PHILLIPS – Writer Elizabeth Cooke has spent hours in the last two weeks attempting to untangle a mess of red tape.

Three thousand copies of her book, “Tong Ting Finds a Family,” have been seized by U.S. Customs authorities, according to the author.

The book is an account of the journey of Cooke and her husband, Alan Morse, to adopt Tong Ting, a Chinese girl. Coincidentally, Tong Ting turned 8 years old on Tuesday. Embedded in the book is a children’s version with illustrations by a biology student at the University of Maine at Farmington.

“What started as a joint venture has turned into quite an odyssey,” said Cooke from her home in Phillips.

The book was a joint effort between the American author and a Chinese publisher. The publisher at the last minute reneged on an agreement to distribute the book in China, giving no reason for its decision. The author was disappointed, but glad that the U.S. version went ahead.

But her publishing woes were not over.

Cooke has spoken to several U.S. Customs agents and import brokers. The customs agents have told her that she would be receiving documents explaining the situation within 72 hours. That was Thursday and so far no documents have arrived.

On Tuesday an inspector promised Cooke, “I will not give you the runaround,'” she said. He told her that he is waiting to receive a document from his supervisor explaining the nature of the seizure, she said.

She has been told that the books, for which she has paid the publisher $5,000, may be destroyed.

The issue appears to stem from the dealings of the shipping company which, Cooke says, was barred due to possible “ties with terrorist shippings,” according to customs inspectors. Neither she nor the Sun Journal has been able to verify this conclusively.

Several copies of the book made it safely into the United States via UPS in April, said Cooke – 40 copies that she split with the illustrator.

The author’s 20 original copies have dwindled to eight.

Tears of frustration change to laughter when she jokes that she may set up a stand at the end of her driveway and allow people to read the book, though she will not be able to sell them.

Meanwhile, a copy sits on the counter at Devaney Doak and Garrett Booksellers in Farmington with a sign-up sheet for orders. Sixteen people have ordered 27 books so far.

More than 40,000 Chinese girls have been adopted nationwide and are now U.S. citizens, Cooke said.

“I’ve said, but you don’t understand,’ more times in the last three weeks,” she said. “I feel like the 40,000 children here are being slapped in the face.”

Cooke has contacted U.S. Rep Mike Michaud and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins to appeal for assistance with the matter. Aides in both offices are investigating it. Tim Trafford, an aide for Michaud, attributed the problem to the new homeland security regulations, Cooke said.

It is unclear where the books are now being held, although it appears they are in an examination warehouse in Newark, N.J.

The Sun Journal made several attempts to contact U.S. Customs agents Tuesday.

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