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Heartlines: The Year I Met My Other Mother
This is what happened the year I met my other mother.In 1965, Robin, unmarried and pregnant, comes to Melbourne to give birth and give her baby up for adoption, then returns to Perth to resume her life having never seen her baby. After 10 days alone, the baby, is taken home, named Susannah, and made part of a wonderful family that loves her. The adoption laws at the time guarantee that there can be no contact between birth mother and child. Ever.In 1984, the law is changed and sealed files can be opened. In 1989 Robin tries to make contact with Susannah who is now the same age as Robin was when she had her. Susannah replies to Robin in a letter, declining contact.In 2014, Susannah, at the same age Robin was when she wrote her first letter, writes Robin a different letter. The heartlines open. After nearly fifty years apart, a mother and daughter are reunited. But the path to a relationship is not smooth. Very few adoption reunions result in meaningful, long-term reconnection. The fragile relationships stumble and fall under the weight of years of repressed anger, hurt, grief and loss, different beliefs and of whole lives spent apart. A feeling of connection isn’t enough. You have to fight for a relationship. This is the story of two women who did. The raw openness of their writing and the breakneck speed of their reconnection is compelling. Heartlines is at once both unique and universal. It’s a story of courage and what can happen when you open rather than close your heart; when you decide to stay just as every fearful instinct tells you to run away.Heartlines is about connection and reconnection and why relationships are worth the fight. It is a piercingly honest and often hilarious story of what it takes to reconnect – and stay there – after a lifetime apart. Fast-paced, warm and funny, this is an adoption story that pulls the reader on to a wonderful if wobbly rollercoaster ride, exploring themes of family, motherhood, loss, belonging, hope, courage and the importance of never giving up.
- GenresBiography
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2016
3 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Susannah McFarlane
132 books68 followersSusannah McFarlane is a successful children’s book author who, after many years working as a publisher, now spends her time writing and creating stories that kids love to read.
She is the creator and writer of the awarding-winning EJ12 Girl Hero series, the creator and co-author of the hugely popular series for boys, Boy vs Beast, and the author of the Little Mates series of alphabet books for under fives.
Susannah, who was also the original concept creator of two of Australia’s leading tween fiction series Go Girl! and Zac Power, understands kids and loves creating stories they enjoy to read. Her understanding and belief in the need for age-appropriate but fun content for kids comes from over twenty years experience as a children’s book publisher and from having worked with some of the world’s leading brands and writers. Susannah actually counts Thomas the Tank Engine, Winnie the Pooh, Tintin, and Enid Blyton as friends, not just former colleagues!
Susannah is also the founding director of Lemonfizz Media, a boutique children’s publisher that focuses on developing a small number of publishing projects across all content platforms, and a speaker on children’s publishing for the RMIT Editing and Publishing course.
She was previously the managing director of Egmont Books UK; the vice-president of the Egmont Group; the co‐owner, managing director and publisher of Hardie Grant Egmont; a contributor to the UK trade journal Publishing News; and the Convenor of the Children’s Publishing Committee and Board Director of the Australian Publishers’ Association.
She is the creator and writer of the awarding-winning EJ12 Girl Hero series, the creator and co-author of the hugely popular series for boys, Boy vs Beast, and the author of the Little Mates series of alphabet books for under fives.
Susannah, who was also the original concept creator of two of Australia’s leading tween fiction series Go Girl! and Zac Power, understands kids and loves creating stories they enjoy to read. Her understanding and belief in the need for age-appropriate but fun content for kids comes from over twenty years experience as a children’s book publisher and from having worked with some of the world’s leading brands and writers. Susannah actually counts Thomas the Tank Engine, Winnie the Pooh, Tintin, and Enid Blyton as friends, not just former colleagues!
Susannah is also the founding director of Lemonfizz Media, a boutique children’s publisher that focuses on developing a small number of publishing projects across all content platforms, and a speaker on children’s publishing for the RMIT Editing and Publishing course.
She was previously the managing director of Egmont Books UK; the vice-president of the Egmont Group; the co‐owner, managing director and publisher of Hardie Grant Egmont; a contributor to the UK trade journal Publishing News; and the Convenor of the Children’s Publishing Committee and Board Director of the Australian Publishers’ Association.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 7, 2023
I am really thankful these two women chose to share their story in such detail and with such honesty. As a result, they have recorded a helpful recount of the reality of reunification and both the joys and heart ache. I especially valued Susannah’s recount as she grappled with the reality of being adopted and the challenges of choosing to reconnect with her birth mum.
July 30, 2016
An interesting take on adoption reunion when denial has been the coping mechanism. Very easy to read and very open and honest. A refreshing account. As someone who has been there and done that I'd love to see a follow up in 20 years!
March 23, 2025
It feels wrong to give a rating to 2 women who have been so vulnerable in truth telling. This was both a joy to read and rather painful. Painful to read all the difficult emotions that come up, and Susannah especially did seem rather awful/annoying at times, but then she was also processing some crazy stuff so maybe her honesty was a gift more than anything. Brian her (adopted) father was especially lovely and I teared up reading his part. Some beautiful minor characters. Especially helpful book I imagine for others going through the re-unification process.
June 8, 2021
So moving
A moving, honest, soul-baring and hence brave retelling of the reunion of two women - a mother, Robin and the daughter, Susannah who was given away for adoption. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has decided to consider reuniting with long lost children or parents that were lost through an adoption process.
A moving, honest, soul-baring and hence brave retelling of the reunion of two women - a mother, Robin and the daughter, Susannah who was given away for adoption. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has decided to consider reuniting with long lost children or parents that were lost through an adoption process.
January 19, 2018
Being an adoptee Born in the mid ‘50’s I was very interested to give this a go. Whilst not the same circumstances as my adoption, I certainly could empathise and feel their pain during the whole process of discovery.
March 19, 2019
An exceptionally clear recount of the first year of reconnecting an adoptee with her birth mother. The two writers switch frequently so that every moment and every tiny misstep is told and shown from both sides. I hope that adoptees find this book.
August 12, 2016
When Robin gives up her daughter for adoption in 1965, the law at the time guarantees that there will never be any contact between them. Although slightly older than many teenage single parents in that era, Robin does not feel ready for the responsibility of motherhood and believes the decision is the best one for both her and her child. In a lucky stroke of fate, her daughter Susannah is adopted by a loving family who give her a wonderful childhood and home life. Although aware she is adopted, Susannah has no desire to have any kind of contact with her biological parents.
Twenty four years later the laws have changed, allowing Robin to make contact with Susannah via letter in 1989. Having undergone a significant lifestyle change from a "free love" mindset to becoming a committed Christian, Robin yearns to reconnect with her oldest child, although she is understanding when Susannah sends her a polite but direct letter, declining any further contact.
Both women move on with their lives, but in 2014 it is Susannah who initiates contact. Devastated after the loss of her adored adoptive mother, Susannah is the same age as Robin was when she wrote the first letter twenty five years before. And with a simple letter, the floodgates open. Moving from written letters to emails, the interaction between the two is fast and furious as almost fifty years of separation are scrubbed away.
Although both mother and daughter yearn to know the other, it is not always an easy process. Issues emerge for both of them, some easy to deal with, others much more challenging. Learning that her mother did not struggle with the decision to give her up was particularly painful for Susannah to come to terms with and takes some time to accept. Both also struggle to accept the other's religious/spiritual views. Overall though, it is that invisible biological bond that keeps them connected and sees them move through the myriad of issues they must overcome to build their own unique relationship.
Having heard so many stories of the unimaginable pain of enforced adoption that was so prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s, it was interesting to read of a woman who was not initially conflicted about giving her child up. Equally interesting was how this perspective changed over time. And despite being blessed with the very best adoptive family you could hope for, Susannah's early years were not straight forward, experiencing emotional upheaval as a young child.
While a very interesting book, Heartlines is also a very intense reading experience. This is not a criticism, after all it is Susannah's story and intensity was obviously very much a part of reconnecting with her mother. As a reader, however I found myself getting so caught up, I had to sometimes set it aside to let the last section process before moving onto the next. Overall though it is an amazing story and one certainly worth reading.
Twenty four years later the laws have changed, allowing Robin to make contact with Susannah via letter in 1989. Having undergone a significant lifestyle change from a "free love" mindset to becoming a committed Christian, Robin yearns to reconnect with her oldest child, although she is understanding when Susannah sends her a polite but direct letter, declining any further contact.
Both women move on with their lives, but in 2014 it is Susannah who initiates contact. Devastated after the loss of her adored adoptive mother, Susannah is the same age as Robin was when she wrote the first letter twenty five years before. And with a simple letter, the floodgates open. Moving from written letters to emails, the interaction between the two is fast and furious as almost fifty years of separation are scrubbed away.
Although both mother and daughter yearn to know the other, it is not always an easy process. Issues emerge for both of them, some easy to deal with, others much more challenging. Learning that her mother did not struggle with the decision to give her up was particularly painful for Susannah to come to terms with and takes some time to accept. Both also struggle to accept the other's religious/spiritual views. Overall though, it is that invisible biological bond that keeps them connected and sees them move through the myriad of issues they must overcome to build their own unique relationship.
Having heard so many stories of the unimaginable pain of enforced adoption that was so prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s, it was interesting to read of a woman who was not initially conflicted about giving her child up. Equally interesting was how this perspective changed over time. And despite being blessed with the very best adoptive family you could hope for, Susannah's early years were not straight forward, experiencing emotional upheaval as a young child.
While a very interesting book, Heartlines is also a very intense reading experience. This is not a criticism, after all it is Susannah's story and intensity was obviously very much a part of reconnecting with her mother. As a reader, however I found myself getting so caught up, I had to sometimes set it aside to let the last section process before moving onto the next. Overall though it is an amazing story and one certainly worth reading.
May 16, 2016
The story of being given up for adoption and meeting the birth mother
I doubt I could ever bare my soul as much as Susannah and Robyn do, though I think this story is more Susannah than about Robyn. In parts I put the book aside...because i recall the 1960's and how women were treated before we were given single mother pensions and society frowned severely on unwed mums. I am not a single mum or a woman who had to get married. I therefore find Susannah a bit hard on her mother as she comes across as very needy she she did not have awful parents who adopted her. Perhaps this affects my opinion of four star rating.....It's interesting to read, but dragged out at times. I am happy they were able to reunite so successfully.
I doubt I could ever bare my soul as much as Susannah and Robyn do, though I think this story is more Susannah than about Robyn. In parts I put the book aside...because i recall the 1960's and how women were treated before we were given single mother pensions and society frowned severely on unwed mums. I am not a single mum or a woman who had to get married. I therefore find Susannah a bit hard on her mother as she comes across as very needy she she did not have awful parents who adopted her. Perhaps this affects my opinion of four star rating.....It's interesting to read, but dragged out at times. I am happy they were able to reunite so successfully.
August 6, 2016
So honest, raw & brave.
August 21, 2016
I loved this book - the upbeat contemporary style, the honesty, humour and warmth, the ease of reading, and the happy ending. I wonder where they are all at now?
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews