Welcome to the World New Book Baby Girl and Happy Thanksgiving!

So much to be grateful for this year...This book was my thesis in completion of my MFA in Creative Writing. While it's been said that writing is a solitary endeavor, editing and publishing a book, in my case, had been the result of a collaborative effort involving the assistance of many wonderful people.

Many thanks to my Thesis Advisers and professors in the MFA Fiction program at Mills College: authors Cristina Garcia, Yiyun Li and YA author Kathryn Reiss who took time to read and critique the entire manuscript in its early stages. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my writing peers in the YA Fiction workshops who critiqued my work.

I am grateful to the book's "Godmother," cover designer and publisher, my dear friend, Ana Galvan, for her meticulous work and attention to detail. Immense gratitude goes to Julie Abitbol, a true artist who listened carefully to my ideas, took time to absorb the story and then used her vivid imagination to create the artwork that graces the book's front cover.

Much appreciation goes to my editing team: Susan Medina and Judy Swager for copyediting and proofreading; and to Nemia Carpio, my longtime friend since my two-year high school stint in the Philippines, for editing the Tagalog sentences and phrases.

And of course my love and gratitude to my family and friends for their love and support and to my students for their continued commitment to the written word. Much love and thanks to my furry nephew and nieces, especially to Lilly, the Feline Editor, for continually inspiring me.