The River’s Song

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank the Moniack Mohr Writers’ Centre, Scotland; Toji Culture Center, South Korea; and the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, for their writing residencies and generous support during the research and writing of this novel; Dr Samuel Wong Shengmiao for introducing me to the pipa especially the solo piece, Shi Mien Mai Fu, which led me to the heart-pulling music of the Chinese bamboo flute, the dizi.

A very special ‘thank you’ and big hug for my writing pal Melissa De Villiers for her wonderful support and comments, and friends, Jeffrey Low, Clarinda Choh and Yvonne Kwan who read my early drafts. Thanks too to Jacaranda, my literary agent.

Part One

The Pipa Queen