original water-color illustrations by Nancy Simons Sica, with a dramatic layout designed by her husband, Aurelio Sica.
“We’re very proud to have conceived and created this simple but important story to help children everywhere cope with the hardest thing in the world: losing a loved one, “ said Ron Sachs. “We dedicate the book to all children, whose sights ought to be uplifted with hope, imagination, love, beauty, inspiration, and faith in today and tomorrow.”
The central character is Sunny Albright, an imaginative seven-year-old girl, whose entire routine and life are dramatically disrupted by the impact of the pandemic on her family and community. As Sunny confronts the pain associated with losing a loved one, she also loses her energy and imagination. She learns how to process her grief with the help of her family and a mental health professional – and some fictional heavenly cloud characters appear in her sleep to also help restore her to a healthier place.
“The Secret in the Clouds” story is especially close to Webster-Sachs’ heart, as she suffered the loss of her father when she was only 10 years old. She has dedicated her life to helping others, especially children, cope with the pain of losing a loved one — as a mental health counselor specializing in hospice care.
She says the book provides important messages for parents about helping children learn how to accept loss as a part of life. “Too many adults believe that not talking about loss with children is the best way to protect them from continuing pain, but just the opposite is true,” said Webster-Sachs. “Open and honest communication helps children express their feelings and trusts them with the facts and truth about death being a part of all lives, for people and animals. It is the proper way to help them navigate such difficult and traumatic events.”
The Sachs family is directing all their profits and proceeds from the book’s sale to Tallahassee-based Big Bend Hospice – to help fund the organization’s important mission work.
“Helping children through loss and grief can be confusing and challenging for anyone, and without guidance children are very likely to struggle,” said Paul A. Ledford, President and CEO of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association. “With its powerful plotline and lovely illustrations, The Secret in the Clouds serves as a valuable tool in opening deeper conversations with young children about death, loss, grief and how to get through it in a mentally healthy way.”
“The Secret in the Clouds” is available for purchase online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble – in hardcover and ebook editions, or online at Midtown Reader.
Click here to download images from the book.
