I visited my Adoption Order many times growing up. My father kept in his bureau drawer along with the passports. (It's amended here to protect my birth mother's privacy.) In my order is my birth mother's name, my given name, my birthplace, and the date I was adopted by the Burton family. (They named me Annette but I later changed my first name to Nicole/Nicki.) The document includes the date the adoption agency became aware of me two weeks following my birthdate. It also shows that my adoption was finalized when I was five months old and that my parents paid an adoption processing fee of 1 pound, 3 shillings, approximately $5.00. Most American adoptees don't have the luxury of an Adoption Order; they have "revised" birth certificates. I'm grateful I had mine to keep me company the long years I waited before searching. 

I really like Seth Godin's Advice to Authors regarding publishing. My printer, Lightning Source, is great to work with. They're owned by the book distributor Ingram, and the services are seamless.

Not so with wholesaler Baker & Taylor. This company doesn't behave as if it wants to stay in business. They don't answer phone calls or emails; I can't find the info I need on their website; they don't post prices or fees; and they have a reputation for being slow to list books and pay publishers. Fern at the Writing and Publishing Group on Facebook suggests skipping Baker & Taylor unless you have to use them.

Listen on the Web to my interview on Tuesday, July 22, 2:00-3:00PM ET on "Speaking of Adoption" with Donna Montalbano. Rhode Island's WOON 1240 AM Radio - Live and Archived

Donna's list of past guests is a Who's Who of adoption authors and leaders. Listen to past programs by visiting her site.