Twelve-year-old Helen Robley believes she is an orphan. She lives with two, kindly adoptive aunts until one day she discovers that the drawings she loves to make become reality. Helen is about to discover she is a “Transartist!” With the help of an enchanted ticket she finds, she is on her way to the East Pole, where she hopes to find her parents. Instead, she meets creatures that she thought existed only the imaginations of children.

The Cupids, Easter Bunnies, and Sand Men are nothing like their stereotypes. And half the Toothfairies are men, their hairy legs sticking out from the denim cutoffs they wear with their T-shirts. Helen watches the Toothfairies roll and cut the chunks silver to create coins for delivery to children on Earth, in exchange for lost teeth. Helen thinks what the Toothfairies do with these collected teeth is gross!

The Cupids are a calculating lot, spending hours practicing archery and studying psychology to determine who falls in love with whom. With beakers and tubes of unusual ingredients, they concoct love potions such as “Love-at-First-Sight,” “Puppy Love,” and “Slow and Gradual,” which they inject into unsuspecting humans.

The “Sandman” is actually hundreds of Sand Men and Sand Gals who sort the grains of sand that bring us our dreams. Chocolate is the specialty of the Easter Bunnies and Dancing Chickens, who work year-round to assemble the Easter baskets for children on Earth.

Helen discovers that the East Pole is her birthplace, but not everyone is happy to see her return. The vain and evil Queen Narcissa believes Helen will fulfill a prediction and grow up to be more beautiful than she. With her legion of menacing Atcas (cats) the Queen tries to capture Helen. It is not beauty, but rather her inner strengths that Helen uses to confront the Queen.

Written as an empowerment novel for girls, Helen the Transartist is also enjoyed by adults, both men and women. The story addresses such issues as math-anxiety, self-esteem, and inner beauty. Over ninety delightful black-and-white illustrations enliven Helen’s journey.

Helen the Transartist is available in Tucson at Antigone Books, www.antigonebooks.com

And at Reader’s Oasis, www.readersoasis.com

The book may also be ordered from any bookstore in the U.S. Ask for author “Stairs-Oberlick,” or title “Helen the Transartist.”

Hi! This is Helen writing. I'm glad you're visiting my web site. I am putting my e-mail address, so you can write to me. I just now got my address and would love to hear from you.

Peace, Helen

helen@helenthetransartist.com

P. S. Alexa Belle the Telefairy is a professional in the field of communication, so she got her e-mail going in August of 2004. Since I just now got my e-mail going, I don't have any questions to answer, but here's what people have been saying about the book:

Linda Cato of Tucson, AZ is a mother of four and a jewelry artist. "I cried when I finished the book. Can I be there when she finds her parents?"

Rachel, a ten-year-old student from Tucson, AZ, who plays the piano and does ballet said, "I thought it was a great book...I could not put it down. My favorite character is Aunt Judy because she is loving and kind to Helen and I think that is very important to have someone like that in life. I wish I knew if Helen finds her parents."

This next opinion comes from Queen Narcissa of the East Pole. "This book is TRASH and a total waste of time. I wish it had never been written. "

David Vandenberg, artist from Tucson commented, "Even though I am a grown man, and not the typical audience, I just had to know what happened to Helen."

This last letter comes from a language teacher. "I loved the book! It is well-written, and the rising action of the plot and characterization illustrate Anita's proficiency, skill, and imagination. The book will be required reading for my sixth-graders, plus a two-page book report." Mrs. Ester the Easter Bunny