Karl Stefanovic’s ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn says their divorce inspired her children’s book

Karl Stefanovic’s ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn reveals how her divorce from the host inspired her to publish a children’s book.

Cassandra Thorburn has released her very first children's book.

Today host Karl Stefanovic’s ex-wife has revealed how her painful divorce from the breakfast TV personality helped inspire her to publish first children’s book.

Cassandra Thorburn and Mr Stefanovic split in 2016 and have three children together. The former journalist told The Australian Women’s Weekly last month that the Nine star was “dead to her”.

Ms Thorburn appeared on rival network Channel 7’s Morning Show today to spruik her children’s book Leo Lion’s BIG Bed! in her first television interview.

Ms Thorburn said writing children’s books has been an ambition she held since she had studied under celebrated author Mem Fox in university.

The profits from sales of the book will go to Relationships Australia, a counselling service for families going through divorce that focuses on the wellbeing of children.

When asked why she had chosen a divorce focused charity, Ms Thorburn said it was the “perfect thing”.

“I just thought it was a really perfect thing for us to put all profits there because it’s important to me,” she said. “It’s part of what my children and I have been through that led to me writing a children’s book with Cara.”

Ms Thorburn co-authored the book with her friend Cara Campbell. The former journalist said that the divorce had been “challenging” for her children.

“I think everyone knows that separating and divorce is particularly challenging for the children,” she said. “You know especially it being so public probably wasn’t perfect.”

Ms Thorburn said while it was inevitable she would turn to children’s publishing, her experience of divorce had pushed her to actually do it.

“The process would have been the same, it just would have been a different journey getting to that point,” she said. “So I don’t think it had anything to do with what we went through, but it certainly gave me a real reason to actually publish it as a book so the profits could go on and assist other families.”

Mr Stefanovic held a commitment ceremony with his new partner Jasmine Yarbrough in March this year.