NEWS
Dreams of My Mothers has been included in a recently published wiki: Moving Books About Adoption & Foster Care.
April 7, 2019
Founded in 2011, Ezvid Wiki was the world's first video wiki, and is now among the top 3,000 websites in the United States. Our YouTube channel has over 425,000 subscribers, 250 million views since founding, and we have informed over $200 million in purchasing decisions to date.
May 7, 2015
My mother – the wonderful woman who adopted me despite already having four biological children of her own – was a bright, educated, and deeply thoughtful person. So she had been planning for my arrival from the orphanage in many ways. When I arrived from Korea as her new son, I was nearly 7 years old, and my mother knew that Koreans did not eat the same breakfast that Americans typically ate.
Finding My Mother and My American Identity
July 2, 2015
As we celebrate our nation's birth on the 4th of July, I can't help but reflect on how I came to my belief in what makes us truly American. It happened when I was 18 in a foreign country, as the lone American in a sea of non-Americans, holding and hugging an old woman I did not really know.
A Tale of Two Mothers: Joel Peterson's Autobiographical Novel Takes on Love, War, and Adoption
September 6, 2015
"Joel has the most extraordinary life story I have ever come across in nearly two decades of journalism and I'm so happy to get to share it with a global audience."
- Author/journalist Victoria Namkung
My Nickname: A Cautionary Tale About Racism
Author's article featured on huffingtonpost.com.
We have seen the devastation that racism can perpetrate when the ignorance and hate embedded within it are allowed to fester in silence at the margins of our society. But where does this sort of racism come from?
Los Angeles, CA. As we celebrate our nation’s birth on the 4th of July, I can’t help but reflect on how I came to my belief in what makes us truly American. It happened when I was eighteen in a foreign country, as the lone American in a sea of non-Americans, holding and hugging an old woman I did not really know.
St. Peter grad earning awards for first-ever novel, ‘Dreams of My Mothers’
August 18, 2015
New author Joel Peterson calls the Los Angeles area home, but it’s his St. Peter upbringing and Korean roots which resonate through this award-winning 2015 novel.
Peterson, a 1982 St. Peter High School graduate, weaves a journey through two distinct cultures and families in “Dreams of My Mothers: A Story of Love Transcendent.” He calls it biographical fiction, but it’s based on the true story of his adoption by Ellery and the late Aileen Peterson of St. Peter.
Dreams of My Mothers featured on Hmong Times Newspaper
June 16., 2015
by Amy Doeun
Joel L.A. Peterson began his life with a different name in a much different place from rural Minnesota where he grew up. Peterson was born in Korea. He is biracial, a tangible result of an ongoing American presence in the country and a visible shame upon his mother. However she chose to raise Peterson until he was adopted at the age of 7 by a Swedish couple in Minnesota.
How My Dad Taught Me to Love My Mom: One Man’s Story
Author's article featured on tolovehonorandvacuum.com:
Can a dad straighten out a sullen, adopted teenager with a chip on his shoulder?
You betcha! I love this story that author Joel Peterson sent my way for Father’s Day, and I hope you enjoy it, too! It’s from his fictional biography Dreams of My Mothers.
Being a Real Man: Lessons From My Dad An adopted son struggled to find his place
“Let us pray.” My dad’s bass voice rumbled as he bowed his head.
I was a 16-year-old who had been adopted at age 6 — a fact about me that would play a crucial role this day. Our house was Mom’s pride and joy. Anyone who walked into Ellen Lindquist’s home knew exactly what holiday season it was — all the major and minor holidays and everyone’s birthday. I think Dad loved our home all the more for the “Ellen Lindquist-ness” of it.
Half Korean.com features Authors's interview
June 23, 2015
Half Korean.com: An online community for mixed-race Koreans.
Dreams of My Mothers is the recently published debut novel by biracial Korean adoptee Joel Peterson.
Based on Joel’s own true story, Dreams of My Mothers tells the story of “a biracial, impoverished boy who, through the transcendent love of his mothers, rises above questions of identity, race, physical limitations, and prejudice to become a unique American success story.”
Dreams of My Mothers named a Foreword Reviews’ 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards winner.
June 25, 2016
Edina, Minnesota—Today, Huff Publishing Associates, LLC is pleased to announce Dreams of My Mothers has been recognized as a winner in the 18th annual Foreword Reviews’ INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards.
Narrowed down from nearly 2,000 entries by an independent panel of librarians and booksellers, along with Foreword Reviews’ editorial staff, the winners in their respective categories are considered the year’s best books published by independent publishers, university presses, and select self-published authors. Foreword Reviews made the announcement in a live presentation in San Francisco, at the American Library Association Annual Conference.
“Foreword’s INDIEFAB judges are the key to our winners’ selection process, and, in our minds, the best way to choose award-winning books,” said Victoria Sutherland, publisher of Foreword Reviews. “We work with librarians and booksellers in each category to provide us with an insider’s perspective on what would do well on consumer and library shelves.”
“As a publishing industry veteran, I have seen many different manuscripts on all kinds of topics,” Bill Huff, president of Huff Publishing Associates said. "When I received first-time author Joel Peterson’s draft manuscript of Dreams of My Mothers, I knew right away this book was beyond special. It is in a word: extraordinary. The gift to publish such a book is one that comes only a few times in a publisher’s career.”
About us: Huff Publishing Associates, LLC (HPA) of Minneapolis is an independent publishing company that specializes in publishing spiritual and religious books – but also publishes secular material – with a personal approach to producing professional, high quality publications. At HPA, we deeply understand the market and bring together a vibrant team of seasoned professionals—editorial specialists, developers, marketers, publicists, web designers and more to create customized, elegant publishing solutions for our authors and their readers.
About Foreword: Foreword Magazine, Inc is a media company featuring a Folio:-award-winning quarterly print magazine, Foreword Reviews, and a website devoted to independently published books. In the magazine, they feature reviews of the best 170 new titles from independent publishers, university presses, and noteworthy self-published authors. The print magazine is available at most Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million newsstands or by subscription. They are headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan, USA.
www.huffpublishing.com
www.dreamsofmymothers.com
Understanding Mom With The Help From The Author Of 'Dreams Of My Mothers'
MAY 8, 2015
Picking out a Mother’s Day card has never been easy for me. The cards with feminine designs and gold font catch my eye but the words never convey the difficult relationship between my mother and me. Sure I could go with the clichés of ‘You’re the best mom ever!” or try to fill a blank card with my own feelings. But sometimes those feelings are too intense for a card. Sometimes it's easier to send jewelry and pretend all is well. But so much is left unsaid.
May 11, 2015
Dreams of My Mothers, has placed in the 2014 Eric Hoffer Book Awards!
How I Met My Mother
May 9, 2015
An excerpt from the book has been printed as a Mother's Day article in dozens of different newspapers and publications nationwide, including:
-
and more...
An interview with author Joel L. A. Peterson on his love song to his adoptive and biological mothers
May 7, 2015
In the information age, it’s easy to find an answer to just about every question. Yet as anyone with a child of any age knows, there’s one question no amount of blogs or how-to guides can answer – how can I be the perfect mom?
In his new release, Dreams of My Mothers, Joel L. A. Peterson turns that question on its head with the story of his own youth and, more importantly, the women who shaped it. Through the unusually green eyes of KoreanAmerican narrator Noah Lee Peter Lindquist, based on Peterson’s younger self, readers come to see hardship, motherhood and adoption in a new light – one that’s perhaps more forgiving and more humane than they’ve ever glimpsed before.
AUTHOR JOEL L.A. PETERSON CHATS ABOUT MOM’S LOVE IN BREAKFAST BOWL
May 5, 2015
Leading up to Mother’s Day, I wanted to share this heart-warming interview with Joel L.A. Peterson, author of Dreams of My Mothers. Instead of all the gift ideas floating around out there, I’m hoping that this will inspire us all to take time this year to remember our moms. As a mom, I can tell you that you are the greatest gift of all...
Your Last Ditch Effort for Making Mom Happy This Mother’s Day
May 4, 2015
Dreams of My Mothers was recommend by Manhattan with a twist for Mother's Day gift:
"If mom happens to be a bookworm, Joel L.A. Peterson’s Dreams of My Mothers might just be the gift to give this holiday. The book is a word of biographical fiction in which the author shares his unique background as a biracial international adoptee, sharing his experience on how mothers can influence building our identity, making for an enthralling and inspirational read."
Mom’s Rules and Manhood
May 4, 2015
An excerpt from the book has been printed as a Mother's Day article in dozens of different newspapers and publications nationwide, including:
Mom’s Love in a Breakfast Bowl
May 1, 2015
My mother – the wonderful woman who adopted me through Lutheran Social Services despite already having four biological children of her own – was a bright, educated, and deeply thoughtful person. So she had been planning for my arrival from the orphanage in many ways. When I arrived from Korea as her new son, I was nearly seven years old, and my mother knew that Koreans did not eat the same breakfast that Americans typically ate.
Q&A with Joel L.A. Peterson, Author of Dreams of My Mothers Plus Giveaway!
May 1, 2015
Stephs Cheers and Jeers Blog: Q&A with Joel L.A. Peterson, Author of Dreams of My Mothers Plus Giveaway!
I recently had the opportunity to have an Q&A with Joel L.A. Peterson! He is the author of the new book Dreams Of My Mothers...
Author Interview: Flourish Magazine
May 1, 2015
In the information age, it’s easy to find an answer to just about every question. Yet as anyone with a child of any age knows, there’s one question no amount of blogs or how-to guides can answer – how can I be the perfect mom?
In his new release, Dreams of My Mothers, Joel L. A. Peterson turns that question on its head with the story of his own youth and, more importantly, the women who shaped it.
Author Joel L. A. Peterson Featured in Nation-wide Publication, "The Lutheran Magazine"
March 26, 2015
For Joel L.A. Peterson this article brings a nearly 40-year story full circle.
In the 1960s, an article in The Lutheran prompted a Minnesota family to adopt an orphaned child of a Korean woman and an American GI. Aileen and Ellery Peterson already had four children, but the story resonated with feelings that they could — and should — do more to help someone in need.
Across the world a 6-year-old biracial, destitute boy had no idea about this revelation, but soon he would through the global reach of Lutheran Social Services and the faith of a Lutheran family.
Author’s Article Featured in Hudson Valley Patents Magazine
March 25, 2015
It’s a word that most people have never heard of, yet we all are touched by it – some very much, most at least a little.
The word has two simultaneous meanings: the fear of acquiring a deformity and the fear or revulsion of deformity in someone else. I was nearly boiled to death as a 6- month-old infant when I fell into a pot of boiling hot water, immersed in it for nearly an hour – alone and unsupervised. This traumatic event literally scarred me for life. Physically for sure, but also emotionally and psychologically.
Crescenta Weekly: Peterson Shares ‘Dreams’ at Booksigning
March 19, 2015
Joel L.A. Peterson hadn’t planned on committing his life story to pen and paper, but what started as a short piece written primarily for his family turned into his first book, “Dreams of My Mothers: A Story of Love Transcendent” released March 1.
First TV interview! The show is "Halo Halo with Kat Iniba " on LA 18 TV!
March 11, 2015
First TV interview which airs on March 11, 2015! The show is "Halo Halo with Kat Iniba " on LA 18 TV.
Broadcasting on channel 18, LA18 serves the nation’s second largest TV market and the largest Asian American market – the Los Angeles DMA. LA18 provides a unique variety of news, sports, drama, and entertainment programs.
LA18 reaches 5.6 million TV households in the Los Angeles DMA over-the-air, including nearly 3 million cable households and 2 million satellite households (DirecTV and DISH Network systems) in the LA DMA as a must-carry local station (Nielsen Media ’13 Universe Estimate). LA18’s affiliate stations include: KUAN-LP San Diego, KIKU Honolulu, KCNS San Francisco, WSAH New York, WTVG Philadelphia, KUBE Houston and WMFP Boston.
Author Joel L. A. Peterson featured at Arbiter News:
February 18, 2015
Arbiter News Bookworms had the pleasure of speaking with Author Joel L.A. Peterson about his new book, Dreams of My Mothers.
Read more at Arbiternews.com.
Jim Luce's Post on Facebook
February 17, 2015
"As the founder of Orphans International Worldwide and The J. Luce Foundation, I was so impressed with this book we are awarding it to our Luce Leaders at a Leadership Reception at the Sri Lankan Mission to the United Nations Feb. 26. We will also review shortly it in The Stewardship Report. Congrats to author Joel L. A. Peterson!"
The Cavalier Daily: Joel Peterson writes of the power of “love transcendent”
February 05, 2015
Equally tragic and triumphant, the soon to be published novel “Dreams of My Mothers: A Story of Love Transcendent” describes the journey of an adopted Korean-American boy and his relationship with both his birth mother and his adopted mother. The novel — to be published in March — is based on the true story of author and University alumnus Joel. L. A. Peterson.
Mom, Bob Hope and Christmas truths
December 24, 2014
An excerpt from the book has been printed as a Christmas article in dozens of different newspapers and publications nationwide (from Philadelphia to Fresno), including: