Exploring Adoption

Links for 2009-07-10 [del.icio.us]

2009-07-11T00:00:00-07:00

7 Free Twitter Backgrounds to Download and Customize
Want to personalize your Twitter account with a semi-custom background? You can add your image and some sidebar info to these 7 backgrounds.
Athletes, teams fans embrace social networking
Everyone seems to be tweeting and Facebooking, even professional athletes. Find out who's who in the world of athletic social networking.

Links for 2009-07-09 [del.icio.us]

2009-07-10T00:00:00-07:00

Employers Trim Adoption Benefits and Other Perks of the Boom Era - WSJ.com
The number of employers providing adoption benefits decreased to 10 percent this year, while adoption costs continued to rise. Educational article in the Wall Street Journal.
Need Cheap Marketing? Consider Twitter
Basic ideas for how businesses can use Twitter
5 reasons Facebook is better than Twitter for your business
I'm not sure whether I agree which is better for business: Facebook or Twitter... it's kind of like comparing apples and oranges, since the platforms function so differently. I use both and prefer the ease of Twitter. I recommend trying both and seeing which works best for you.
5 Things Small Businesses Can Learn From Big Business Social Media Campaigns
Practical tips for businesses -- large and small -- who are developing and implementing a social media strategy. Note: BloggingBistro.com specializes in helping businesses with social media marketing. If you need a blog, Twitter, or Facebook, feel free to contact us.

Links for 2009-07-08 [del.icio.us]

2009-07-09T00:00:00-07:00

8 Common & Critical Small Business Website Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make
Your business Web site is your hub -- the pivot point for all your marketing. In this article, Dawud Miracle offers some practical, helpful tips about how to use your Web site effectively as a marketing tool for your biz.
Why your blog needs a comments policy
Literary agent, Rachelle Gardner, discusses why she decided to include a Comments Policy on her blog, and she shares her policy with readers. My advice to business and personal bloggers: Develop a simple, straightforward comments policy. If visitors know your rules, they're more likely to play by them.
135 Ways to Tweet
An ever-growing list of ideas of what to tweet about.

A Birthmom's Perspective: Adoption Will Always Hurt, But it Doesn't Have to be a Curse

2009-07-08T06:00:00-07:00

This guest column, "Remembering the Reason," will help adoptive parents understand adoption from the perspective of a birth mom. Reprinted from the BirthMom Buds Bulletin, July 2009, with permission from BirthMom Buds and the author, Brie M.

There are many reasons why an expectant mother makes an adoption plan for her baby. At the top of the list is usually the desire for her baby to have a better life than she is able to provide at that time in her life. In the open adoptions of today, the birthmother looks through many profiles to find just the right couple to provide the best life possible for the baby. The adoptive family is chosen, and the birthmother places the care of her little on in the hands of this family.

Immediately after placement, amidst the millions of emotions they are experiencing, many birthmothers may wonder if they made the right decision.

Was adoption really the best decision?
How could it have been if it hurts so badly?

Time goes on, and this attitude may stick with the birthmom. Then, the updates aren’t on time. As much as we try not to let it happen, our minds start racing.

Why didn’t they send a letter or pictures?
How could they be so insensitive?
Is my baby ok?

Often times, it could just be that life has gotten hectic and busy for the adoptive parents delaying their contact but sometimes, life throws us a curveball: the adoptive parents get a divorce, one of the adoptive parents passes away, or the adoptive parents have or adopt another baby. Contact either stops or slows down immensely.

Again, we find ourselves questioning the value of adoption. How could someone voluntarily put themselves through so much pain?

As irrational as some of this might seem, it happens. It is very easy to get caught up in everything that goes “wrong” or rather does not go exactly as we planned. It is hard to wake up every morning with a little piece of our hearts missing. Watching as friends and family take their little bundles of joy home or watching little kids play with their parents is like a punch in the stomach. As happy as we are for others there is always that little twinge of jealousy or sadness. There are reminders everywhere of what we are missing out on because we chose to place a child for adoption. Sometimes it feels like adoption has left us with an irreparable sadness.

What would happen though, if when we started having those feelings, we thought back to the initial reason for placing a child for adoption? In the midst of the sadness can you remember what that was? It was so that your child would have the best possible life.

Yes, it is painful not to be with our children each day, but for many of us this is what we chose. As birthmothers we put our child’s needs before our own. The minute we become mothers, life is no longer about us; it is about our child. By signing our rights away, we agreed to learn to cope with this pain so that our child could be with the family who could offer him or her everything they deserve. It will always hurt, but it doesn’t have to be a curse. We could choose to try and focus on the good of adoption.

So how then do we learn to focus on the positive aspects of adoption?

Make a list of the reasons that you placed your baby for adoption, paying special attention to what was in your child’s best interest.

Try to identify all of the ways your choice has opened up opportunities for your child.
Acknowledge the amazing blessing that you gave the adoptive family.
Make a list of all of the nice things the adoptive parents have done for you (pictures, letter, cards, nice e-mails etc.).
Give back to the adoption community! Share your experiences with others. Support others in the BirthMom Buds forums, consider mentoring women who are pregnant and considering adoption through the pregnant and placing program, or write for the BirthMom Buds Newsletter.
Contact your adoption agency and offer to help them with adoption expos, potential adoption parent training, or speaking to other birthmoms in your community.

Adoption is not always easy and there will be days that we dislike adoption and don’t want to think of the positives, but when we try to concentrate on the positive aspects of adoption, we are reminded of the real reason we chose to place, and how blessed we are to have found such amazing parents for our children.

BirthMom Buds provides peer counseling, support, encouragement, and friendship to pregnant women considering adoption as well as to women who have placed children for adoption.

Contact them:
http://www.birthmombuds.com/
http://www.birthmom-buds.blogspot.com/
birthmombuds@gmail.com
Toll free number 1-877-790-417

Resources for White Parents Adopting African American Children

2009-07-06T20:51:41-07:00

A reader named Ron – who’s a new adoptive grandpa – writes:

My daughter and her husband have adopted an African American baby. My wife and I are both elated to have a grand-daughter. We want to do the right things so she, as an African American will be fine being adopted by a Caucasian family. We love her dearly but love may not take care of everything.

Can you suggest any books or organizations that positively deal with this family structure?

My reply:

Ron, it’s great that you are so conscientious and supportive of your daughter and her husband’s new family structure.

I recommend visiting Bridge Communications. Michelle Hughes is an expert at helping multiracial adoptive families. When I met her at the Ours Through Adoption Conference in Green Bay, WI this spring, she said, “I teach white parents how to raise black children.” That’s putting it bluntly, but it describes what Michelle does.

My book, The Adoption Decision, includes a chapter about transracial adoption, with stories from new adoptive families who are experiencing the challenges and joys. The chapter also mentions several resources for helping families work through transracial adoption.

One of my favorite books about transracial adoption is Black Baby, White Hands, a memoir by Jaiya John.

My Adoption Bookstore (from Amazon) lists many other adoption books I’ve read and enjoyed.

Readers, how about you? What resources, books, or organizations about trans-racial adoption have you found helpful?

Links for 2009-07-01 [del.icio.us]

2009-07-02T00:00:00-07:00

5 Uncommon Ways Your #Business Can Use Twitter
My clients frequently ask me: How will using Twitter and other social media help my business? This brief article introduces business owners to 5 practical ways they can use twitter to boost their business. I believe in creating a social media strategy -- it helps keep you focused on WHY you're using social media and how it's going to benefit your prospects, customers, and of course, your business. Contact me at www.bloggingbistro.com if you need help creating a social media strategy.

Links for 2009-06-30 [del.icio.us]

2009-07-01T00:00:00-07:00

OPEN Forum by American Express OPEN | | What’s a Dry Cleaner Doing on Twitter?
In this interesting interview with the owner of a dry cleaning shop, we learn that even small business owners in small niche markets can develop a Twitter presence. It's all about strategy, baby. Learn how here.

Links for 2009-06-29 [del.icio.us]

2009-06-30T00:00:00-07:00

Twittering adds up to home sales - Lansner on Real Estate - OCRegister.com
Why real estate agents should use Twitter.
Want to save money on your vacation? Hit up the blogs
The power of independent travel/vacation blogs.

Links for 2009-06-20 [del.icio.us]

2009-06-21T00:00:00-07:00

OPEN Forum by American Express OPEN | | The New PR: How to Write Effective Press Releases in the Age of Twitter
5 tips for writing optimized (SEO) press releases

New Online Adoption Magazine Debuts

2009-06-17T05:00:00-07:00

Weaving Families Adoption Ministry debuted its free online magazine this month.

RJ Caswell, Exective Director of the North Carolina-based ministry, writes:

Our mission is providing adoption counseling, education, and comfort throughout the lifelong journey of adoption. We felt the magazine "fit" with education and comfort, but we wanted it to be more than just an adoption magazine.

Many churches are moving to orphan care and adoption ministries (we help start ours) and we know so many families who adopt want to be able to support orphan care ministries. So, the magazine was born. We wanted to include adoption education and personal adoption stories as well as ministries who are serving vulnerable children and families.

The summer issue (35 pages) is packed with articles, including:

A column from author Kristen Wong
An inside look at international adoption, from the perspective of the director of a child placing agency
Hope for parents of children with difficult backgrounds
Hints for affording adoption

The second issue comes out in September. RJ welcomes suggestions for articles and says, "We hope folks that read the magazine will find comfort and inspiration."

Camp for Adopted Teens Aug 28-30

2009-06-16T06:00:00-07:00

Cindy Bigelow, founder and director of CHOSEN International, alerted me to the following:

Christian camp designed especially for teens, adopted at any age, both domestic and international.

Dates: August 28-30

Place: Eagle Fern Camp (near Portland, Oregon)

Camp theme: "The Father Heart of God,” and finding your identity in who God says you are

Speakers: Adult adoptees, including:

Kim Deardorff, a musician from Nashville who was found in a garbage dump as a baby in Korea. He just finished touring with some of Christian music's top artists on the Winter Jam Tour.
Stephanie Fast, an internationally-known speaker whose story is one of Focus on the Family's most requested broadcasts ever (I’ve heart Stephanie speak; she’s amazing).
Michael Froke, who was in foster care and never adopted. He now is an adoptive dad, and leads a large recovery ministry in Southern Oregon.

Cost: $100, which includes a popular CHOSEN hoodie. Some partial scholarships are available through Chosen. Also, some churches are paying the tuition for teens from their church to attend.

CHOSEN board member (and popular adoption author/speaker) Sherrie Eldridge has said:

"Something extraordinary happens when adoptees connect with one another, a reassurance of being understood, an unspoken bond, a feeling of camaraderie, a sense of belonging..."

Cindy writes:

The adult adoptees that we have as speakers have an incredible way of relating to the teens…they help them process many of the emotions related to feelings of abandonment, rejection, shame and loss by sharing the way God has taken them through these feelings to claim their inheritance from Him.

For more info and to download a registration form, visit the Events page at www.choseninternational.org.

CHOSEN International is a faith based nonprofit organization providing educational, emotional and spiritual support to teen adoptees and their parents.

Becoming a Multi-Ethnic Family

2009-06-15T16:09:28-07:00

By Beckie Stewart
Guest Columnist

In her book, The Adoption Decision, Laura Christianson writes:

“When Caucasian families adopt children of a different ethnicity, they become a minority family.”

When I read this statement, it took me back to the journey our family made to receive this honorary status.

My husband and I were raised in families in which racist comments arose on a regular basis. Our adoption agency informed us that we had a high chance of being matched with a Eurasian daughter with our selection of Kazakhstan. A deep concern plagued me, especially as we waited for that first glance of our daughter. I later discovered that my fears regarding our family’s feelings were unmerited. Both sides of our family received our daughter with open arms.

Quite honestly, I had my own struggles in our choice to adopt a different ethnicity—struggles which had nothing to do with prejudice. The conflict within me focused on the attention I anticipated our daughter would receive due to her appearance compared to the rest of the family.

I feared constant questions and intrusion about her adoption. I dreaded people asking about the cost, but more then that, the continual focus on her being adopted.

I didn’t intend on withholding information about her adoption, but I feared the ceaseless reminder might cause insecurity and problems for her. I conquered some of this apprehension by helping her feel proud about being born in Kazakhstan and talking freely with her about it.

I also wondered how she would feel if someone accused us of not being her parents? While leaving an establishment with her at 18 months old, I received questions about her being my child. My daughter wouldn’t identify me as her mother, but thankfully, my friend with me did. I discovered from that episode the importance in carrying an identification card for her. I never leave home without it now.

I found that admitting my own inner battle to others eased my concerns and helped me see that others wrestled with the same issues. My daughter has been with us for a little over three years now, and I’m proud to be considered her mother—and a minority family.

Beckie Stewart is a regular guest columnist on Exploring Adoption. She also blogs at www.godsgraciousgems.blogspot.com

Get Ready for Father’s Day Frosty Weekend

2009-06-10T06:00:00-07:00

In keeping with the tradition that Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas started, Wendy’s has a mix of happenings this Father’s Day season where proceeds will be donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

At FrostyCard.com, kids can create a free, custom Father’s Day e-card or select a pre-designed card created by a celebrity. Wendy’s will donate 25¢ to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for every card sent.

And, over Father’s Day Weekend (June 20-21), Wendy’s will donate 50¢ from every Frosty sold to the DTFA. There are two new Frosty flavors – Frosty-cino & Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty.

Here are some members of the Christianson clan enjoying Frostys last Father's Day:

Will Anti-Depressant Use Keep You From Adopting?

2009-06-09T06:00:00-07:00

One of my readers, R., is planning to adopt from Kazakhstan as a single parent. She's been going through a stressful time lately, and has been taking an anti-depressant for a couple of months.

R. heard that Kazakhstan does not allow for any history of taking anti-depressants. R. writes:

Now I am really worried that I may have just ruined my chances of adopting from Kaz.

What should I do? If it’s only been a couple of months, can I just get off the medication and ask the social worker to not mention it in my dossier so I can adopt?

What do people typically do in this situation?

R: You may be surprised at how many people ask this question. You're not alone in wondering whether your use of an anti-depressant may hinder your chances of adopting.

Each country from which people adopt has its own set of rules and regulations. Some of them play fast and loose with the regulations; others adhere to them like glue. And, of course, the adoption regulations in many countries change faster we can keep up with them.

Your best course of action is to find an adoption agency or adoption professional that specializes in adoptions from Kazakhstan and ask them about the current regulations regarding anti-depressant use.

If you're considering adopting from Kazakhstan, join a support group or discussion group (either online or in your community) of parents who have adopted from that country and pepper them with questions. Parents who have recently adopted from a particular country are some of the best resources you'll find for gathering information.

After you've selected an agency to work with, be sure to disclose your use of anti-depressants. Your caseworker will help you determine what options are available to you.

Readers, please chime in with your advice! Would especially love to hear recommendations for online Kazakhstan support/discussion groups.

Potty Training Gone Wild

2009-06-08T06:00:00-07:00

By Debbie Jansen
Guest Columnist

Recently, I approached church moms with this question, “How do you plan to potty train your child?” The answers were both astonishing and alarming.

“We believe in natural training. I plan to skip diapers and go to normal clothes. When he gets tired of the smell and being wet, he’ll figure it out.”

“I’m not going to let it rule my life. If he can’t do it right, he’ll be punished.”

“I found a neat book that says I can give her diuretics and put her in a locked bathroom.”

“I researched it thoroughly online. The best way is to make him stay in the bathroom until it’s completed. I’m going to put a crib mattress and TV in the bathroom. We aren’t going to leave until he gets the idea.”

“I’m so frustrated. I’ve had her in pull-ups for 18 months. She isn’t getting the idea and I want to scream.”

All of the above ideas can be damaging to your child because they don’t consider all the factors that make up potty training. The thought process, bodily functions, mental capabilities, social gratification and self-esteem of your child must all play a role in potty training.

For the first time in your child’s life, he/she must learn a new task and transfer that task from the subconscious to the conscious. Instead of a subconscious act, they must think ahead and plan for the future. In place of no thoughts, he must understand that waiting until the last minute could mean soiled clothes. Instead of enjoying play dates without concerns, she must now think about her appearance.

That’s a huge task for such a little body and inexperienced mind. There’s good news! Potty training is easy and can be done in one day. All it takes is a little planning, an understanding of your child’s needs and a lot of love.

**If you are facing this daunting task, I encourage you to get my 16-page booklet, Potty Training in One Day. This booklet will help you train your child as you build your relationship. Go to www.debbiejansen.com and click on Resources.

Debbie Jansen is the author of Discipline Exposed: Surviving Fried Worms and Flying Mudballs.

Visit her blogs at:

New Georgia Law: Embryo Adoption an Official Type of Adoption

2009-06-03T06:00:00-07:00

Up until now, embryo adoption has not been governed by the laws of any state. That changes July 1, 2009, with Georgia's "Option of Adoption Act."

Michael Foust writes in the Christian Examiner:

"The bill (which was passed by the House 108-61 and the Senate 45-9, and signed by Governor Sonny Perdue) amends Georgia's adoption laws to make clear that embryo adoption in fact is a form of adoption.

The law also allows adoptive parents to file in court for a final order of adoption (for the child who is born as the result of the embryo adoption), which supporters of the new law say clarifies that the adopting parents are eligible for claiming some but not all of their expenses for the federal adoption tax credit..."

The new law defines an embryo as "an individualized fertilized ovum of the human species from the single-cell stage to eight-week development."

The law states: "A child born to a recipient intended parent as the result of embryo relinquishment ... shall be presumed to be the legal child of the recipient intended parent."

In the other 49 states, couples participating in an embryo adoption must sign private legal contracts that treat the embryo as property.

If a Birth Mom Uses Drugs/Alcohol During Her First Trimester, Will the Baby be Damaged?

2009-06-02T06:00:00-07:00

One of my readers writes:

We are in the adoption process and have been matched with a prospective birth mom who is due in August. We found out she took drugs and drank during the first trimester.

I'm sure it is possible the baby is just fine and won't show adverse effects, but it is just as possible that that she will, and it could be something that doesn't show up for a while.

The prospective birth mom says that she is not currently taking any drugs, but has still had alcohol a couple of times.

This mom-to-be would love to hear from others who have dealt with similar situations. I don't have much experience in this area, so if you can offer her some helpful advice, statistics, or resources where she can get more information, that would be great

Communicating by Hand in Kazakhstan

2009-06-01T06:00:00-07:00

By Beckie Stewart
Guest Columnist

The winter of 2005 proved to be the most frigid winter in fifty years in the northeastern land of Kazakhstan. Within minutes of being outside, the cold promised to sap the breath out of those who walked in its domain.

Nestled 700 kilometers southeast of Omsk, Russia, the city of Semipalatinsk's temperatures dropped below forty degrees Celsius at night. The opportunity to learn about the region our daughter was born in was kept to day when sunlight warded off the worst of the bone-chilling weather.

One particular afternoon following our visit with our daughter-to-be at the orphanage, my husband decided to finish up our souvenir shopping before returning to the apartment. I remained in the van with our driver, Pasha. A communication barrier loomed between us as neither one of us spoke anything but a few sporadic words of the other's language.

After my husband and the translator left, Pasha nodded his head, peeked through the rearview mirror at me, and gave a grin that displayed jagged spaced teeth with portions of silver and tan. He rocked his head back and forth and pointed to the two men. Wrapping his arms around his body, he chattered his teeth. With his voice raised at the end of his sentence, I knew he asked me a question.

Nodding my head, I circled my finger around the side of my head and said, “Yes. They are crazy. I have no desire to be out there.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes. We watched cars scurrying up and down the street. Some cars parked, and those dressed in proper winter gear exited out and preceded toward the outdoor shopping bazaar. This place with the best bargains for traditional Kazakhstan kitchenware as well as clothing provided safety from the frosty weather with only a tent covering.

Tugging the flaps of his hat, Pasha pointed to the various men and women who walked by in their long mink coats. He shook his head, “No,” as he pointed to his head, the others, and then at me. I understood by now that one wears a head covering under all circumstances, but especially during these severe weather conditions. I learned that the men wore either a mink tundra hat or a leather beret. The women wore fur hats that resembled a huge ball of animal hair. Regardless of the style, each hat included flaps so the ears were protected from the icy winds sweeping through them.

“I was too hot in here to keep my hat on,” I said. I waved my hand in front of my face, stuck out my tongue, and panted like a thirsty dog. Pasha laughed and turned down the heat and reached to touch my head. Not wishing to offend him in anyway, I put my hat back on.

“How do the ladies walk in those boots?” I asked Pasha as I lifted up my foot and pointed to the heels. “I would fall down and break my neck,” I said as I collapsed onto the seat and grabbed my neck.

Pasha chuckled, lifted his foot, and with force rammed his heel down to the floor.

“Well, that makes sense,” I said as I shook my head, “But I’m sure I’d still fall.” I dropped back down on the seat again. He laughed and fell down on the front seat. When he sat back up, we exchanged smiles with each other.

As Pasha asked me a question in Russian, he swung his arms and reached around his back and said my husband’s name.

I nodded as I recalled the evening my husband recollected to me about his experience at the men’s bathhouse with the Pasha and Darkhan, the translator.

“Oy! Oy!” he said several times.

“Yes. He said it hurt when you hit each other with the sticks,” I said as I swayed my hands like I cracked a whip.

Pasha’s smile disappeared and with hesitation in his words, I realized he was concerned that my husband didn’t enjoy his experience. I wrapped my arms around myself and smiled to assure him that he liked it. He seemed to comprehend my message as his colorful teeth gleamed from his mouth again.

Time quickly passed as we continued our game of charades with lots of laughs shared between us. The lesson I learned that day was that actions do speak louder than words.

Learn more about Beckie at God's Gracious Gems blog, and at her adoption foundation, Our Creator's Hope.

Is Your Adopted Child an Axe Murderer? 'Orphans' Movie Would Have Us Believe So

2009-05-28T11:52:15-07:00

Several of my Twitter "tweeps" alerted me to a new slasher movie that's being released by Warner Brothers Pictures July 24. In Orphan, Kate (Vera Farmiga) and her husband John (Peter Sarsgaard) decide to adopt an older child from a local orphanage.

They meet with the orphanage director, who warns them, "Adopting an older child is not an easy decision."

Almost as soon as they welcome Esther (Isabelle Fuhrmann) into their home, an alarming series of events begins to unfold, leading Kate to believe that there's something wrong with Esther--this seemingly angelic little girl is not what she appears to be.

In a movie trailer strongly reminiscent of the 1976 horror flick, Carrie, we learn that Esther was in a mental hospital before being adopted, and that the orphanage has never heard of her.

During one scene in the trailer, Esther states, ""It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own."

Sigh.

My own (adopted) children are axe murderers -- aren't yours? All adopted children have something wrong with them, just by virtue of being adopted. Right?

Apparently, the misguided Hollywood screenwriters think so. And they see an adoption-themed horror movie as the perfect means to play on the public's fears about adopted children... and make millions in the process.

In a blog post by Cathy Doheny at CharolotteExaminer.com, she suggests that people in the adoption community boycott the movie (which is Rated R, so who'd bring their kids to it, anyway?); tell others to boycott the movie, post warnings about the movie on adoption forums; and petition Warner Brothers to change the negative adoption lingo.

She also recommends preparing school-aged adopted children about the movie, so they'll have ways to cope with the misconceptions about adoption suggested by this movie.

Cathy also says:

Contact the distributors (Warner Brothers), the producer (Dark Castle Entertainment), and the developer of the material (Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way, who is also co-producing the film) and express your concern about the negative impact of the film on the cause of adoption.

Apparently, Warner Brothers responded to angry e-mails, saying:

We "would like to inform you that we are changing the marketing materials related to this film on a forward-going basis.

"The Orphan" is a work of fiction, and we apologize if we appeared insensitive in advertising the film, as it's never our intent to offend anyone with our products."

No changes have been made to the trailer, however.

The adoption community is continuing to put pressure on Warner Brothers, and the movement has gone viral, with a new Facebook group, I am Boycotting Warner Bros.' "Orphan" Movie.

As of this moment in time, the group has 906 members (including me). Won't you consider joining us?

Comprehensive List of Infertility Books

2009-05-18T11:43:32-07:00

It's always a challenge to find a good list of books on infertility, so I felt I'd hit the jackpot when Tina Smith from the Fertility Center in Chattanooga, TN referred me to their site:

MyFertilityCenter.com

The Support Central area provides a huge list of infertility books, Web site links, and articles.

Thanks, Tina, for sharing this site loaded with helpful resources!

Adoption-Themed Novel: Jesse's Girl

2009-05-13T05:00:00-07:00

Adoptive dad Gary Morgenstein alerted me to his new novel, Jesse's Girl. The story is about a widowed father’s search for his troubled teen, who has run away from a wilderness treatment program.

Gary writes:

The story opens as a jarring phone wakes lifelong Brooklynite and widowed father Teddy Mentor well after midnight. It’s the Montana wilderness substance abuse program saying that his 16-year-old adopted son has run away… and they haven't a clue where he’s gone.

Only two weeks earlier, Jesse had been taken to the program by escorts to deal with substance abuse problems. Jeopardizing his flagging PR job in New York, Mentor rushes across the country to find Jesse, who is off on his own quest: to find Theresa, the sister he's never known.

Gary’s previous novels are Take Me Out to the Ballgame and The Man Who Wanted to Play Center Field for the New York Yankees. His latest novel, Loving Rabbi Thalia Kleinman, a romantic triangle about a divorced middle-aged man who falls in love with a beautiful rabbi, was just published on Amazon.com. His play, Ponzi Man, played to sell-out crowds at a recent New York Fringe Festival.

*Note from Laura - I have not yet read Gary's novel, so this announcement is merely that: an announcement that I thought would interest those who like to read adoption-themed novels. Enjoy!

Interested in Adoption? Talk About it on Twitter

2009-05-12T06:00:00-07:00

I've been a member of the micro-blogging service, Twitter, for many months now (@bloggingbistro). But after reading Joel Comm's book, Twitter Power: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time, I decided to start a second Twitter account so I can interact with others in the adoption community.

You can find me on Twitter @adoptionexpert.

You may be wondering: Isn't having two Twitter accounts a bit of overkill? Perhaps. But here's why I did it:

I own a business (Blogging Bistro) that helps people maximize their blogging and social media marketing. On my Blogging Bistro Twitter account, I provide helpful links to articles about marketing, business blogging, social media, and other business-related topics.
My alter-ego as an adoption author and adoption advocate doesn't fit within the social media marketing realm. I wanted to see whether an account dedicated solely to adoption issues would attract any attention.

It has. More than I ever expected. In the couple of weeks since I created the account, I've begun following 110 people who have direct connections to adoption:

Pre- and post-adoptive parents
Birth parents
Adopted people
Adoption professionals
Adoption and orphan care organizations

These are the ONLY people I follow on @adoptionexpert. I did this on purpose, so that if you join Twitter and want to find other adoption tweeps to follow, all you have to do is follow the folks I follow.

And if you follow me, I'll follow you back if you tweet about adoption (just use the #adoption hashtag on your adoption tweets and I'll find you).

The community of adoption Twitterers is small, but active, and growing at a fast clip. My tweeps (that's Twitterese for "Twitter peeps") constantly point me to interesting articles and opinions about adoption and share snippets about what's going on in their lives. Since I'm running a business and don't have time to blog daily here at Exploring Adoption, Twitter is a great way for me to keep up with what's going on in the world of adoption.

What are you waiting for? Set up a Twitter account and join us!
(If you need help getting the most out of Twitter, I provide low-cost consults. Contact me.)

P.S. You can also follow my most recent Twitter updates from the far righthand sidebar of this blog.