Nessie and Her Tisms A Little Book About a Friend With Autism.

In December 2016, a few days before Christmas, Denise's daughter Harper was diagnosed with Autism. Harper was just two years old at the time. In that moment, as a million questions and fears raced through her mind, one thought in particular came to the forefront of all the others; she just wanted people, other children especially, to understand her daughter. That thought resonated with her as the days, weeks, and months passed. And soon, that thought became a mission and that mission became this book, "Nessie and Her Tisms."Denise Sullivan Near is a Children's book author who turns her first-hand experience with her sweet little girl into a fun, very simply written, educational picture book. Through "Nessie and Her Tisms," Denise teaches young children about some of the unique behaviors of children on the spectrum by nurturing their natural curiosity.

Ashley Holden Hammond is an illustrator, graphic designer, brand strategist, commercial artist and muralist. She holds a Bachelors from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh and has over 15 years of professional experience with multiple awards for design and fine art. Her paintings and caricatures have been printed and displayed in a variety of galleries and publications throughout the country. She lives in Hagerstown, Maryland with her husband Dustin, three sons (Dustin, Johnny and Dante) and two dogs. This is her first children's book but not the last.