To the soulful Giulia Mazzola, and my half-orange BFF, Jamie Vulinovich, for reading some of my earliest attempts at writing and not telling me I sucked. I hope all people in the world know the joy of having friends like you. So many hugs and kisses xx.

And of course, my dearest Kimchingoos: Sarah, Jess, Grace, and Susan. I actually don’t know where I’d be without our snug little family pod. We have so many in-jokes I can’t remember half of them, but for the record, I raise my glass to our buddy Mack Gully. Hope you enjoyed the inmyeonjo-taming scene…:)

Speaking of family, my love to the ever-growing Cribbens clan—especially Mum and Dad Cribbens—for always showing such interest in my writing, even if my response was always a variation of “I’m getting there…” or “Not quite yet…”

To my sisters, Ally and Joya, for being the inspiration behind Riley and Hattie’s unbreakable sisterhood. Growing up with you two was the best childhood I could have asked for. Thank you for being my best friends, and for being co-sufferers of the leaky-bladder eyeball syndrome. No, I’m not crying, you are….

Eomma and Appa, there are no words that can even begin to describe the gratitude I feel for the sacrifices you made for me. You are my biggest heroes, and I count my lucky (fallen?) stars that I get to be your daughter. I strive to do you proud in all that I do, each and every day. Saranghaeyo. Oh, and look! It’s our name on the cover!

And, of course, to my Spudman: my baby daddy, my hippocampus, my person. Thank you for reading every single draft, for being my biggest cheerleader, for the (many) late-night brainstorming sessions, and for your eternal well of patience. You are my home and my paradise, and I genuinely don’t know how I got so lucky. If I had a chest full of time-reversing Haetae marbles, I would re-choose my life with you. Every. Single. Time.

Last but not least, my biggest shout-out to you, dear reader. To all the adoptees, the diaspora kids, the misfits. To anyone who’s ever felt invisible, or felt like they don’t belong. Real magic lives inside all of us—in the choices we make every single day. This book is for you.

Coming in Summer 2022

The Last Fallen Moon

A Gifted Clans Novel

Book Two

About the Authors