Homeseeking

 Karissa Chen is the author of Homeseeking, an historical fiction novel that starts off in China. Suchi is 7 when she first hears a boy playing the violin. Next he is in her class at school. For the first day in school students are supposed to bring a lunch from home, The violin playing boy, Haiwan, probably didn't know that. Suchi gives him half of her lunch, As they grow up together and Suchi spends time in Haiwan's home, they fall in love. Haiwan is trying to get into a musical academy and he spends hours a day practicing on his violin. Just before graduating from high school, he joins the military so that his older brother won't have to go and leave his wife and daughter. Suchi is heartbroken. Both Suchi and Haiwan marry other people. He leaves his violin with Suchi and a note that asks for her forgiveness. Sixty years later Haiwan is walking around Los Angeles and he hears his name called out. There stands Suchi looking at him. They agree to meet for breakfast and that is where she gives him his violin back. This is a story about love and familial sacrifice and the power of longing over distance and time.