The writing world is connected by way fewer than six degrees of separation, especially when the subject has anything to do with Chinese culture.

Take author Susan Chan. She’s the co-author along with Carol Polakoff of The Reluctant Brides of Lily Court Lane, a delightful novel that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good romance or mystery. I particularly loved the book for its diverse group of characters.

Susan is close friends with my cousin’s mother, so we were meant to meet. And her personal story is just as fascinating as her novel. In 1970 Susan married her husband Jay, a Chinese man who spent his childhood in Hong Kong. Back then their relationship met with disapproval from both Susan’s Jewish family and Jay’s side. She takes this experience and uses it in her novel to show how difficult it can be for traditional families to accept change.

Susan is working on a sequel and I cannot wait until it’s out! For more about The Reluctant Brides of Lily Court Lane, check out the Amazon listing for the paperback and e-book here and the book’s Facebook page here.