Works Cited

“Don’t pretend to be a candle, be a moth.”

Jalaludin Rumi, “Whispers of Love” (translated by Kabir Helminski), from The Rumi Collection. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, Inc., 1998. Page 136.

“You are an ocean in a drop of dew.”

Jalaludin Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks), from Rumi: The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and Longing. New York, NY: HarperOne, 2003. Page 63.

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,/there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”

Jalaludin Rumi, “Soul, Heart, and Body One Morning” (translated by Coleman Barks), from Rumi: The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and Longing. New York, NY: HarperOne, 2003. Page 123.

“Strong spirits transcend rules.”

Prince in “Genius in short.” by Barney Hoskyns, from The Guardian. Web. 19 Feb 2006.

Acknowledgments

THIS BOOK TRAVELLED OVER several countries and many years to get here. My deepest, heartfelt gratitude to all those who were on this journey with me.

Rajinderpal S. Pal, whose presence in my life makes everything better. This book, too. Ann Shin, who was with me even when there were thousands of miles between us. Gerardo Ruiz, por arbrir tu mundo y mi corazón, y darle a este libro un lugar de refugio.

Marguerite Pigeon and Karim Ladak, without whom I could have never started this book. Lawrence Hill, who mentored me early on. Merilyn Simonds, who guided me through that elusive first draft. David Chariandy, for his kindness and support, and for cheering me on to the finish line.

At Penguin Random House, Nicole Winstanley, Deborah Sun de la Cruz, and Shima Aoki for their editorial acuity. My agent, Hilary McMahon, for her patience.

A special thank you to my family, especially my parents, Nurali and Rozina Mohamedali, for their constant love and support; my niece and co-conspirator, Salina Rasul, for her uncommon empathy and understanding. My friends, near and far, for sustaining me, especially Jessica Adams, Derek Burrows, Isaura Contreras, Kathy Kissik, Rashmi & Vanita Varma, and Jonathan Watton. Also, Jim Fleck, for his support and genuine understanding of a writer’s life.

The Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Toronto Arts Council for their generous support. The Banff Centre for the Arts, the Millay Colony for the Arts in New York, and Fundación Valparaíso in Spain for the time and space to write.

This book is a work of fiction and if there are inaccuracies with any details or historical facts, they are my own.