When Jessica O'Dwyer and her husband fell in love with the online photo of a Guatemalan baby girl, they had no idea of the twisted journey that awaited them. Their eagerness to become parents lured them into signing with an inept LA adoption agency whose slapdash methods left the couple fearful that their baby would never come home. At that point, Jessica made the brave decision to move to Guatemala, learning how to care for baby Olivia, while at the same time struggling to break through the bureaucratic indifference that stood in the way of making Olivia hers forever.
Kirkus Reviews calls this memoir, "a scathing critique on a foreign adoption system and one woman's attempt to fight it."
Author Joyce Maynard describes MAMALITA as a book about the nature of parenthood, "the fierce love and loyalty that makes it possible for us to do more than we ever knew we were capable of."
Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica O'Dwyer when she gave a reading at the nearby Redwood City, California Public Library. During the Q & A session that followed, Jessica mentioned that one her goals in writing MAMALITA was to present Guatemala accurately, with an affection and respect for her child's homeland that she'd felt was missing in some memoirs previously published by adoptive parents. I think that you'll agree that she succeeded.
You can learn more about Jessica's story on her blog, or check out her book trailer:
I'm happy to announce that the author has provided two autographed copies of MAMALITA to be awarded to two lucky readers of Whatever Things Are True: the Good, the Bad and the Beautiful in the World of International Adoption.
To enter this giveaway, leave a comment answering this question:
How has being a mom or dad drawn out your inner strength? Or if you're not a parent, what important relationship or situation has demanded that you act with courage?
To earn additional entries in this giveaway:
1. Follow my blog (publicly) and leave another comment (or let me know if you're already following).
2. Blog about the giveaway, and link back here. Post your blog entry before you comment.
3. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about the contest: "Giveaway- Win a copy of Mamalita: An Adoption Memoir from @sharonvanepps. Enter at www.whateverthingsaretrue.typepad.com"
4. Become a fan of Whatever Things Are True on Facebook by clicking the button on the top right of the page (or leave a comment to let me know you're already a fan.)
Entries close next Sunday, March 6, at 5 PM PST.
The winners will be announced Monday, March 7.
Yay! I heard I should read this book! Hoo-ray.
I'm not a parent yet, so I'd say one relationship that has forced me to act with complete inner strength is the one I share with my mother.
She's not the same mother I would be. And it took me years and years and years to realize that that's okay.
It took strength to accept it and to accept HER as she is. She shows her without much emotion, and it takes a strong daughter to recognize that and feel the love anyway.
Posted by: laurenne | February 27, 2011 at 03:11 PM
I believe that being a parent has taught me to have patience. Waiting for my son to come home from Guatemala was a great start I guess!
Posted by: Kelly Pramberger | February 28, 2011 at 05:27 PM
Following on Facebook, thanks!
Posted by: Kelly Pramberger | February 28, 2011 at 05:29 PM
Now following you on twitter and tweeted about book giveaway. Thanks!
Posted by: Kelly Pramberger | February 28, 2011 at 05:30 PM
I am so excitd about this book. It on my wish list to buy. I would say that being a parent has brought my "mother bear" side. I am the biggest advocate when it comes to my kids. My Guatemalan child has some learning disablities and I have done everything under te sun to make sure he has all the right help and medical test done. Normally I am a very shy, quiet person, but when it comes to my kids, watch out! I want themto be all they can be. And the other thing would have to be patience.
Posted by: Jody Navratil | February 28, 2011 at 05:44 PM
So excited about this giveaway! I tweeted, became a follower on Twitter and a fan on Facebook and a follower of this blog..I think that covers it. :)
Being a parent has drawn out inner strength in me as I realize the great lengths that I can and will go to to do what is best for them....maybe not what they want, but what's best for them. The sleepless nights aren't just a baby-years thing; I now know that they are also a teen-years thing and probably just a lifelong-motherhood thing :-) The roller coaster of joy, grief, frustration, worry, glee, and love is a ride I wouldn't have thought myself capable of surviving prior to motherhood. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | March 01, 2011 at 06:46 AM
Following you on twitter, tweeted, and following you on FB!
Being a parent has brought out my inner strength by giving me a new perspective--one that helps me see what's truly important. (Even though that important stuff is often wrapped up in the ordinary and many times mundane.)
Posted by: Annaschmohe | March 01, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Being a parent has taught me just exactly how huge Love is. I never knew how fiercely I could love another person until I met my sons. Mother love is an amazing strength!
Posted by: Karen | March 03, 2011 at 04:50 AM
following you on facebook :)
Posted by: Karen | March 03, 2011 at 04:51 AM
Would love a copy of the book! Thanks so much
Posted by: TarahStovall | March 03, 2011 at 09:10 AM
This is a fun idea, Sharon! It's taking me a little while to fill out all my entries, but I was already a fan and I am now following you on Twitter!
I'll keep working on it. :-) I want to WIN!
Posted by: Jennifer Zilliac | March 03, 2011 at 09:28 AM
This October, November, December, and part of January were unusually hard for me -- I was really struggling with depression. My fourteen-year-old daughter told me, "Mom, you're like the queen bee. Things just don't function around here when you are depressed." I realized that I had to find that inner strength and get better because I really matter. There is something I offer my family that they cannot get from anyone but me! So I did find my inner strength, and now the queen bee is buzzing again.
Posted by: Jennifer Zilliac | March 03, 2011 at 04:27 PM
I am the single parent of two girls from Guatemala and they give me
the inspiration and strength daily to be the best person I can be for
them and for others. The love I have for these two girls far exceeds
the love I've ever felt for another human being. Parenthood was a
dream I made a reality once I met my two children 9 and 10 yrs ago!
Posted by: Deborah | March 05, 2011 at 06:07 PM
I am going to post this again, because my first post is not listed. My husband and I just knew that Guatemala was the country we wanted to adopt from. We have one son that is 8 years old now and came home at one year old. We got caught in the hague issue, where things went slow. It taught me that everything is in God's plan and the wait just teaches us to lean on Him. Then we got a call about Will's Brother had been born and was available. We saved everything just in case. We received Will's Brother at nine months old. Michael is now 5 years old. No one will ever no how much my husband and I have been blessed by these two little ones. We still stay in touch with their Foster Moms. I pray that adoptions will reopen for Guatemala. I have such a burden for the families still in process and continually pray and try to encourage them as I can. We homeschool our boys and I think that is the highest calling God gives a woman is to take care and teach her children. I never realized we would have two precious sons, but God did.
Posted by: Robin Prewitt | March 06, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Robin, so sorry that your comment somehow disappeared! Thanks for trying again.
Posted by: Sharon | March 06, 2011 at 10:55 AM