Welcome back,
Christine. How did you come up with the idea for this book?
Finding Sarah, Finding Me is the true-life story that started
my writing career in the first place, way back in the year 2000. It was shortly
after the reunion with my birth-daughter, the child I relinquished to adoption
in 1979. We were reunited when she was an adult in 1999. But the reunion that I
had prayed for, for 20 years, was nothing like the actual reunion. Coming face
to face with the daughter I relinquished to adoption reunited me with all the
original loss of her as my child---even though it was better for her at the
time because I was a young unmarried woman. But finding my daughter Sarah
turned me inside out emotionally and, for a few years, I struggled with a great
many issues. As time passed though, the Lord brought healing to me, and it was
through the journey of searching for my birth-daughter that I discovered my
true identity in Christ. This is our story, and the foundation of all I write
on and speak on.
I know the book is
awesome. I can hardly wait for my copy to arrive. If you were planning a party
with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what people would you invite
and why?
Rachel Moore, because she is my critique partner, and I
don’t get to see her enough in person, and she is an excellent writer with the
awards and nominations to prove it. Linda Nichols, Susan Meissner, due to
excellent writing and going deep. I love fiction that is realistic without
being too edgy.
Now let’s do that for
a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you
invite and why?
I read both ABA fiction and
CBA fiction, so my favorite historical authors as follows: ABA : Kate Morton, Suzanna Kearsley, and an
older author, MM Kaye simply because they are excellent writers. In CBA my
favorite authors are: Sandra Byrd, Kim Vogel Sawyer, and Bodie and Brock
Thoene. I’d like to chat with them simply because I enjoy their writing style.
Many times, people
(and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What
is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?
Finding the time to be a good author, but squeezing in the
time to promote my work. I love to write, but I hate promotion, and finding the
time to do all this and still remain a mother, grandmother, wife, and friend to
the people in my life.
I so understand. Tell
us about the featured book.
Finding Sarah, Finding Me is a the weaving of three
strands. Each chapter takes the reader through my search for my birth-daughter
during the late ’90’s, with a second strand that also takes the reader through
my pregnancy and relinquishing of Sarah in the late ’70’s. Each chapter also
has a separate story from other adoptions and reunions.
Sometimes it is only through giving up our hearts that we
learn to trust the Lord.
Adoption. It’s something that touches one in three
people today, a word that will conjure different emotions in those people
touched by it. A word that might represent the greatest hope … the greatest
question … the greatest sacrifice. But most of all, it’s a word that represents
God’s immense love for his people.
Join birth mother Christine Lindsay as she shares the
heartaches, hopes, and epiphanies of her journey to reunion with the daughter
she gave up ... and to understanding her true identity in Christ along the way.
Through her story and glimpses into the lives of other
families in the adoption triad, readers will see the beauty of our broken
families, broken hearts, and broken dreams when we entrust them to our loving
God.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Do Not Be Afraid
Christine, February
1999 Two months before the reunion
The clandestine nature of my trip paints a picture of me I
don’t want to look at too closely. As I drive from Maple Ridge to Abbotsford
twenty miles away, I wonder if I am one heartbeat away from being a stalker.
I find the high school after several wrong turns. Squelching
down the fear of getting caught, I park in the school lot and drum up the nerve
to walk in the front doors. I repeat under my breath, “It’s no different than
walking into Lana’s high school at home in Maple Ridge. It’s no different at
all.”
I’m an ordinary person just like any ordinary parent in the Fraser Valley ,
the Bible Belt of British Columbia. I’m a Sunday school teacher, a bonded bank
teller, a woman of forty-one, hair lightened blond, dressed like any nice mom
in jeans, casual shirt, running shoes, my bag slung over my shoulder. I am
David’s wife, mom to seventeen-year-old Lana, fifteen-year-old Kyle, and ten-year-old
Robert.
I am also the woman who wrote in her journal last night,
“For twenty years I’ve comforted myself that this time would come, that my
birth-daughter and I could legally be reunited. And now I am afraid of her.”
I, I, I, yes I am all of the above. I hate my self-centered
focus. Am I also obsessive? And dear God—am I stalking my firstborn?
There’s still time to turn around, get back in my car,
forget this whole crazy escapade. Instead, coldness grips my spine as I stride
past the office, praying none of the staff will stop me and ask why I’m here,
like a criminal.
I’m only coming to Sarah’s former school just this once, not
driving past her house like a real stalker, although I have the address. At
least I’ve held myself back from that temptation. This one look—in a public
place—I’ll allow myself. But I shudder.
Who can understand my hunger to know, to see? My husband and
my mother understand, but do I deserve their pity? Close friends can relate yet
aren’t able to hold back their trepidation. Those in any adoption triad who
search for that missing biological connection will understand. I’ve heard
plenty of their wild stories at the adoption support group. Certainly the
militant ones with agendas of their own, if they knew what I was up to today, would
urge me to barge forward despite my qualms. The average person though? Would
they understand this slipping over the edge into a gray area that frightens the
daylights out of me?
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
Please drop by Christine’s website www.ChristineLindsay.org or follow
her on Amazon
on Twitter. Subscribe to her quarterly
newsletter, and be her friend on Pinterest , Facebook,
and Goodreads
Thank you, Christine,
for sharing this book with us. As the mother of a daughter who was told by a
pastor to give up her baby for adoption, so she had to think about that, but
she chose to keep him, I can understand a lot of the emotional trauma.
Readers,
here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this
blog.
Finding Sarah, Finding Me: A Birth Mother's Story - PaperbackFinding Sarah, Finding Me: A Birth Mother's Story - Kindle
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Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Such a beautiful, touching story, Christine - I can't wait to read 'Finding Sarah, Finding Me'. Thank you for the wonderful interview, Christine and Lena - also the opportunity to win a copy of 'Finding Sarah, Finding Me'!!
ReplyDeleteBonnie R., Kentucky
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
My sister gave her baby up for adoption long ago. She died in 1980. I would give anything to find her grown child.I believe she had a boy. He will be 51 this year. I wonder if he ever tried to find her. This sounds like a terrific book.
ReplyDeleteLinda in CA
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
A very interesting beginning.
ReplyDeleteMary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
What a beautiful interview, Lena and Christine! Your story sounds fascinating, Christine. I'd love to read it.
ReplyDeleteWinnie T from Utah
Thank you all for such wonderful comments. My heart goes out to you who have lost ones and are looking for their children. Adoption and Adoption reunion is not an easy road, but if you trust the Lord, He will guide you through to peace.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure this will be a powerful story. One that I am sure it was not easy to write.
ReplyDeletePatty in SC
I would love to read this story!
ReplyDeleteRoanna from Ohio
I have lived in the Fraser Valley in B.C., so I would love to read this novel. The storyline says READ ME.
ReplyDeleteI live in Ontario, Canada.
Beautiful story and great interview! It got me curious about the book.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance to win!
Melody from the province of Quebec, Canada
I look forward to reading this book. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteConnie from KY
cps1950(at)mail(dot)com
This sounds like a very touching story. I enjoyed the interview and first page.
ReplyDeleteBeth from Iowa
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteConway SC.
Hi Christine & Lena! I myself, placed a baby girl for adoption when I was 19. In fact, she turned 20 last week, I still can't believe it's been two decades! Christine & I have shared some of our stories with each other, in the past and I have been anxiously awaiting Finding Sarah for at least 2 years now when she told she planned to write a book about her experience.
ReplyDeleteKristen in OK
kam110476 at gmail dot com