Chai Tea Sunday
Page 26
As with everything in my life, the most essential influence on this project has been the love and support of my wonderful family, both extended and immediate, and, in particular:
My always kind and loyal mother, who, since I was a small child, told me I would be a writer of some sort — even through my years in business school and a long career in the corporate world. She absorbed every word of my elementary and high school essays with enthusiasm and commitment — and never, ever, stopped telling me that I needed to write.
My exceptionally intelligent and wonderful father, who took every opportunity to teach his children by asking us to count the number of cars on highway transport trucks or insisting on answering the “How long until we get there?!” road trip questions with a lesson in fractions. And, most of all, for instilling in me, through both his actions and continual encouragement, that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration — and that the greatest success happens when opportunity meets preparation.
My brothers, Ian and Steven, who played such a huge role in creating a childhood filled with adventure, constant support and, above all else, laughter. I’m so grateful that our solid ‘Clark Kid’ foundation has helped to ensure we have become even closer with every day that passes. You are not only brothers to me, but wonderful friends.
My amazing children, Avary, Jacob and Emerson, who, every single day, fill my life with unconditional love, absolute joy and complete perspective. And last, but certainly not least, my eternally supportive husband, Brian, who has taught me so much — and believes in me more than I could ever possibly believe in myself. He never doubted that I would finish this book, even when I did, and inspired me to keep going through his coach-like pep talks that I love so much and, moreover, a constant willingness to ensure I had all of the time I needed to write. Brian, you are my rock.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Artbound, a nonprofit volunteer initiative that harnesses the power of the arts in support of Free The Children.
Partnering with artists and those passionate about the arts, Artbound raises funds to build schools in developing nations to enrich children with a full education, including art schools and programming. Their programs are designed to empower children through leadership training and the development of skills that will improve their living conditions and generate sustainable income to help break the cycle of poverty.
The Artbound team is comprised of young Canadian leaders from various industries who are dedicated to engaging a global community in volunteer, school building and mentorship. In addition to building schools, Artbound also supports Free The Children’s Adopt a Village model that provides clean water, medical care facilities and alternative income programs — all working in unison to allow children to learn and develop in a healthy and safe environment.
In 2011, Artbound travelled to Kenya to assist in the building of the first arts school in the country. As part of the Kisaruni School for Girls, the arts program is a hub for singing, painting, dance, theatre and indigenous art forms.
Still, many more children are left behind, struggling with debilitating poverty and lack of education. Artbound will continue to raise funds to support Free The Children to build new and fully sustainable infrastructures in communities most in need across the globe.
Please visit artbound.ca to learn more.
NEGIN SAIRAFI PHOTOGRAPHY
HEATHER A. CLARK holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Guelph and works in the marketing department at one of Canada’s largest media outlets. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three children. This is her first novel.
Copyright © Heather A. Clark, 2012
Published by ECW Press
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any process — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without the prior written permission of the copyright-owner and ECW Press. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION
Clark, Heather A., 1977-
Chai tea Sunday / Heather A. Clark.
ISBN 978-1-77041-082-4
ALSO ISSUED AS: 978-1-77090-185-8 (PDF); 978-1-77090-186-5 (EPUB)
I. Title.
PS8605.L36225C53 2012 C813’.6 C2011-906951-2
Editor for the press: Jennifer Hale
Cover and text design: David Gee
Cover photo: © David De Lossy / Getty Images
Typesetting & Production: Troy Cunningham
The publication of Chai Tea Sunday has been generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts which last year invested $20.1 million in writing and publishing throughout Canada, and by the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund for our publishing activities, and the contribution of the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit. The marketing of this book was made possible with the support of the Ontario Media Development Corporation.