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Hartford Reporter Was A Love Child Before a Daughter

For nearly half of her life, she was known as Kara Hewes. But WFSB personality Kara Sundlun, knew that wasn't who she was.

In 1975, her then-expectant and unwed mother, Judy, was abandoned by Sundlun's biological father, the late former Rhode Island governor and wealthy businessman Bruce Sundlun.

Raised by her mother and adopted by her onetime stepfather, John Hewes, a 17-year-old Sundlun (she legally took her father's name after the reconciliation, ) who had struggled with her identity, a childhood suicide attempt and counseling, finally decided to legally and very publicly force her biological father to acknowledge her as his daughter and pay her college costs.

An out-of-court settlement started what would become a fairy tale-like story of a father and daughter reunited amidst a backdrop of Newport society, politics and celebrity. Sundlun's book "Finding Dad: From "Love Child" To Daughter" is the tale of a teenager's determination to establish a relationship with her father, and their eventual reconciliation and shared love and family. Featuring a forward by Sundlun friend, former WFSB personality and MSNBC's "Morning Joe" co-anchor Mika Brzezinski, the book is scheduled to be released on Nov. 11, Veteran's Day, in part as a homage to Bruce Sundlun, a celebrated World War II bomber pilot who died in 2011. 

"People had suggested I write a book or have a movie made about our story. And inside, there was always a part of me that wanted to write it but I didn't know how I would find the time. But he was my dad and it was a story written for me and my dad. The intention was to let people know it is never too late to empower yourself, to make amends, to find forgiveness," said Sundlun. 

And of course, my book comes out in November ratings, who could have added.

Read more from the Hartford Courant