My books are dedicated to my beloved mother and grandmothers.

To all the young women who were heartbroken giving up their babies for adoption
and to those children born at the Willows and other facilities—never give up hope in making the connection you are seeking.

More Voices of The Willows

My new book More Voices of The Willows and the Adoption Hub of America will be available in eBook format after October 21, 2020. The print verison will be available shortly after. Check it out.

Johnny’s Life Story

Johnny’s Story is Chapter 6 in More Voices of The Willows about John Thurmond’s early life. It only covers up through John’s life to when he became a Merchant Marine and got married at the age of 17. There is much more to his story that he shared. The rest of John’s story is just as fascinating and you can read “Johny’s Life” by clicking on the link below.

https://www.mylittlevalentinebook.com/johnnys-life/

Check out the new film Unintended by Colleen Bradford Krantz.

An investigative journalist digs up century-old tales of unplanned pregnancies outside of marriage, confronting the price of shame as described by the couples’ descendants. She takes the readers along during the limited series – in an over-the-shoulder-of-the-journalist style reminiscent of Serial – and discovers that not everyone is ready to acknowledge their ancestors’ pasts, even 100 years later. First episode was released May 1, 2020 at Vimeo on Demand, followed by two more on June 1 (includes The Willows) and July 1, 2020.

Watch the trailer: http://pinkspear.com/portfolio/unintended/

 

 

 

 

Mansion on a Hill: The Story of The Willows Maternity Sanitarium and the Adoption Hub of America, is now in print!

I have a surprise for all those who spent time at The Willows. My friend Anita, who shared Anita’s Story in Mansion on a Hill, has a film her father Dr. J. P. Free made in 1949. It was a 16 mm film and I was able to get it converted to a digital format. It shows Anita’s parents picking her up at The Willows. It’s just one minute in length but fun to see the outside of the building. The smile on the faces shows the joy of having their new baby girl. At the same time, it is sad to realize the heartache the girls felt, like my grandma, having to leave behind their baby. Click on the link below to see the video.

1949 Video of The Willows