263 | Stefany Valentine - When We Become Ours Today’s episode is a celebration for When We Become Ours: A YA Adoptee Anthology which releases on October 24, 2023. The first of its kind, edited by Shannon Gibney and Nicole Chung, with fifteen adoptee authors is cause for celebration. We’re going to hear from an emerging author, Stefany Valentine, who shares her story of being adopted at age twelve, while her biological father had a terminal illness. She is the first step-parent adoptee we’ve had on the show. We talk about the lack of consent to her adoption, the cultural losses Stefany suffered, and how it wasn’t until her mid-twenties that she realized her biological mother had been removed from her birth certificate. Next we’re going to hear from five more contributing authors who share about their stories in the collection and what it’s meant for them to be a part of this project.  Full Show Notes Here This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. Please seek out professionals in those fields if you need those services. The views expressed by the hosts of Adoptees On or any guests are their own and do not represent the opinions of any organization or other person unless otherwise stated.