My first and foremost gratitude goes to my husband, Mark, who encourages me to pursue my dream and supports me during the writing process. You always have the magic to inspire me and make me laugh, and this will not change no matter how many years pass. And to my two adorable children, Annabelle and Joshua, my passion in real life: I love you through and through.
Thank you to my gentle and brave editorial director, Shana Drehs. I cannot believe you took a chance with a first-time author like me and agreed on a two-book deal before you even glimpsed a word of the second book. I am so grateful for your faith in me. It must have been my destiny to meet you years ago.
Thank you to my gifted editor, Anna Michels. You have put in many hours perfecting this manuscript, and your suggestions were invaluable. I am fortunate to be in your good hands.
Thank you to my amazing agent, Shannon Hassan, who burst into my life and helped my dream come true. I love your decisiveness and efficiency.
Thank you to Deb Werksman, from the bottom of my heart, for your email that brought me to this beautiful outcome. The wait would have been much longer without you!
Thank you to the most generous Jeannie Lin, for passionately helping me with the query letter and offering me publication insights.
Thank you to Diana Gabaldon, for providing me with confidence when I was enveloped in the dust of doubt and disappointment.
Thank you to Christy English, for reading my manuscript and offering me excellent feedback and encouragement.
Thank you too to Dianna Rostad, Karen Walters, Cindy Vallar, and Laura Vogel, for critiquing my pages. To Dianna, especially, for leaving feedback in my mailbox whenever I asked, and to Karen, for inspiring me to rewrite the first chapter.
Thank you to Renae Bruce, who would search tirelessly for a word that I needed, and Lei Zhang and Elaine Cho. You are my friends for life.
Thank you to Katrina Kuroda, for picking up my boy at preschool so I could attend critique groups.
Thank you to Sheila Randel and Ray Randel, for welcoming me to your family with open arms and reading my pages whenever I asked. I am so grateful for your love and acceptance.
Thank you too to all the people who offered generous help when I was in desperate need: A. Lee Martinez, Deborah DeFrank, Stephany Evans, Katie Grimm, Natalie Lakosil, Dawn Frederick, Rachel Udin, Deborah Needleman Armintor, Carolyn Woolston, Jeanne Ledwell, and Lisa Stone-Hardt.
Last, but not least, thanks to my family and friends in China, whom I have not seen for ten years. This was never meant to be a bet, but now that the book is published, I can go home.