My First Book

Today is a 4-year culmination of learning, writing, and editing my very first book.

I’m Glad I Was Adopted: A Journey to Wholeness and Faith releases today, May 5th on Amazon. My publisher, Indie Christian Book, is a phenomenal group of exceptionally skilled professionals who published my writing. They make authors look really good.

My inspiring writing coach, Jeff Miller says that of authors who start writing a book, only 1% will actually finish. I’m in that 1% and yes, I’m proud of myself.

The subject of my book is adoption and searching for my birth family. But as I like to say, but wait, there’s more. I’ve been told you may relate to parts of my story even if you aren’t adopted.

Perhaps you have a family member, friend, co-worker or neighbor who should read this book. Not just because it was written by me, but because I believe it has a message that shares a variety of inspiring stories and perspectives on adoption.

Family and friends have asked about my book cover, designed by Tia Rigsby, featuring a black and white photo of my mother bringing me home from the hospital when I was 3 days old. Yes, that is me wrapped in the blanket. Imagine for a moment the love and joy my parents felt arriving home with their new daughter. Mom had suffered through several miscarriages, and my adoption finally made them a family. She loved and cared for me with her whole heart until the day she passed from this earth.

When I located my birth family 22 years ago, it was exciting to meet these relatives, but I decided to keep all of it confidential from my mom. I knew she wouldn’t be able to handle my search for my birth family, and I would never do anything intentional to hurt her.

My birth mom was already deceased when I found them, and Aunt Ardith, her younger sister was the matriarch of the family. She welcomed me with open arms. Even though she kept me secret for fifty years, my arrival to the rest of the family was quite a surprise. Immediately including me in large family gatherings at her home in St. Petersburg, I learned of my Scottish heritage, and enjoyed attending special events such as the Robert Burns Dinner with my aunt and cousins.

Most important was the love and warmth my aunt and her partner Norval expressed as our relationship grew over the years. Hearing stories about my birth mom and her relatives began to paint a broader picture of a family I was genetically related to and yet had not been a part of their existence. I was thankful to begin piecing together questions that had lingered for years in the back of my mind.

Key to developing my writing has been this blog along with my weekly writing class. My cohorts have offered their sincere thoughts and advice to my writing efforts. To my readers I greatly appreciate each of you who take a few minutes each week to read my posts here on Substack.

We authors become better writers the more we write, honing our skill as story tellers. We attempt to touch your heart, make you ponder, or pass on important heirloom stories to our children, grandchildren and other readers.

Thank you in advance for purchasing and reading my first book, I’m Glad I Was Adopted.