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

> Hi Kim,

> 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.

The reason is that in international adoption - depending on country - you rarely meet the birth mother - no country that I can think of has the birth mother actually pick the family. I am sure there are exceptions but I do not know of any - well possibly Taiwan depending on program but I would have to confirm that. So, the concept of me meeting the birth mother and in one daughters case even knowing the birth name is not part of their stories.

My oldest is from China where giving up a baby for adoption is illegal. This is why you here so much about the abandoned babies - there simply isn't a choice if the birth family is unable to care for the child. That is also why so many - of course not all - but so many are left at hospitals, police stations and other crowded areas so they will be found quickly and cared for. Darn it there I go again back off the soapbox - anyway her name was given to her by the orphanage staff (who loved her to pieces) and that is absolutley her Chinese name. However it was not the name given to her by her birthmother. My youngest daughter's Guatemalan name WAS given to her by her birth mother - so that would fit her story - again I did not meet her birthmother.

Just to be clear - I understand that you are telling the story of your daughters adoption and all adoption stories are unique and wonderful. I also firmly believe that an understand of how our family was created is only heightened by learning about different kinds of adoptions. However, the story that I am going to chose to read to them over and over again and the one that I might want to have personalized and keep and share with others is the story that more closely matches their individual adoption experience.

So - in looking at this from a marketing perspective from the attorney's view I would not be a good candidate for this type of marketing effort. Most of the adoptive parents I know - not surprisingly - have adopted internationally and my thoughts are very common among that community. We are constantly seeking materials explain our child's adoption experience. That is why I wanted to share these thoughts with you. Of course I could be completely nuts - yes I have been wrong before - but wanted to give you a slightly different perspective. :-)

> 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.

Ohhhhh - well duh. I wouldn't use a pen name for this project!! I hadn't thought about the fact that your name would be on this - so never mind. I wasn't thinking clearly. There were a couple of scares in the China adoption community regarding some little ones pictures - used to perpetuate a couple of scams - so I have become a little more cautious about my girls pictures. Of course I realized after I posted this happened online and not in print.. so again never mind.

Good luck again!!

> 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.

Actually I did see your response and replied to you with an apology and explanation for my outburst - then got a little busy and was away for awhile. But I'm back and glad to be here. :-)

Kim

> Luv,