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Publisher of New Adoption-Themed Easy-Reader Donates to Adoption Charity: Introducing The Forever Friends Club

DRT Press has done it again—-added a great new title to the adoption book genre with the publication of The Forever Friends Club. Follow this link to read my review of the book, but promise to come right back! Purchase your copies (one for your home library, one for the school media center, one for your child’s classroom, one for your public library, a few for gifts…) via this link and the Iowa Chapter of Gift of Adoption Fund will receive a generous percentage of the proceeds!

The same applies to DRT Press’ previous adoption-themed titles, both of which I own and love; When I Met You: A Story of Russian Adoption and Mishka: An Adoption Tale, so if you haven’t gotten around to buying these Russian and Eastern European adoption treasures, why not do it now?

By the way, The Forever Friends Club hints that one character might have ADHD. Read my review (link above) to find out more.

Adrienne Ehlert Bashista is the publisher at DRT Press. Thanks, Adrienne, for your support of Gift of Adoption!

Shameless Self-Promotion: Writing Your Bio

The Call for Submissions for Bless Your Heart includes a request for a “brief bio.” A few potential contributors have been less than confident about creating this description of themselves, especially those with limited or no publishing credits.

One of my favorite books about writing covers this very topic—-how and why to get over the idea that humility is a virtue, because, when it comes to promoting your writing, it won’t serve you well. The book I’m refering to is:

How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name in Lights, by Ariel Gore. Now, with no offense intended to Ms. Gore (I’m calling the book a favorite, after all), this isn’t the most well written or edited book you’ll ever read—-I’d guess there was a race to a deadline involved. But the book’s message is right on, and its delivery is as irreverant and entertaining as the lesson is important to learn.

Give it a read, then take another stab at that bio. I’m willing to bet it will be easier, and stronger, the second time around.

Powerful new must-read book: The Boy from Baby House 10, by Alan Philps and John Lahutsky

Although my review of this book for Adoptive Families magazine will appear in the January/February issue, I couldn’t wait that long to recommend this powerful book. Anyone with an interest in international adoption will be intrigued by this, the true story of Vanya, a boy living in an orphanage in Russia. Because he was born “imperfect”, he’s judged unworthy of any care beyond what it takes to keep his body alive. No one cares about his mind, his emotions, his soul–until he catches the attention of a foreign visitor. That chance meeting is the beginning of a tenous support system, and a chain of events leading to his eventual adoption.

We were only allowed to see a couple of rooms in the orphanage where our daughter, Natalie, spent two of her formative years. But, the routines and caretaker attitudes described in this book took me right back to that cold, old, building. The details of Vanya’s orphanage life go a long way toward explaining the delays Natalie experienced. It’s heartbreaking to think about.

So why dwell in the past? Why put myself through reading this book? Why recommend it to others, especially those with no ties to international adoption? Because thousands of kids still live in orphanages in Russia, and in other countries, and the world should understand what that’s like.

Not all of us can adopt a child from an orphange. But all of us can help. I’m working with some local moms to start an Iowa Chapter of Gift of Adoption Fund, a non-profit group that helps families afford the cost of adopting. Visit http://www.firstgiving.com/krispeters to see just how easy it is to help.

I’ll add a link to my official review of this book as soon as it’s available online. In the meantime, read this book–this call to action. Then act. Everyone can help.

Read with me!

Act with me!

Kay