The Gathering Place

An Adoptee's Story

By: Emma Stevens

Narrated by: Emma Stevens

When Emma learns her birth mother wrote and signed a letter about her to the adoption agency, she knew she had to have that letter if she were to ever discover her birth mother's true identity. Her birth mother had used a fictitious name at the maternity home and used an assumed name on Emma's original birth certificate. Emma takes bold measures to acquire that letter and start solving the puzzle that is her life.

Emma was adopted into a family that expected her to conform to their expectations of who she should be - but she did not arrive as a blank slate. Unable to see that her relinquishment and adoption were not her fault, her soul split into pieces. In order to put the pieces back together, Emma embarks on multiple journeys and adventures towards both solving the mystery of who she is, and healing from the pain of separation from her origins.

Emma powerfully describes a childhood and life profoundly affected by not knowing her true self. Has she ever known her true self?

It's a story of inner strength and perseverance where Emma welcomes all her parts of self to feel valued and seen. She fights to reunite her fractured soul through love and acceptance of herself, and of others. In a meditative and surreal state, under and around a big old oak tree with a simple wood-seated rope swing attached, she accepts the invitation of integrating herself. And this reunion all takes place at The Gathering Place.

©2021 Emma Stevens (P)2021 Emma Stevens

Critic reviews

"The Gathering Place is poignant and thrilling. There were gasp-out-loud moments and times that made me nod in agreement. Stevens’ writing is beautiful. I was constantly taken with the imagery of her words. For instance, my heart felt like warm melted gold. I had a deeper understanding of what trauma looks and feels like to a baby and was encouraged in my own healing journey after reading this timeless memoir. You won’t be able to put it down!" (Rebecca Autumn Sansom, creator of the documentary Reckoning with the Primal Wound)

"The Gathering Place brings you to the center of your heart after first bringing you into the center of the mayhem grief causes to the body and the mind. Emma Stevens has done the hard work - she even broke into a building in order to find pieces of her story - and in doing so and on taking us with her on her journey, we get to benefit from her dedication to the truth, and we learn the repercussions of being adopted and the years and years of work it can take to finally find yourself. And we are inspired: If Emma can find peace and joy, so can we." (Anne Heffron, writing coach and author of You Don’t Look Adopted)

"Why should an adult who had been adopted as an infant be kept in the dark about their origins? Emma Stevens resorts to breaking and entering, tracking down leads like a bloodhound, and getting to the bottom of who she truly is in this powerfully written and compelling autobiography. Emma Stevens has worked hard to not only find out where she came from, but also to heal from the wounds and bewilderment caused by separation. Her beautifully written narrative is a testament to her tenacious and resilient spirit, and an inspiration to adoptees and others seeking answers to the all-important question of life: Who Am I?" (Diane Shifflett, adoptee)

Wonderful

This book showed how adoption trauma hits an adoptee in so many different ways. I am glad Emma found herself through her journey in the gathering place. Well done!

interesting

very unique writing style. somewhat different than what I'm used too, but loved her story. and wished her adoptive parents had realized how special she and her brother were. glad they woke up in their older years.

Thought provoking and deeply meaningful.

This book kept me spellbound. It was especially meaningful to me that it was read by the author, Emma, who is my biological cousin, though we have yet to meet. I became so curious about her and her story after discovering her after a DNA test which matched me with her.
This book answered all my questions and gave me the ability to put myself in her shoes, as an adoptee. I gained an entire perspective that I have never come close to even considering, concerning my understanding of the adoption process and emotional implications of all parties. Before I read this book it was all foreign to me.
Emma is so articulate and raw and brave and I'm so proud to be related to her! This book will be powerful and comforting to anyone who has been adopted and maybe wrestling with the decision to pursue their family of origin. Even though the discovery of learning the story of her birth parents was not " beautiful" for Emma,she used the knowledge gained as a springboard to move forward with the truth, or maybe I should say in spite of the truth and has found peace and even purpose moving forward. I'm proud to be related to Emma and hope to meet her in the near future. Such a beautiful soul with so much debt and wisdom.
Buy this book! I ended up with the e-book AND the audible version.

Adoption told by an adoptee

As an adoptee, I prefer to read books about adoption that are penned by adoptee authors. Too many adoptees have been silenced. I’m from the same closed era (though it’s still mostly closed) as Emma and related to her story. I enjoyed her unique voice & the “gathering” of her selves. Beautifully crafted.

Resilience

I was switched at birth and could relate to Emma’s journey. I felt as if I were with her in her gathering place.

What a journey!

The Gathering Place is a well written, moving, heart felt and heart wrenching story about the author’s life long journey as an adoptee who set out to find her birth parents.
As the birth father of an adoptee who found me years ago, it really hit home and opened my eyes to the issues faced by adopted children as they mature.
Emma Stevens effectively uses a vehicle called The Gathering Place to show how she became who she is…including her life experiences, some of which were traumatic.
I highly recommend this book, especially for adoptees, adopters, relinquishers (for lack of a better term), and their families.

She Told My Story

They say somewhere out there someone will eventually tell your story. Being a fellow friend of Bill W myself I'm sure Emma understands what I'm talking about when I say this. Emma told my story and what is even more insane is that she shares my granddaughter's; who was adopted out without our knowing, same name. Thank you to Ancestry DNA, Emma, we found her.
I have not cried such deeply intense tears as I did when reading this. I too; have found help with my birth trauma through EMDR and believe wholeheartedly in utero trauma.
Emma's story speaks the truth about what it means to be an adopted child in this world. She explains us better than anyone I've ever heard try to. .
I believe this book should be a required reading by all parents who want to adopt a child. I think every one who takes on the role of adopting a child should read this. Even more so; I wish that it could find its way into my granddaughters hands one day... so she knows that she is not alone.
Thank you Emma for coming into my life...

Beautifully written memoir of an adoptee’s life

Beautifully constructed and highly listenable, this memoir is a must-read for all touched by adoption (especially those who aren’t adopted, but think they have an understanding of it).