Ayiti Chéri, or “Dear Haiti,” is a popular name of affection that Haitians use to refer to our home country. People will often first recall the destitution and sadness that resides within its borders. The pain and violence. But that is not the full picture and never has been. Haiti is the embodiment of strength and light and laughter and love. We set out to write a book that demonstrates this.
Dear Haiti, Love Alaine was inspired by our interests in the obligations of family, and our responsibilities to ourselves. So much so, that we created an alternate history where Marie-Louise Coidavid was able to return to Haiti after being forced into exile in Europe. How would the decision to follow her heart and not go through with her promise to Marie-Madeleine Lachenais impact her family (and specifically Alaine) all those years later? We wanted to explore what leads someone to believe the unbelievable and the power of women across generations. Those ideas may have been our starting points, but our minds roamed free. And while we pulled from lore to help create the framework for the Christophe family curse, we developed a magic and mysticism that was completely our own. We’re so proud that we were able to tell Alaine’s story and shine a small light into Haiti’s intricate culture. But the beauty is that there isn’t one, single story that encapsulates the entirety of a nation. This was a love letter to our dear, dear Haiti. It won’t be our last.
Acknowledgments
Is this the closest we’ll get to an Oscar’s speech? Here goes:
Oh boy, thank you to God. Thank you to our parents Elisabeth and Louis for taking us to the library every weekend growing up. Thank you to our grandmother Esther who is always our biggest supporter no matter what, and hands down the coolest family member we have. Jessica and Lydi’Ann, you already know you’re our soulmates.
To JL Stermer, our amazing agent: we could not have asked for a more wonderful champion. We’re on the same wavelength and frequency and you’ve made this sell-and-publish-a-book thing so much easier and fun. Working with you is a dream. This is where we would insert a joke about the speed of light being c = λν. Also, thank you Joanna Volpe for connecting us with our beloved JL as well as Cassandra Baim, Veronica Grijalva, Hilary Pecheone, Mia Roman, and the rest of the fabulous team at New Leaf Literary.
And a special thank you to Devin Ross for seeing something in our story and sharing it with the rest of the New Leaf family.
To Natashya Wilson, fellow Niall Horan fan and our awesomesauce editor: thank you for falling in love with this book and smoothing and coaxing out of us the moments that have made DHLA even better. You believing in us and our words means the world.
Please give a raucous round of applause for Gabby Vicedomini for coming up with a title for this novel that encapsulates Alaine’s story so well, and as an aside, for having such a vivacious Twitter account.
Oh no, the music’s starting and we still have more to say...!
Everyone at Inkyard Press, Harlequin, and HarperCollins who has had a hand in making this movie book what it is: Gigi Lau and Ubiomo Ogheneroh for our gorgeous cover, Shara Alexander, Frasier aficionado Evan Brown, Randy Chan, Bryn Collier, Ken Cotnam, Heather Doss, Jessie Elliott, Kathy Faber, Heather Foy, publicist extraordinaire Laura Gianino, Olivia Gissing, library lover Linette Kim, Karen Ma, Margaret Marbury, Krista Mitchell, Azir Morinaj, Kerry Moynagh, Andrea Pappenheimer, Jennifer Sheridan, Jordanna Shtal, Eric Svenson, Jennifer Wygand. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
We are forever grateful for the beautiful comments of all those who took the time to read the book and talk about it, including Kelly deVos, Ben Philippe, and Dana L. Davis. Ibi Zoboi, thank you for shouting about DHLA as much as you did as soon as you heard about it. That will stay with us forever.
And Edwidge Danticat, you are a legend in every sense of the word. Having you read our book and then say kind things about it after you've been our North Star in this world of writing our whole lives is an honor.
To sound like The Golden Girls theme song for a moment: (at some point or another) thank you for being a friend, Adaobi Ibida, Alessandra Franco, Alexandra Hughes, Dr. Ama Annor, Brian Foster, Candace “Caking” “Work Bae” King, Grace Morales, Heather Phillips, Jessica Simmonds, Kendra Plummer, Kristi Patterson, Kristina Francillon, Dr. Lola Odukomaiya, Ludmilla Paul, Nichole Armah, Nyema Robinson, Rachelle Felix, Rashanda Wimberly, Rebecca Hildner, Ruth Dalberiste, Saisia Wade, Stacy Burroughs, Stephanie Douthit, Stephanie Figueroa, Steve Aubourg, Dr. Sylvia Morris, Wendy Diaz-Huarcaya, Zuby Syed.
To Anita Anantharam, Laura Castañeda, and Tace Hedrick, for being phenomenal and understanding professors.
To Janel Blanco, for being an amazing boss and willing to work with Maika's hectic traveling schedule. To Florida Reading Corps, for giving Maritza the opportunity to introduce the most amazing children to the world of literacy.
Thanks to our co-workers, classmates, and students (new and old) for listening to us squeal about the latest developments in Dear Haiti, Love Alaine.
Ginger and Lily, just because. Get to bed, you little rascals!
And to the Academy and anyone we might have forgotten, we love you.
ISBN-13: 9781488051333
Dear Haiti, Love Alaine
Copyright © 2019 by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
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