Publisher and Author SUSAN ROMER has been an adoption attorney for 25 years. She graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, earned her Masters in teaching and history from Northwestern University, her PhD from University of California, Berkeley, and her JD at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She was a recipient of the US Congressional “Angel in Adoption” award. She is a senior member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys.
As a lawyer she was known not only for her legal skills but also for her keen understanding of the emotional issues and pressures in an adoption. Susan advocates for children to be in an open adoption so that there are no secrets about the child’s conception and unique identity and that the child knows and maintains a relationship with the biological family.
When her daughter decided to have a child on her own with the help of a sperm donor, Susan began to see the similarities between adoption and sperm donation. Both are ways to create a family and there should be no secrets about the child’s beginnings and DNA. Therefore, Susan developed a personalized book so that her granddaughter would know her story in an approachable and yet accurate and age-appropriate way.
Susan and her husband are a blended family of two daughters and three sons and their spouses and nine grandchildren, including one grandchild who joined the family through adoption and one through sperm donation.
Publisher, Editor and Designer CAREN PARNES has been a graphic designer and editor for over 20 years. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA with a dual English and Art degree. After working for almost 20 years in the Publishing and Printing industries, she started her own business, Enterprising Graphics, in 2000. Her speciality is supporting authors who wish to self-publish their books, as well as helping small businesses with branding and marketing.
Working for several years with Susan in her practice as an adoption attorney, helping edit and design birthmother letters, Caren gained a great appreciation for the unique and often challenging journey prospective parents—and children—take to create non-traditional families. She has found her small part in helping families match with children tremendously rewarding. Caren has been excited to work with Susan to develop this book project—which provides a new way to help support families who wish to tell their children their stories.