A teen in foster care must choose between
the woman who wants to adopt her or
the mother who abandoned her
amidst the cliques and bullying
of middle school

AWARDS

RETURNABLE GIRL
(Marshall Cavendish, 2006)

INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION'S
YOUNG ADULT CHOICES LIST 2008

VOYA's TOP SHELF FICTION
FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL READERS 2006

American Library Association
2006 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

New York Public Library
2007 Books for the Teen Age

Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
Titles for 2007

Cleveland Public Library
Y READ PROGRAM 2007

Columbus Library TEENSCONNECT "Fearless Female"

The Statewide New Jersey Summer Reading Program 2008

My agent is Susan Schulman who represents authors of Holes, Women Who Love Too Much, The English Patient, and many more! Contact Susan at Shulman@aol.com for questions about rights or at 454 West 44th St. NY, NY

EXCERPT FROM RETURNABLE GIRL

“Veronica Hartman has been returned nine times between the ages of eleven and thirteen.”
That’s what it says in my file, but if you include the return by my uncle and Raylene the week before Christmas almost two years ago, then it really has been a total of ten times--so far. The last time, I got kicked out of Lancaster Academy for throwing a pair of scissors at my art teacher. And the time before that, I buried my foster mother’s keys in the backyard behind the barn. That number doesn’t include the times I had to stay at the shelter, or the overnight emergency placements; I can’t even remember most of those.
“All that returning can do some damage,” Alison says, “but you’ve got to find ways to cope.”
Alison Hauser is my foster mom (at the moment) and she’s also a therapist. She hasn’t returned me yet, and I’ve been with her over three months, but that doesn’t mean she won’t. Lately, I guess, she’s been considering it. Like this morning, for instance, after I threw the frozen can of orange juice across the kitchen.
“I’m not a thief!” I screamed at her as I let the can fly.

2008 Speaking engagements

RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE
Continuing Education
Friday March 14
They are Teens First
(The not so secret lives of foster and adopted teens)

Adoption Rhode Island:
Book Club for Foster Teens
(2/26, 3/4,3/11)

ACONE (Adoption Community of New England)
Professional Day
Westborough MA
April 4-5 2008
www.adoptioncommunityofNE.org

Family Resources Community Action
Foster Care Training
Woonsocket RI
June 19th 6-8pm
LaSalle Parent Night
December 9th
Past speaking engagements:
2006 through 2007

READING WITH ROBIN (7-8 AM)
Saturday November 18
1-866-920-WHJJ (920AM)

(Tannerhill Adoption Agency book signing and Foster Parent Training at 11AM same day)

Rhode Island College
Social Work Class
November 20

St. Mary's Foster Home
Staff and Foster Parent Training
November 28th

MOMTALKRADIO December 2006

GORDON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
in Providence, RI
Wed. Jan. 24 at 7pm
(At Gordon's Book Fair Nov. 14)

Tea With Marie (Channel 13 RI)
Airing April 13th

At Providence College
Social Work Class
Feb 13

The Resiliant Child Series
ADOPTION RHODE ISLAND
March 23rd

Barrington High School
Blogging and Podcast

NATIONAL FOSTER PARENT CONFERENCE
WASHINGTON DC May 25, 2007

BookExpo America (BEA)
New York City June 1-3

Connecticut Association Foster Parents
June 19th 2007

Barnes and Nobel Warwick RI
September 22 12-2pm

Author Series
Philips Memorial Baptist Church
Sept. 23rd

Caritas Dinner and Silent Auction
Keynote
October 24

"Let's talk Adoption" Conference
November 3
Rutgers University (my alma mater!)
Piscataway, NJ

Author Talk
Bayview Commons
November 14

Bayside YMCA
Author Book Club Talk
December 11

Already in 2008, 124,086 kids in foster care have had to celebrate their birthdays without a permanent family. By the end of the year, this number will reach 513,000.

Click here to listen to Pam on MOMTALKRADIO
(After December 9)

November 2008
Community Partner Award
Adoption Rhode Island
In recognition of my support of children waiting for adoption

Author photograph courtesy of
Greg Spiess

Speaking Engagements

I have presented programs about adolescents at national and state-wide conferences, conducted training and parent education seminars at public and independent schools. For more information click above "workshop" tag.

For information on speaking opportunities including fees, available dates, or for any other reason email me directly at palwrites@aol.com

click here

The new cover is here!!!
COMING IN OCTOBER 2009

Counseling Services

I am a licensed clinical social worker, a board certified diplomate therapist with a private practice in the East Bay Rhode Island area. I specialize in treating Women, Young Adults and their Families in the areas of depression, eating disorders,loss and trauma, self-care, anxiety, and communication (and foster care and adoption.) If you live in the area and want to try to schedule an appointment you can contact me by email, as I check my messages daily.
email: palwrites@aol.com

Schedule an appointment
Click here

Foster Care Alumni of America

I am proud to be a "professional" member of Foster Care Alumni of America. FCAA connects the community of people who have been in foster care into a large extended family network. By working with others who care about foster youth, FCAA transforms foster care practice and policy. Whether you are an alumnus of foster care, a foster parent or professional, or caring community member, please show your support and make your voice heard by joining FCAA today.

Link to Fostercare Alumni of America