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| Photo by Nikki Mason |
More from the Author...
My Korean name is Choi, Jin Sook. At the airport upon first arriving in America my middle brother, Jerry,
gave me my new American name, Gracia Lynn Davis. I had four brothers, Jimmy, Bill, Jerry, and Johnny. Jimmy passed
away at the age of two on Christmas morning 1947. Jerry passed away in 1996. I also have one unbiological Korean sister, Kim, who
was also adopted from South Korea at the age of two. Two years later they adopted me. Mom and Dad wanted another toddler but
lucky for me the adoption agency suggested that they adopt an older child because of their age.
My youngest brother, Johnny, was 18 when I arrived in America so there is a definite age gap between
us girls and our brothers. My oldest brother, Bill, is married and has a daughter named Pattey who is a year
younger than Kim. Learning a new language was very challenging. Kim and Pattey took advantage of my language
barrier by having me play the role of a baby whenever we played "house." I could probably write a whole book on
my experience being a 'new foreign kid on the block'. (*wink*)
Fact or Fiction? If you've read Yellow Hair and Blue Eyes: An Orphan's Wish, the book and you have questions about it,
click on the mail box.
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| My Family |
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| My husband Bob, step-son Chris, and daughter Nikki. |
What made me write this book?
I graduated from Loy Norrix High School in 1985 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Shortly after graduating I began working
for the City of Kalamazoo. Being fiercely independent and living on my own I found it difficult to work full time and attend
college...graduating from college seemed illusive. I decided to drop everything and join the military not only for the college
fund but to see the world, and to do good for the country that I had fallen in love with since I was an orphan.
My first and only duty station was, guess where? Korea! Why not take advantage of the situation and
look up my biological family? my mind cried out. The whole two years I was stationed in Korea, I did not have the
desire to search for my past. For years I had somehow managed to bury the deep pain inside and I was afraid to unleash
it.
With the help from the military I graduated from Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Western Michigan University.
With my degree in Marketing I became the Senior Buyer for the City of Kalamazoo. I met my husband, Bob Mason, while I
was stationed in Korea. He is retired now. We have a six-year-old daughter, Nikki, who became my inspiration to
write Yellow Hair and Blue Eyes, An Orphan's Wish. I wanted her to know what all I went through as an orphan in South
Korea. I could have just told her or even wrote a small biography meant just for her. By telling her, it would be
years before she is able to understand and by that time my memory might not be as clear. So, I wrote a biography but
found it too depressing and I didn't want Nikki to feel depressed. Instead, I wrote a fiction and I'm glad I did.
All the trials, hardships, joy and love that the main character, Soo-jin, experiences are what I had experienced
as a child. Yes, I wrote this book for my daughter so that she may better understand and appreciate the joy of belonging to
a loving family, but I also hope to gain from this book an inspiration to those that have adopted and plan to adopt,
not just from South Korea, but from all over the world.
Warm wishes,
G.L. Mason
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My favorite past-time is not only spending time with my family, but I enjoy doing arts and crafts. I make
bottle cap jewelries made from 1970's vintage bottle caps and reusable floral scented pillar candles (made with REAL flowers!).
I've participated in several arts and crafts shows in Michigan since 2002. Please check out Nikki Doodles web-site by
clicking on the white daisy. Who knows, you might like what you see.
Member of PARauthors
Considering Adopting? Click here for more information:
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