It’s been a while since I’ve written a post, mainly because I’ve been meeting deadlines! Here are some events to keep in mind, if you like YA books, are interested in conversations of historical connections, or like podcasts that reveal the inside experiences of a person (me).
Today (First, my YA fiction story, “Shawl Dance”, became part of the YA anthology When We Become Ours, and is being released today, October 24. Edited by Shannon Gibney and Nicole Chung, it is a collection of heartfelt writings by adoptees for adoptees. Although this link is Amazon, you can purchase the book wherever books are sold. I highly recommend it for adoptees, adoptive parents, schools, libraries, and anyone interested in our experiences navigating adoptive spaces.
Second, the virtual book launch for When We Become Ours happens tonight, October 24. You can join by clicking on this crowdcasting link, crowdcast.io/c/whenwebecomeours . You will be asked to register, but the best thing is IT IS FREE! It begins at 7 p.m. ET. Hope to see you there!
On November 15, from 7 p.m. to 9 .m. ET I will be talking with historian and Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation’s director Christy Coleman at the Director’s Series Fireside Chats at the Jamestown Museum in Williamsburg, VA. Our recent phone call created a fabulous starting point for a very interesting conversation about colonization, assimilation, and American Indian child welfare. Please visit https://www.jyfmuseums.org/events/directors-series/susan-devan-harness for more information. The Fireside chat will also be available virtually, and the registration information is included on the site. I am so honored, and excited, to be part of this conversation!
On November 19, at the Loyalty Bookstore on the Marina in San Francisco, amazing author, Kelley Baker, and I will be appearing for an in-person book launch of When We Become Ours. Readings and discussion will be held at 6 p.m., moderated by Katie Wynen. Again, it is a free event, but registration is requested. I’m looking forward to seeing some familiar faces, and always meeting new people!
And, lastly, last April, I was invited to give a workshop at the Speaking of the Children conference in Omaha, Nebraska. While there, I spoke with Lizzie Hudson, a FABULOUS interviewer for the Trauma Matters Podcast about issues of transracial child placement, and more specifically about American Indian transracial adoption. We spoke for over 90 minutes, and that interview was divided into two segments, the first one dropped yesterday, and the second one airs on November 20th. You can listen to these interviews wherever you get your podcasts. Please, give a listen. I am SO proud of this conversation, elicited by Ms. Hudson.
Who knew that my exploratory research of 20 American Indian transracial adoptees nearly two decades ago, and a memoir would garner this much interest that become part of larger cultural conversations? I’m so honored my work has done just that.
