Tuesday, August 16, 2016

FINDING SARAH, FINDING ME - Christine Lindsay - One Free Book

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 - Paperback
Finding Sarah, Finding Me: A Birth Mother's Story - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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13 comments:

Bonnie Roof said...

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'!!

Bonnie R., Kentucky

bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

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.

Linda in CA

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Mary Preston said...

A very interesting beginning.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Winnie said...

What a beautiful interview, Lena and Christine! Your story sounds fascinating, Christine. I'd love to read it.
Winnie T from Utah

Christine said...

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.

Patty said...

I'm sure this will be a powerful story. One that I am sure it was not easy to write.

Patty in SC

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this story!

Roanna from Ohio

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I have lived in the Fraser Valley in B.C., so I would love to read this novel. The storyline says READ ME.

I live in Ontario, Canada.

Unknown said...

Beautiful story and great interview! It got me curious about the book.
Thank you for the chance to win!

Melody from the province of Quebec, Canada

Connie Porter Saunders said...

I look forward to reading this book. Thank you for sharing.
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)mail(dot)com

rubynreba said...

This sounds like a very touching story. I enjoyed the interview and first page.
Beth from Iowa

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.

kam110476 said...

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.
Kristen in OK
kam110476 at gmail dot com