Finding Sisters

How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find her Birth Family

Finding Sisters by Rebecca Daniels

With almost no information of her genetic heritage, adoptee Rebecca Daniels follows limited clues and uses DNA testing, genealogical research, thoughtful letter writing, and a willingness to make awkward phone calls with strangers to finally find her birth parents. Join in on this author’s discovery of family and self in Finding Sisters.

Sunbury Press, © September 2021

Buy at Sunbury Press
Buy on Amazon

Reviews

5 Stars on Amazon: “Definitely a must read for people with the desire to find their own roots.” All Amazon reviews here.

5 Stars on Goodreads: “This book is a ‘must-read’ for anyone engaged in genealogy through DNA testing and especially in cases where adoption is concerned.” All Goodreads reviews here.  

Greenfield Recorder: “If you have ever wanted to learn more about family you don’t know … or if you’re just interested in a good jigsaw puzzle/detective story, Finding Sisters will inform and entertain you.” Full Greenfield Recorder review here.  

The Montague Reporter: “Rebecca Daniels takes her readers on a journey of discovery that may serve as a preview of what might be in store for anyone willing to go for a genealogical ride of their own.”

Advance Praise for Finding Sisters:

“Finding Sisters is an excellent example of what it takes to solve a family mystery. Yet it’s also a captivating story of human relationships in the age of secrecy-revealing DNA databases…. Refreshingly honest and personal. Like no other DNA success story, Finding Sisters uses footnotes and family tree diagrams to show exactly how the search unfolds. This makes the book a clever hybrid of a memoir and a case study” – Richard Hill, author of Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA

“I would, hands down, recommend Finding Sisters to anyone who is contemplating going on this journey of discovery. Rebecca Daniels lays out quite beautifully what one can expect from a logistical standpoint, while acknowledging that the emotional ride might be different for everyone.” – Jay Sefton, Licensed Mental Health Counselor

“In Finding Sisters, Rebecca Daniels becomes a detective taking the reader on an intriguing hero’s journey to solve the mystery of her roots. … The adopted person’s journey is an important one to understand, and Daniels serves us well by bravely sharing her story.” – Brian Stanton, actor/writer of the film “@ghostkingdom” and solo play “Blank,” both pieces about adoption, search and reunion

“This book is not just ideal for those interested in genealogy research and ancestry websites, but also those wanting to uncover more of what makes them who they are. And isn’t that all of us to some degree?” – Maia Williamson, author of Where The Tree Frogs Took Me

Gallery

  • Glenna as a senior in high school
    Glenna as a senior in high school
  • me with my new cousin, Barbara (right), at our first meeting
    A picture of me with my new cousin, Barbara (right), at our first meeting
  • Me and my new maternal half-sister, April (right)
    Me and my new maternal half-sister, April (right)
  • Me and my birth mother, Glenna
    Me and my birth mother, Glenna
  • Glenna and her two daughters
    Glenna and her two daughters
  • Me and my new paternal half-sister, Ann (right)
    Me and my new paternal half-sister, Ann (right)
  • Mr. X, aka Derald D, my genetic father, when in the Army right after WWII
    Mr. X, aka Derald D, my genetic father, when in the Army right after WWII
  • Ann visits with our new cousins (from left, June, Ann, Chuck, and Twyla)
    Ann visits with our new cousins (from left, June, Ann, Chuck, and Twyla)

Interviews about Finding Sisters

Listen here to a brief interview I gave to North Country Public Radio to a brief interview I gave to North Country Public Radio for their morning news programs when the book first came out last fall. Scroll forward to 19:20 to hear me talk about my genetic genealogy search process and writing the book (about four minutes).

Here you will find a text-based interview about the process of writing Finding Sisters with book blogger, Teddy Rose of Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More, from my virtual book tour January 3, 2022.

Hyou will find a text-based interview about influences on my writing with book blogger, Laura Lee of Celticlady’s Reviews, from my virtual book tour January 14, 2022.

Here you will find a text-based interview about my writing work more generally with book blogger, Bee Lindy of Book Pleasures, from my virtual book tour February 24, 2022.

Guest Posts from Virtual Tour for Finding Sisters

Technically speaking, guest posts are not interviews in the sense of a dialogue with a flow back and forth between interviewer and interviewee, but in each instance, each book blogger requesting a guest post had a very specific question she wanted me to answer. Instead of a dialogue, guest posts are more like monologues.

Here you will find my guest post for book blogger LuAnn Worley of Rockin’ Book Reviews, from my virtual book tour January 5, 2022. Her question to me was: “What are some Tips, Tricks and Tools you use to keep your life organized, so you can accomplish all you have to do?”

Here you will find my guest post for book blogger Betty Bee of Toots Book Reviews from my virtual book tour January 12, 2022. Her question to me was: “Why was I hesitant to look for my birth family?”

Here you will find my guest post for book blogger, Suzie M. of My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews from my virtual book tour February 1, 2022. She asked me to write “a guest post on the ins and outs of writing about family (for public consumption).”