The Scavenger's Daughters (Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters, Book One) (35 page)

Behind her she felt a jolt of something prickly on her backside and turned around.

“What are you standing around gawking at, girl? You’ve got work to do!” Nai Nai prodded her again with the broom and smiled, showing the gap between her two front teeth.

Linnea jumped into action. She felt a shiver of excitement that traveled up her spine and tingled through her fingertips. Thanks to her family it was all going to be okay—everything was coming together and in a few hours she would embark on the next stage in her life. Vintage Muse was going to be a smashing success—she’d settle for nothing less.

Great Leap Forward

An economic and social campaign of the Communist Party of China, reflected in planning decisions from 1958 to 1961, which aimed to use China’s vast population to rapidly transform the country from an agrarian economy into a modern communist society through the process of rapid industrialization and collectivization.

Cultural Revolution

A social-political movement that took place in the People’s Republic of China from 1966 through 1976. Set into motion by Mao Zedong, then chairman of the Communist Party of China, its stated goal was to enforce communism in the country by removing capitalist, traditional, and cultural elements from Chinese society, and to impose Maoist orthodoxy within the party. The revolution marked the return of Mao Zedong to a position of power after the failed Great Leap Forward.

I was inspired to write
The Scavenger’s Daughters
after reading online articles about scavengers in China who have opened their modest homes to children from the street, raising them as their own. Lou Xiaoying, an amazing woman who has raised over thirty children she has found on the street, had this to say in the July 31, 2012, edition of
What’s on Shenzhen
magazine: “I realized if we had strength enough to collect garbage, how could we not recycle something as important as human lives?” This book is for her and others like her.

With Benfu’s story, it is my hope to highlight those in China who, because of their enormous capacity to love the unwanted, are an inspiration to the rest of the world. There will be more books in this series because I have much more to tell in
The Scavenger’s Daughters
family saga. If you enjoyed this book, a short review posted on Amazon or GoodReads would be very much appreciated. Also, please go to the Kay Bratt website to sign up for my newsletter to notify you of new releases.

I hope this story will raise awareness about the difficulties that children and adults from the working-class families in China face on a daily basis. If you would like to support an organization that benefits orphans, you can check out the nonprofit I volunteer for called An Orphan’s Wish.

These projects are never completed alone, and I couldn’t do without my critique partners. This time my go-to girls were my friends and fellow authors Gina Barlean and Denise Grover Swank. Many times we can’t see the story for all the words, and you both helped me dig deep and find what I really wanted to say.

To my developmental editor, Charlotte Herscher, it’s amazing how you crawl into the story and guide me to tell the most important parts while cutting the fluff. Jane Steele, your attention to detail is an asset to every book that lands in your path. Thank you both, for your contributions to
The Scavenger’s Daughters
.

Many thanks to my acquisitions editor, Terry Goodman, who saw the potential and had the idea to turn the initial short story into a much more detailed and interesting series. I can’t thank you enough for your guidance and continued belief in the value of my work. To Jessica Poore, Nikki, and the rest of my team at Amazon; you guys already know this, but I’ll tell you again—you rock.

Ben and Amanda, you’ll never know how much your encouragement helps me continue this journey as an author. When I don’t believe in myself, you two always stand strong behind me, sometimes even shoving me reluctantly forward. Lou Hsu, thank you again for always being there for me. Your insight into the Chinese culture is vital and much appreciated. I’m so glad my first book was the introduction to our friendship. To my readers; I owe you the
greatest
gratitude. So many of you have been loyal to read everything I write. Your support means the world to me and I hope you will continue to read my work and tell others about it.

ECLIPSE PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO (GAINESVILLE, GA)