New Books Network Stefanie Mercado Altman, Claire Altman, and Stan Altman, "Twice Blessed: A Story of Unconditional Love" (Fordham UP, 2025)
Sep 22, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Stefanie Mercado Altman, an adoptee and memoir co-author, shares her journey of self-discovery amidst the complexities of adoption and identity. Joined by her co-authors, Claire Altman, a passionate advocate for supportive services, and Stan Altman, who reflects on the transformative power of guardianship during the AIDS crisis, they explore the deep connections that define family. They discuss their motivations for writing, the challenges of navigating family dynamics, and how love and resilience prevail through adversity.
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How The Memoir Began
- Claire kept copious notes from running Highbridge-Woodycrest and used them to start the memoir in 2020–21.
- Stefanie joined, Stan joined, and Stefanie organized the outline and sections at their dining table.
Three Voices Enrich Perspective
- The authors chose three voices because each person experienced different parts of the story and could truthfully tell different aspects.
- Stan says individual voices made the book richer and allowed personal reflection about transformative effects.
Founding Highbridge-Woodycrest
- Stan and Claire met quickly and later combined professional interests in housing and AIDS research that led to Highbridge-Woodycrest.
- Their $10,000 fundraising and Stan's study helped leverage the bond to buy and renovate the residence.
