"Sheila RiZing" was originally self-published with illustrations by a team of fifth and sixth grade students from my former elementary school in 1998 under a different title.

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In October 2025, at the Join the Journey conference in Saratoga Springs, New York, I connected with Chris Cooley of Cooley Comics—an encounter that opened the door for this story to reach a new generation.

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Over the years, this story has supported thousands of students, offering a gentle and meaningful way to explore love, loss, and perseverance while building social-emotional awareness, resilience, and tools for navigating grief.

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With deep gratitude, I thank Chris, illustrator Lanz Ambrosio, and Cooley Comics for their vision, care, and commitment to reawakening this work.