An Adoption Story
Memoir
Date Published: October 22, 2024
Publisher: Double Entendre Ink
A twin herself, Lisa Crawford Watson believes she has the insight needed to
mother twins. Mounting obstacles impede the adoption process, and she
examines whether such setbacks are signs that she shouldn’t adopt. But
when identical twin infant sisters in need of a permanent, stable home come
into her life, she falls in love with them and knows what she must do.
Adopting premature twin girls who were born drug- and alcohol-addicted, and
jostled, separately, from foster home to foster home, creates one hardship
after another. Lisa quickly learns that raising children is a feat of
sacrifice and unpredictability, and caring for children born into trauma may
be more difficult than she ever could have imagined. Over the years, the
twins wreak havoc on every relationship within the family and on
Lisa’s heart. Has adopting the girls caused more harm than good?
What We Wished For: An Adoption Story shares a woman’s quest to build
a loving family. It is a tale of courage, perseverance, and what remains
when things don’t go as imagined. This memoir speaks to anyone who has
ever struggled with a life-altering decision, one from which there is no
turning back.
INTERVIEW
What was your main drive to write this book?
Exploring, understanding, crafting, sharing the story around what happens in life—what we experience, achieve, withstand, win, lose—is how I make sense of and record my life, and many others, as a feature journalist and ghost author, who has written thousands and thousands of article and several books about people who have found themselves in the driver’s seat or the path of the train.
I finally decided to tell my own, if I could summon the courage, that it might help others on a similar journey.
What do you hope readers will learn by reading this book?
I hope readers will learn something about hope and courage and the intricacies of love, and, perhaps, compassion and acceptance and permission to share their own stories.
Did you do much research when planning this book?
I did a tremendous amount of research to live this story. I continued by interviewing and meeting with practitioners with whom our family had worked, and other published authors to help me elevate the insight and development of this book.
Did you have any main people who helped you in the process of this book or influenced you to write it?
My family, professional colleagues, and closest friends often said, “This is the story you should write; this one will make a difference for many readers.
How long did this book take you to write from initial thought to hitting publish?
I always imagined this book should and would become published. The idea came to me and grew throughout our adoption process, 21 years ago. Along the way, once we had adopted our twin babies, I made notes now and then to help me remember. But I didn’t find the time, the emotional bandwidth, or the writing community to push me to develop and complete my memoir until two years ago. And then it became a calendar of writing conferences and retreats, paired with writing and editing in earnest.
Do you have plans to write more about this topic or new topics?
I’ve already been asked often if there is a sequel in the works for this book. I think about that, but I believe I’d have to live more of the story to develop a book. In the meantime, I am working on a book whose storyline moves through Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, and another, which I likely will craft as fiction—heartfelt but a lot more fun.
About the Author
A fifth-generation Northern Californian, Lisa Crawford Watson has published
seven books and thousands of articles in local and national newspapers and
magazines. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociolinguistics from the
University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in education
administration from California State University, Sacramento. She currently
teaches communications, writing, and journalism at California State
University, Monterey Bay.
Lisa lives with her husband in Carmel on the legendary Monterey Peninsula,
where she focuses on fitness, family, and philanthropy. As a resident of the
“Canine Capital of the Country,” Lisa has a devoted following
for her weekly dog column, for which she has profiled more than
seven-hundred furry friends.
Contact Links
Website: lisacrawfordwatson.com
Facebook: Lcwcarmel
Instagram: @lisacrawfordwatson
Substack: Lisa Crawford Watson
Purchase Link
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