Re: If you would be so kind as to critique my sales letter.....

Hi Kim,

> I am an adoptive mom - although I am a single parent and both of my
> adoptions were international - so the book does not apply to me.

It doesn't apply to you because you're a single parent obviously (a single-parent one will follow the other versions ASAP)...

but do you also feel it doesn't apply because your adoptions were international? If not, can you tell me why you feel that way? I might need to work on that.

It should apply to *any* adoption with a mommy and daddy.

> I think you have a WONDERFUL idea about the marketing of the story.
> Targeting domestic adoption attorneys to have them use this as a handout
> is a great idea.

Thanks. I thought so too.

> To be completely honest with you - please don't be upset - I don't feel
> this is something that would appeal directly to many adoptive parents -

I'm not upset.

I disagree, based on my own feelings and the reactions I'm getting from adoptive parents who have read it so far -- but I didn't ask for opinions so everyone would feed me a line of caca. The only valuable opinions are honest ones.

Yes, there are many good adoption books (actually the only one I have really liked was "The Night You Were Born" but everyone will have their personal favorites).

Only the "destiny" angle makes my story unique, and I hope I've done okay extending that to any adopted child.

> Back to the positive - again this marketing idea I think has great
> potential.

I hope so, because it's a gamble and it's taking me away from several more tried & true projects.

> The point here is that this is ALSO not something I EVER
> would have purchased on my own BUT since it came from my SW and agency I
> treasure it ... you will get many who will keep it because it came from
> their adoption attorney and has sentimental value.

I'm really glad you said that, because one of the reactions I got via email was that parents would love it if they bought it on their own, but they would *not* appreciate it coming from their attorney.

> Sorry - this has gotten a little long and rambling - hope I am making
> myself clear.

Very. Thanks.

> Now - about the sales letter itself. Just re-read it again - works for me.
> An adoption professional will totally understand what you are trying to
> get at.

Whewy!!

> The only other question I had.... with all of the "interesting"
> people in the world were you planning on keeping your daughters real name
> and picture in the book???? Just a thought for safety and privacy.....

I'm not sure yet. Everyone I've asked says of course! why not? etc.

There are children's books with a picture of the author and child/family on it, and everyone can figure out names by the author's name, bio, etc. -- and some books have even been written by children and contain their name and picture -- but it keeps eating away at me. I'm still not sure.

I was toying with the idea of keeping "Katie" under the picture and using my former name as a pen name.

I'm also concerned about the birth mother's name being real -- even though it's only a first name -- because she kept it secret from her family. I am not betraying that with a first name and no other identifying information, but it still makes me squirm a bit.

I think using a pen name would solve all those problems --

but will that make it harder to establish myself as an author under my own name? This is all new for me.

MEL?? Any thoughts on that??? Maybe I'll post this question separately...

> Good luck and again great idea!

Thank you so much!

I'm really REALLY glad to see you here. When you left last time, you had misunderstood something I said and were screaming bloody-murder at me :-)

I wasn't sure if you ever saw my clarification, because I nuked the whole thread shortly after I posted it.

Luv,