Together for Good is a newly-released novel that centers around the theme of failed adoption. Set in Denver and on Orcas Island, Washington, the story features Abby Wagner, a publicist who is assigned the most challenging project of her career: promoting Heartsong Adoptions, the agency from which she adopted her son, Hunter, 20 years earlier. As Abby begins working on the PR project, she relives the grief she experienced when she was forced to return Hunter, at the age of 4 months, to his birth mother.

During an interview with author, Melanie Dobson, she shared her personal adoption story. Melanie says:

Before we were married, Jon and I decided that we wanted to adopt, but we planned to have our "own" children first. After trying to get pregnant for several years, we turned to a doctor for help. We took all the tests, but instead of moving ahead with fertility treatments, we opted to pursue adoption instead. Nine months after we started the process, our adoption agency called to say a birthmother wanted to meet us. Laura hadn’t made a final decision about adoption, but at any moment, she was due to give birth to a boy.

A week later, we gave Laura lots of hugs at the hospital and then took home (surprise!) a beautiful baby girl. We celebrated for a week. People came with gifts, our parents flew in from out of town, and we snuggled with our daughter as we scrambled to buy a crib and clothes and diapers. As the weeks passed, we cheered as Karly smiled and rolled over and learned how to crawl.

Before Karly's adoption was final, we received a phone call from a girl I used to babysit. At twenty-two, she was pregnant and wondered if we were interested in adopting another baby. You bet!

Eleven months after Karly was born, we rushed to Charleston, S.C. to hold our second daughter a few hours after she was born. Kinzel had health complications, and we had red tape complications with the local government. But Lyn relinquished her rights at the hospital, and when the judge finally gave us the okay, we drove home with Kinzel (quickly nicknamed "Kiki" by her older sister).

The first two years were overwhelming, but God has given us the strength to keep up with these two busy toddlers (Karly turned three in June a few weeks after Kiki turned two). Even on the toughest parenting days, Jon and I are grateful for the precious gifts of our girls.

To read the complete text of my interview with Melanie and to learn more about the story behind her book, visit my Exploring Adoption blog.

You can also visit Melanie Dobson at her Web site, www.melaniedobson.com.