Ashland-published ‘My Secret Bully’ rides a hot topic

When Steve Scholl gets around to publishing a children’s book, it’s a book with buzz. "My Secret Bully," by Trudy Ludwig, from Scholl’s new RiverWood Books imprint, has won the attention of authorities around the nation and will apparently land its author on ABC’s popular "Good Morning America" television show.

"We wanted to start with something with some pizzazz," says Scholl, of Ashland. "It’s something (Scholl’s wife) Janice has been keen on. It’s always been in the back of our minds. It just took us 10 years."

Ludwig’s "My Secret Bully" ($15.95), a large-format hardback with illustrations by artist Abigail Marble, is about a little girl named Monica who encounters a bully. Ludwig wrote the book after her daughter was bullied. She sought resource materials and found some for parents, but not for children ages 5 to 11.

Bullying is a hot topic in educational and counseling circles, and "My Secret Bully" comes with cover blurbs from national authorities on the subject, including Susan Wellman, founder and president of the anti-bullying, Ohio-based Ophelia Project, who called it "a touching, inspirational story that instantly draws the young reader into Monica’s world."

Scholl says the book owes its existence in part to timing and luck. Ludwig, of Portland, is a friend of one of Scholl’s authors from White Cloud Press, the Ashland imprint he founded 10 years ago. The two talked about the issue, and the other author told Ludwig to pitch the book to Scholl.

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"It’s not like we were creative geniuses," Scholl says. "It just kind of came to us with high-powered endorsements. These people said they were going to incorporate it into their programs. We both recognized the potential."

The book has a publication date of Feb. 1 and will be in book stores everywhere. An ABC crew is scheduled to interview Ludwig and her daughter in Portland next week, and the feature should air by early February.

Ludwig is slated to take part in celebrations around Medford’s new library in April, then present programs at area schools.

"We’re still working out the details," Scholl says.

In the book, a girl named Monica is upset when her friend Katie is mean to her. Katie never hits. There is no pushing or kicking. Katie whispers about Monica, calls her names, excludes her, laughs at her.

To face such emotional bullying — social scientists call it "relational aggression" — Monica must learn to face her fears of betrayal and social isolation.

Studies say emotional bullying can be as harmful as physical aggression.

"We’re billing her as a mom on a mission," Scholl says of Ludwig.

He says RiverWood has five books in development.

White Cloud was thrust into the national spotlight in 2002 when it published "Approaching the Qur’an: The Early Revelations." When the book wound up on college reading lists, it was targeted by a Christian group that claimed freshmen were being indoctrinated with Islam, and the story made national news.

Another White Cloud book, Helen Colijn’s "Song of Survival," led to author appearances on national television and a movie with Glenn Close.

Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail bvarble@mailtribune.com