My children, for inspiring me to write stories that I hope will contribute to a kinder, more empathetic world. You are the light of my life.
Naomi Gibson, Simeen Mirza, Sarah King, and Natalie Grann, my beta readers. Though from different corners of the world, your common appreciation of Reset made me believe that others will like it too.
Bobby Videña, for letting me force this story on you on our road trip. You were a good captive audience and are an even better friend.
Lenis Choi, for helping me hone my query pitches and author’s note. Thank goodness for your English degree.
Julie Gwinn, my agent, for hearting my #DVpit pitch and being the first to request a full manuscript. More importantly, for finding Reset a home at Blackstone Publishing. You’re the right mix of optimism and honesty.
Peggy Hageman, my editor, for reading Reset in a day and a half and for your profound insight. Thank you for asking all the right questions. Through your eyes, I saw the story for all its potential. Your kind encouragement meant more than I can ever express. Rest well.
Michael Krohn, for polishing my sentences with an eye toward improving the reading experience. Thank you for your thoughtful suggestions and exceptional attention to detail.
Kurt Jones, cover designer extraordinaire, and the design team. As soon as I saw the first mock-up, I was in love. Thank you for including me in the process and for making the best cover I could have ever hoped for.
Rick Bleiweiss, for acquiring Reset for Blackstone Publishing and for believing in this book. Your decision kept me on this path at a time when I wasn’t sure if I should continue. I’ll always be grateful.
Megan Wahrenbrock, Mandy Earles, Josie Woodbridge, Jeffrey Yamaguchi, Lauren Maturo, and everyone at Blackstone Publishing, for your help in bringing Reset to the readers.
Classical pianist Jeeyoon Kim for her album, Ten More Minutes, which played on constant rotation while I wrote many of the scenes in this book.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono for having written “Imagine,” the song that inspired the utopia of the Four Cities. You asked us to imagine, so I did.
Friends who are family and family who are friends. Jane, Carmel, Dawis. Your optimism knows no bound. There are so many of you in my life. Thank you for cheering me on.
Yvette, Laurie, Grace. Food, travels, and laughter. Always.
My happy hour ladies: Carrie, Erika, Kefey, Nicole, Shannon. So many good conversations. You have kept me sane during the pandemic.
Finally, to those who have made an indelible impression on me. I always look for you in the stars.
About the Author
Sarina Dahlan was born into an Indonesian family in Thailand, and immigrated to the United States at the age of twelve. While children in the west grow up on fairy tales, she learned parables through ghost stories, mythologies, and Japanese manga.
A graduate of the University of California, San Diego, with degrees in psychology and visual arts, she has blended both disciplines in careers as an advertising producer, a corporate marketing strategist, and an award-winning writer. She lives in California with her family and is currently raising her three children on a healthy diet of history, Thai curry, and scientific thinking.
Reset is her first novel.
