Untangling Our Roots 2026: Speaking Announcement
I am honored to share that I will be presenting at Untangling Our Roots 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. I will be part of the panel:
“The Last to Know: How to Heal from Late Discovery”
Moderated by: Deidra Laverne McGee
Panelists: Alicia Williams, Cynthia Boone, Ridghaus, and Diana Kayla Hochberg
Together, we will be sharing deeply personal perspectives on shock, grief, identity reconstruction, and the many paths toward healing, whether or not reunion is part of the journey.
I am also grateful to share that I will have an Author Table for my memoir, Connected: Finding My Truth, creating another space for connection, conversation, and community.
Atlanta, Georgia
March 19–22, 2026
🌿Diana Kayla Hochberg at Untangling Our Roots 2026
Atlanta | March 19–22, 2026
I’m honored to be part of the Untangling Our Roots conference in Atlanta, joining a powerful panel conversation on identity, truth, and healing.
🧩 Speaker Panel:
The Last to Know: How to Heal from Late Discovery
This session explores the emotional reality of being the last to know your own origin story. Together, we’ll discuss what late discovery really means—not as curiosity, but as a profound shift in identity, trust, and belonging.
As a Late Discovery Black Market Baby, genealogist, educator, and author of CONNECTED: Finding My Truth, I bring both lived experience and professional insight to this conversation.
This panel creates space for:
Understanding the impact of hidden truths
Navigating identity disruption
Finding pathways toward healing and integration
This is not just about discovery.
It’s about learning how to live truthfully with what you now know.
Upcoming Appearance
Diana Kayla Hochberg at the Tucson Festival of Books
March 14–15, 2026 | University of Arizona
I’m honored to be participating in the Tucson Festival of Books, one of the largest literary festivals in the country.
Throughout the weekend, I will be signing books and meeting readers at the Adoptee Authors Exhibitor Booth (#274), alongside an incredible group of writers. The booth is coordinated with the support of editor and producer Diane Shifflett of Rainy Day Freelance and highlights adoptee voices while creating space for meaningful conversations about identity, truth, and lived experience.
Adoptee Authors Booth Signings
📍 Booth #274
Saturday, March 14
10:00–11:00 AM
4:00–5:00 PM
Sunday, March 15
11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Indie Author Experience
My memoir CONNECTED: Finding My Truth was selected to participate in the Indie Author Experience, a curated program highlighting independent authors at the Tucson Festival of Books.
Sunday, March 15
1:30–4:30 PM
📍 Nonfiction Pavilion — Booth #251
If you’re attending the festival, please stop by and say hello. I would love to meet you and talk about the journey behind CONNECTED: Finding My Truth.
Learn more about the Adoptee Authors collective:
https://adopteeauthors.com
Tucson Festival of Books 2026
Dates: Saturday, March 14 – Sunday, March 15, 2026
Location: University of Arizona Campus, Tucson, Arizona
I’m honored to be attending the Tucson Festival of Books on the University of Arizona campus. This year’s festival is especially meaningful to me because I’ll be participating alongside an incredible group of adoptee authors at the Adoptee Authors Exhibitor Booth, coordinated with the support of editor and producer Diane Shifflett of Rainy Day Freelance.
This booth centers adoptee voices and creates space for honest conversations about identity, truth, and lived experience.
My book, CONNECTED: Finding My Truth, was selected for the Indie Author Experience. I’ll be signing books and meeting readers on Sunday, March 15, from 1:30–4:30 PM, in the Adult Fiction & Nonfiction Pavilion.
Featured Adoptee Authors at the Festival
K.R. DeStefano – I Will See You Again: Hearts Will Sing
https://www.amazon.ca/Will-See-You-Again-Hearts/dp/B0C63YSMWHAnn Fessler – The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade
https://www.annfessler.com/Diana Kayla Hochberg – CONNECTED: Finding My Truth
https://www.dianakaylahochberg.com/bookJulie Ryan McGue –
Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss & Sisterhood
Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family & Kinship
Twice a Daughter: A Search for Family, Identity, and Belonging
https://juliemcgueauthor.com/Ariel Rathbun – BEAUTIFUL BASTARDS: An Adoption Odyssey of Three Generations
https://www.adoption-odyssey.com/Emma Stevens (Linda Pevac) –
Choosing to Breathe
The Gathering Place: An Adoptee's Story
A Fire Is Coming
https://emmastevenswriter.com/Jesse Scott – You Can’t Get Rid of Me: An Adopted Son’s Search for Family
https://www.amazon.com/You-Cant-Get-Rid-Me/dp/1960462598Diane Wheaton – Finding Loretta: An Adopted Daughter’s Search to Define Family
https://dianewheaton.com/Jean Kelly Widner – Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective
https://adoptionparadox.com/In addition to adoptee authors, two authors with stories of genetic bewilderment will be at the DNA Surprises Exhibitor Tent right next to the Adoptee Authors:
Lezlee Liljenberg – If You Only Knew: Navigating DNA Surprises and the NPE World
https://iamlezlee.com/
Paul Joseph Fronczak – The Foundling: The True Story of a Kidnapping, a Family Secret, and My Search for the Real Me and True Identity: Cracking the Oldest Kidnapping Cold Case and Finding My Missing Twin,
https://www.thefronczakfiles.com/books
Being part of this community matters deeply to me. These are writers who have done the difficult, heart-opening work of telling their truth and placing it into the world. I’m grateful for the opportunity to gather together, support one another, and connect with readers.
If you’re attending the festival, I hope you’ll stop by the Adoptee Authors and DNA Surprises Exhibitor Booths or visit me during my signing on Sunday. I’d love to meet you.
🎉 CONNECTED: Finding My Truth Selected for 2026 Tucson Festival of Books!
I’m thrilled to share some incredible news! My debut memoir, CONNECTED: Finding My Truth, has been selected for the 2026 Tucson Festival of Books as part of the Indie Author Experience.
Out of more than 275 indie submissions, CONNECTED was chosen for this nationally recognized celebration of books and authors.
I’ll be signing books and meeting readers on Sunday, March 15, 2026, from 1:30–4:30 PM in the Adult Fiction & Nonfiction Pavilion.
📚✨ I’m honored and excited to join such an inspiring community of writers and readers.
Learn more about the event: TucsonFestivalOfBooks.org
Learn more about my book: www.dianakaylahochberg.com/connected
🌟 Follow my journey and upcoming appearances: Join My Mailing List →
A Season of Gratitude, Light, and Connection
As the year draws to a close, I want to pause and express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported CONNECTED: Finding My Truth. Whether you read the book, shared it with others, or reached out with kindness and encouragement, your support has meant more than I can say.
This season is a time of reflection, connection, and light. Whether you are celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, New Year’s, or simply the spirit of the season, I wish you moments of peace, warmth, and togetherness.
May the year ahead bring health, hope, and continued connection.
With sincere thanks and holiday wishes,
Diana Kayla Hochberg
Sold, Not Adopted: Reclaiming My Truth After a Black Market Baby Deal
Virtual Event
December 15, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Hosted by Adoption Network Cleveland
Diana will be the featured speaker for Adoption Network Cleveland’s Monday Evening Speaker Series. In this virtual talk, she shares her journey of uncovering the truth about her beginnings after learning, as an adult, that she was not adopted but sold through a black market baby broker in Montreal.
Her story explores identity, truth, resilience, hidden histories, DNA discoveries, and the long fight to reclaim what was taken.
Registration: Please register directly through Adoption Network Cleveland.
Autographed Copies of Connected: Finding My Truth
Event: Art Under the Oaks
Dates: Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2, 2025
Times:
• Saturday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Sunday: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Litchfield Market Village (corner of Hwy 17 and Willbrook Blvd) South Carolina
I am pleased to share that Connected: Finding My Truth will be featured at the Art Under the Oaks exhibit in the Litchfield Market Village. While I will not be in attendance, my publisher, Linda Ketron, will be on site at the CLASS Publishing tent with autographed copies of my book. She will be available to speak with readers and answer any questions.
This semi-annual celebration showcases the vibrant creative community of our region, offering an inspiring weekend of fine art, handcrafted work, and live music under the majestic oak trees. 🌳 It is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy local talent and support area authors and artists.
If you plan to attend, please visit the CLASS Publishing tent along the path near Hwy 17 to purchase your signed copy of Connected: Finding My Truth and connect with the CLASS Publishing community.
✨ Latest Event: Annual Art & Wine Walk
This past weekend I was honored to share CONNECTED: Finding My Truth at the Annual Art & Wine Walk with my publisher, Linda Ketron, and fellow CLASS Publishing authors. Thank you to all the readers who stopped by to connect and celebrate stories with us.
Annual Art & Wine Walk
What an amazing weekend at the Annual Art & Wine Walk! I was honored to be under the CLASS Publishing tent with my publisher Linda Ketron and fellow authors Lee Brockington (Pawleys Island: Stories from the Porch), Dawn Dixon (Rupert Three-Paws), Judy Johnson (Little One), and Pris Keefer & Paul Mikos (Finding Love at 80).
It was a joy to share my book CONNECTED: Finding My Truth with new friends, sign copies, and celebrate stories, community, and connection.
Highlights from the Day
Seeing Sherri again, one of my editors, whose support continues to mean the world to me.
Talking with Michael Rogan, a talented plein air artist—and a two-time reader of my book!
Connecting with Joe Tempel, an incredible black-and-white photographer who shared stories from his time in Denver.
Sharing the day with Lee Brockington, fellow author and storyteller whose work inspires many.
Celebrating alongside so many new readers who brought their energy, kindness, and curiosity.
I’m deeply grateful to everyone who stopped by, and I can’t wait to see you at the next event.
Our CLASS Publishing booth at the Annual Art & Wine Walk — so grateful for my publisher, Linda Ketron, for her guidance and support.
Sherri, one of my wonderful editors and a big part of my journey.
With Lee Brockington, fellow author of Pawleys Island: Stories from the Porch.
With Michael Rogan, a talented plein air artist and two-time reader of CONNECTED.
Joe Tempel, a gifted black-and-white photographer and longtime Denver resident, stopped by to share his support.
So grateful for every new reader who came by to connect and share their stories.
Arizona Daily Star.
Tucson Festival of Books
Jun 27, 2025
💬Summer reading discussion
Just finished Connected: Finding My Truth by Diana Kayla Hochberg. I could not put it down! A must read!
Featured in the Coastal Observer – Summer 2025
I’m honored to see Connected: Finding My Truth featured in the Coastal Observer’s Summer 2025 edition alongside an inspiring lineup of books from CLASS Publishing. Thank you to CLASS at Pawleys for championing meaningful stories, independent publishing, and lifelong learning in our community.
Coming Soon: Summer Art Show at Old Town Hall, Pawleys Island
Get ready for a burst of local creativity. The Waccamaw Neck Arts Alliance presents the Summer Art Show at Old Town Hall in Pawleys Island, featuring a vibrant mix of art, books, and handmade goods.
🖼️ Original Artwork
📚 Books by Local Authors
🏺 Handcrafted Pottery
💌 Notecards, Prints & More
With over 35 local artisans and authors, this is your chance to shop unique pieces, meet the makers, and support your creative community.
Location: Old Town Hall, Pawleys Island
When: Coming soon
Presented by: Waccamaw Neck Arts Alliance
Art, stories, gifts. All made right here. Don’t miss it!
This Father’s Day, Discover a Story That Redefines Family, Loyalty, and the Truth We Think We Know
Some dads give us life. Others give us everything.
In Connected: Finding My Truth, author Diana Kayla Hochberg takes readers on an unforgettable journey that begins with a single, offhand comment in Las Vegas. What follows is a stunning real life mystery involving black market adoption, buried family secrets, and a truth more tangled than fiction.
Part memoir. Part mystery. Part true crime. This story grips you from page one. It is a deep dive into resilience, betrayal, love, and the question that haunts so many: Who am I, really?
But one thing is clear.
The man who raised her is, and always will be, her father.
This Father’s Day, give a book that honors real fatherhood. Not the picture perfect kind, but the gritty, unconditional, courageous kind.
#ConnectedFindingMyTruth #FathersDay2025 #Memoir
#TrueCrimeReads #FamilyIsMoreThanBlood #RealDadsRealStories
AI-generated visual inspired by select themes from the book.
This Mother’s Day, Give a Gift That Stays With You
Some memories never leave us.
In Connected: Finding My Truth, Diana Kayla Hochberg shares a Mother’s Day memory she never forgot.
A young girl in a yellow chiffon dress and white go-go boots.
A trip to the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan.
Waiting for a special guest from Canada.
A day filled with excitement, hope, and unanswered questions.
Some moments shape us, even when they do not unfold the way we expect.
This Mother’s Day, honor the real stories.
The complicated ones.
The ones we carry with us forever.
Give a gift that connects across generations.
Give a gift that connects across generations.
Books, Coffee, & Conversations
Join Diana Kayla Hochberg for a Special Signing
📚 Meet Author Diana Kayla Hochberg – Book Signing Event! Join us at Pawleys Island Bakery for a special book signing of Connected: Finding My Truth by Diana Kayla Hochberg!
Diana will be selling and personalizing copies of her book and answering your questions about her inspiring journey.
Special Offer: Purchase a book and receive 10% off your bakery, drink, or food order! (Discount applies to bakery items only, not book purchases.)
📅 Friday, March 21, 2025
⏰ 9 AM – 1 PM
📍 Pawleys Island Bakery
10517 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
☕ Grab a coffee, enjoy a treat, and connect with the author!
Bakery Hours: Open Daily 7 AM – 2 PM
Learn more about Diana at: www.dianakaylahochberg.com
#BookSigning #MeetTheAuthor #ConnectedFindingMyTruth #DianaKaylaHochberg #PawleysIslandEvents #LocalAuthors #SupportLocal #BookLovers
Update March 2025
48 Hours Later: An Unforgettable Afternoon – The Launch of Connected: Finding My Truth
It’s only been 48 hours since the launch of Connected: Finding My Truth, and I’m still feeling the energy of that incredible afternoon! Sharing my journey with so many friends, family, and supporters made this moment truly unforgettable.
I asked the audience a question that changed my life forever:
💡 What if everything you believed about your life… was a lie?
In 1993, one conversation shattered my world—and Connected is the story of how I rebuilt it. It’s a journey of truth, resilience, and the power of human connection.
If you’ve started reading, I’d love to hear what resonates with you. And if you haven’t yet—now’s the time!
📖 Get your copy today and uncover the truth with me!
With gratitude,
Diana Kayla Hochberg
What if everything you believed about your life... was a lie?
How far would you go to uncover the truth?
Connected: Finding My Truth by Diana Kayla Hochberg isn’t just a book – it’s a gripping journey of resilience, discovery, and long-buried family secrets.
Through shocking revelations, decades-spanning mysteries, and heartfelt moments, this powerful memoir blends mystery and investigative journalism into one woman’s relentless quest for her true identity.
Available to order on February 19, 2025 through my website: www.dianakaylahochberg.com
Also available locally at My Sister’s Books in Pawleys Island, SC. https://mysistersbooks.com/
Your love and support made this moment possible, and I’m beyond excited to share this journey with you. Mark your calendars, order your copy, and let’s connect!
#ConnectedFindingMyTruth #MemoirLaunch #AuthorLife #DiscoverYourTruth #BookSigning #PawleysIslandEvents #IndependentBookstores #MoveableFeastDay
