Spin the Dawn(110)
But a new and terrible beginning.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My book would not be in your hands without Gina Maccoby, my stalwart agent. Thank you, Gina, for seeing something special in my writing and giving me a chance, for helping me hone my writing to be the best it can be, and for believing in me through the ups and downs of my path to publication. You are the mentor I always dreamed of having.
To Katherine Harrison, editor extraordinaire. I knew from the beginning that Maia had found her home with you, and I’m thankful that fate landed my book in your hands. Thank you for making her story even stronger with your keen edits, and for championing Spin the Dawn in ways I didn’t even know were possible.
A hearty thank-you to the Knopf BFYR team: Alex Hess, Alison Impey, Julia Maguire, Mary McCue, Jaclyn Whalen, Alison Kolani, Tracy Heydweiller, Jake Eldred, Artie Bennett, Janet Renard, Amy Schroeder, and Barbara Perris for the incredible enthusiasm, time, and effort you put behind making this book not just a reality, but also a work of art to read, hold, and cherish.
Thank you, Tran Nguyen, for a tremendous cover that breathed life into Maia Tamarin. I’ve lost count of how many indulgent hours I’ve spent staring at it. I couldn’t have imagined a more fitting cover, and I love it so much. To Virginia Allyn, for your breathtaking map; my heart still flutters every time I notice a new detail on it.
To Doug Tyskiewicz and Leslie Zampetti, my critique partners: I’m convinced one of the hardest things about writing is finding a steady critique group with fellow authors whose work and company you enjoy. I am so lucky to have found you two and even luckier to call you both my friends.
To Patti Lee Gauch, for her life-changing advice on voice (don’t flinch!), and for inspiring me to light the spark in my writing. To Gregory Maguire and Patricia McMahon, for reminding me to unravel the threads of my favorite fairy tales and keep Maia tough. And I’d be remiss not to include Nancy Sondel and the wonderful teens and adults at the Pacific Coast Children’s Writers Workshop, who gave me valuable feedback on Spin the Dawn during its early days.
To my fellow writers Liz Braswell, Kat Cho, Bess Cozby, Suzi Guina, Joanna Ruth Meyer, Lauren Spieller, June Tan, and Swati Teerdhala, for their friendship and advice, and for squealing with me over bookish updates and agonizing together over drafting and revisions. I’ve learned so much from you all. Thank you also to Roselle Lim, for her insight into Chinese embroidery schools and for her sewing expertise; Sarah Neilson, for her thoughtful feedback, so much of which has strengthened Spin the Dawn’s story; Heidi Heilig, for being such an encouraging force for aspiring writers; and Jen Gaska at Pop! Goes the Reader, for graciously hosting Spin the Dawn’s cover reveal.
A big shout-out to the Electric 18s, for being the most amazing debut group a girl could ask for. You have all made me feel like part of one big, happy family. I also want to take a moment to thank the teachers and professors I had the privilege of studying with during my journey to become an author: thank you for encouraging me to take risks and be creative.
And, of course, thank you to all the fellow writers, readers, booksellers, Goodreads librarians, and bloggers I’ve met in the past two years—virtually or in real life—who’ve done so much to make me feel welcome in the kidlit community. Thanks to you, the future of books and storytelling—our future—is brighter than ever.
My heartfelt thanks (along with big hugs) to Diana Link, Joyce Lin, Eva Liu, Evelyn Lu, and Amaris White—a few of my dearest and oldest friends—for reading my earlier novels, cheering me on throughout the years, and keeping me sane over countless IMs and phone calls while I sought to become a published author, as well as lending your critical eyes and ears (not least, for telling me what it’s really like to ride a camel and climb a mountain with ice picks).
This book would never have happened without the support of my family. Thank you to my po po, for sitting me with her at the sewing machine when I was little as she worked, and telling me all her stories. You are one of the strongest women I know.
To my parents, for teaching me the value of persistence from a young age. To Dad, for sparking in me a love for fairy tales, for being proud of me no matter what I chose to pursue—but wisely advising me to work hard and be the best I could be in those pursuits. Everything I have done is thanks to your wisdom. Mom, whose talent for arts and crafts never ceases to amaze me: thank you for emboldening me to be creative. I wouldn’t be the musician or writer I am today without you.
To my sister, Victoria, for pushing me to make the book more romantic (always, ha-ha!), for being a sounding board whenever I needed an honest opinion, and for giving me design and fashion advice. My life would be far lonelier (and less entertaining) without you.
Most of all, thank you to my husband, love, and best friend, Adrian. Thank you for nourishing me with countless breakfasts and dinners and for reminding me to eat lunch when I was so immersed in editing that I forgot to, for spending hours reading my drafts and giving me the brutal edits (and no-less-valuable encouragement) I needed, for hugging me during the lows and laughing with me during the highs, and for buying me a more comfortable desk chair. You are my inspiration and my joy.
Thank you to our baby, Charlotte, whose infectious smiles and giggles make me anxious to wake up every morning to spend time with you. Already I can’t wait to read and sing and dance—and write with you.
And lastly, thank you, dear reader. For picking up this book and giving it a chance, for following me through the wilds of my imagination, and for (hopefully) making it all the way to the end. Until next time!