Are We A Good Fit?

Memoir · Book one of a trilogy

The Hummingbird Lion

Book One — Hana

by Jessie “Choling” Elliott

The first book in a memoir trilogy: present-day reflections woven with the psychology of adoption, attachment, and coming home to yourself.

Paperback and Kindle, on Amazon

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Author page (opens in a new tab)
Front cover of The Hummingbird Lion, Book 1: a lioness in profile above a young girl in a sailor dress, with a hummingbird in flight.
Copies of The Hummingbird Lion, Book One, laid out on a table beside signed bookmarks.

About the book

The Hummingbird Lion: Book One — Hana opens a memoir trilogy. It moves between the present day and the psychology underneath it: what adoption and attachment do to a life, and what it means to come home to yourself.

What we can explore through the story

  • Present-day reflections from a life lived on more than one side of adoption
  • The psychology of adoption and attachment, in everyday language
  • A story about coming home to yourself
Framed artwork of a hummingbird among purple blossoms on a dark branch, with vertical Korean text and a red seal. The text is given in English beside it.
Artwork by my youngest child.
Handwritten note headed “Mother and her Children”. Its words are typed out beside it.
Its words, written out by hand.

Why the hummingbird?

A symbol that began at home

The hummingbird was never chosen as a marketing device. One of my children began calling me their “little hummingbird” and created artwork describing the hummingbird as giving strength and vitality so the flowers around it could thrive.

That meaning stayed with me. The hummingbird represents tenderness, endurance, and the quiet labor of helping others grow, while learning that care must not require disappearing from your own life.

The words on the artwork

Mother and her Children

The hummingbird bestows strength and vitality, allowing the flowers to thrive. Thank you for giving us the strength to grow, even at the expense of your own.

And the lion

The lion is for courage: fierce, protective love circling gentle resilience.

Gentle as a hummingbird. Brave as a lioness.

The trilogy

  1. Book One

    Hana

    Available now

  2. Book Two

    Title to be announced

    Coming soon

  3. Book Three

    Title to be announced

    Coming soon

Companion titles

  • Coming soon

    Before You Adopt or Foster a Child, Read This

    A workbook for prospective adoptive and foster parents, grounded in attachment theory and built for the real, hard questions to ask before you say yes.

  • Free with a paid session

    Out of the Fog — 30 Daily Truths for Adoptees

    Thirty short, grounding truths for adult adoptees. It is my gift to you after your first paid session, sent to your inbox.

    See ways to work together

Shop the collection

The lion and the hummingbird, made wearable.

  • A black dad hat with the lion and hummingbird emblem embroidered in gold on the front, resting on the hood of a light blue hoodie. A hand points to the emblem.
    The back of the black dad hat, worn, with gold lettering embroidered above the strap opening.
    The black dad hat on a wooden table beside a cup of tea, with a city skyline through the window.

    Coming soon

    Embroidered Dad Hat

    The emblem, embroidered in gold on the front of a classic black dad hat, with “The Hummingbird Lion” on the back.

  • The light blue hoodie worn with the hood up over a black cap, on a rooftop among glass towers. A small Retrain Your Brain patch is on the chest.
    Close view of the light blue hoodie, with a black and white Retrain Your Brain patch on the chest.
    The back of the light blue hoodie, printed with the lion and hummingbird emblem.

    Coming soon

    Hoodie

    Cozy enough for the hard days, bold enough to say it out loud.

  • The black crewneck worn with a black cap, on a walkway above a city street. A red Retrain Your Brain patch is on the chest.
    Close view of the black crewneck, with a red and white Retrain Your Brain patch on the chest.
    The back of the black crewneck, with a small white emblem below the collar.

    Coming soon

    Crewneck

    A black crewneck with the Retrain Your Brain™ patch on the chest and the emblem on the back.

  • Coming soon

    Graphic Tee

    The full-color emblem on a soft, everyday tee.

  • Coming soon

    Coffee Mug

    A little fierce-and-gentle energy for your morning routine.

  • Coming soon

    Reflection Journal

    A place to write the parts of the story that do not fit in a caption.

Books, media & events

Conversations with the author

For book clubs, classes, libraries, reader groups, and organizations interested in the memoir, its themes, and the writing process.

  • 60 minutes
  • By video
  • $150
Book a conversation (opens in a new tab)

Universities, conferences, professional organizations and larger groups: please use the speaking inquiry. Speaking inquiry

Jessie seated beside a recording microphone, smiling and holding up a copy of The Hummingbird Lion.
Jessie signing a copy of her book at a table.

Signings, book clubs, bulk orders & media

For signings, book club visits, bulk orders and media requests, send a message and tell me what you have in mind.

Send a message

Are We A Good Fit?