The Walled City

Acknowledgments

Writing this book was a raw, intricate process. I felt as if I were plucking out pieces of my soul, spinning them into delicate strings, knotting them into a tapestry of words. But writing this book was not a lonely process. So many people supported this project and ultimately became a part of it. Strands of their own.

There are those who knew it as Cutthroat Novel — Lydia Kang, Amanda Sun, Kate Armstrong, and Emma Maree Urquhart. Those who read it as WALLS — Kelsey Sutton, Justina Ireland, Christina Farley, and Caroline Carlson. Those who encouraged me to keep working even when it seemed foolish — The Lucky 13s and Aimee Kaufman.

There is my brilliant agent, Tracey Adams, who loved the strength of sisters and mountains beneath the sea. There is my phenomenal editorial team — Alvina Ling, Amber Caraveo, Bethany Strout, Nikki Garcia — and all the publishing teams, who worked tirelessly to bring this book to the world. There are the readers — Mio Debman and Amy Chaw. Mio especially provided invaluable cultural insight and helped me paint a more vivid picture of Hak Nam.

There are my friends and family, whose love and encouragement constantly remind me that the braid is always stronger than the strand. There is David, who sits on rooftops and seashores with me. Who talks about stars and home, and stretches my heart full.

And through it all there is God, who weaves all things together: my stories and my life. Soli Deo Gloria.