Artemesia Publishing has released Belle's Star a youth novel by Farmington, New Mexico author Connie Gotsch. Written from a dog's point of view, Belle's Star empowers children ages 8 to 12 to build new lives after escaping bullying and abuse or other difficult situations.
Darcy, a spunky soccer playing girl, and her Aunt Ellen rescue Belle from abusive owners and offer her love. Belle has never met a kind human. Living with Darcy terrifies her. Other people and animals, including a cat, teach her about trust. Her adventures with these colorful characters help kids face painful issues.
Award winning joumalist and retired Farmington elementary school counselor Margaret Cheasebro has designed an activities booklet for Belle's Star. The booklet is available in downloadable form upon purchase of the novel from Artemesia Publishing.

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CONTACT
Geoff Habiger
Artemesia Publishing
9 Mockingbird Hill Road
Tijeras New Mexico 87059
E-mail info.artemesiapublishing.com 1-505-286-0892
For Immediate Release

Novel Helps Kids Make Good Life Choices

    Artemesia Publishing has released Belle's Star a youth novel by Farmington, New Mexico author Connie Gotsch. Written from a dog's point of view, Belle's Star empowers children ages 8 to 12 to build new lives after escaping bullying and abuse or other difficult situations.
    Darcy, a spunky soccer playing girl, and her Aunt Ellen rescue Belle from abusive owners and offer her love. Belle has never met a kind human. Living with Darcy terrifies her. Other people and animals, including a cat, teach her about trust. Her adventures with these colorful characters help kids face painful issues.
    Award winning joumalist and retired Farmington elementary school counselor Margaret Cheasebro has designed an activities booklet for Belle's Star. The booklet will be available in downloadable form upon purchase of the novel from Artemesia Publishing.
    The guide can assist in small group counseling and classroom sessions designed to help elementary school students understand abuse and deal with it. Home schooling parents, who like to read and discuss stories with kids, can use the guide. Families and community groups can work on projects that foster strong community ties. Veterinarians, pet store owners, and animal shelter workers can use the guide to promote pet care.
    Belle's Star author Connie Gotsch says, "Black Beauty meets Oliver Twist best describes this book. In an entertaining way, the story empowers children-- especially girls--to make good life choices."
Ms. Gotsch has published two award-winning adult novels. In 2007 she received New Mexico Press Women's Communicator of Achievement Award. She holds an Ed.D in Leadership and Policy Studies with an emphasis on educational media from Northern Illinois University, and works in public radio.
    To learn more about Belle's Star contact Artemesia Publishingat info.artemesiapublishing.com or 1-505-286-0892.                        
Why are Bullying and Abuse Important to Combat?

According to Childhelp, a nationwide resource for abused children and their caregivers, 4 children  a day died of abuse in 2006.  That’s 1,500 for the year.  An estimated 906,000 American children were victims of abuse and neglect.  Three-million cases of child abuse were reported.  See www.childhelp.org

The  UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre reports that child abuse leads to 3,500 annual deaths in developed nations. The American rate of death from abuse are 10-15 times higher than European countries.

 According to a 2003 Nevada Survey, an estimated 906,000 children were determined to be victims of child abuse and neglect in the United States. This equates to a victimization rate of 12.4 per 1,000 children in the population.

According to the same study, approximately 2.9 million referrals concerning the welfare of an estimated 5.5 million children were made to child protective service agencies.

Animal Abuse Relates to Human Abuse

In a New Jersey study of families reported for child abuse, in 88 percent of these families at least one person had abused animals. Studies by Ascione and Quinlisk reported 74 percent of women in several shelters in Wisconsin and Utah said that their abuser had threatened, injured, or killed a companion animal.


Excerpt from Belle’s Star

    Buster is Darcy’s other dog, and Painter belons to Ant Ellen. Bonehead and toby are Belle’s abusers

    Darcy screamed.
    He flung dirt at her mouth.
    The hair on my scruff rose. How dare he do that?
    Water churned. Painter popped up with Buster on his shoulders. Buster gagged and gulped. Painter supported him. Big Toby hurled another rock at them.
    Bonehead snatched Darcy’s free hand. “I’ll throw you in the lake,” he growled.
    She couldn’t fight him forever. I had to take a risk and help her. But what in dog heaven could I do?
    Misty spat in Bonehead’s direction. “If I had claws...” she hissed, teeth gleaming against her gums.
    I looked at the white points. An idea exploded in my mind. “Misty! Could you hang on to a person’s clothes with your teeth?”
    “I suppose. Why?” She stared at me.
    “Then we’ll both attack Big Toby and Bonehead. They won’t be able to help each other. Maybe Darcy, Painter, and Buster can run.”
    She arched her back. “You think that will work?”
    “I’ve no idea. But we’ve got to try. Come on.”

Sample Discussion Questions Chapter 13

    Have you ever had to come to the defense of someone who was being         mistreated?
          If so, how did you feel about it?
 
     Belle used her herding skills to help save Darcy.  Everyone has at least one  skill they can use to help others.
          What is one skill that you have?
 
    In school there are rules about not fighting.
          Is there ever a time when it’s okay to fight?