Bushman, Jennifer Scheel

	Hard Sleeper Price: $24.95 Quantity in Basket: none
Hard Sleeper A Novel of New and Old China Jennifer Scheel Bushman and Jean Artley Szymanski Jane McPherson, daughter of American missionaries, enjoyed an idyllic childhood in old Peking—until her parents were brutally murdered. In 1936, with the onset of war against Japan and fighting between Kuomintang and communist forces, Jane and her brother Will were sent to live with family friends in Shanghai, where Jane had to contend with long-buried family secrets, shattered romance, and expulsion from her beloved country. Now elderly, Jane has returned to China to reunite with the daughter she hasn't seen in sixty years. During a cross-country train ride to Beijing, Jane unravels the mystery of her parents' death for her daughter and an ambitious young film producer who gains new perspective on her own life as she watches mother and daughter struggle to know one another. An unforgettable mystery adventure spanning more than six decades of Chinese culture and history, Hard Sleeper is a story of unconquerable spirit, set against the background of the Sino-Japanese War and the emerging realities of today's China. Jean Artley Szymanski and Jennifer Scheel Bushman, a mother-daughter team, wrote Hard Sleeper. Both women traveled extensively in China and studied Chinese history. Jean was a Foreign Service officer who spoke Mandarin Chinese and served in the U.S. embassy in Beijing. Jennifer, the child of diplomats, lived in Korea, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Israel. She worked in U.S. embassies in Stockholm, Sweden and Rangoon, Burma. Jennifer lives in Chesapeake, Virginia, with her husband Kevin and their two children. Jean Artley Szymanski died of breast cancer in 1998. A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF HARD SLEEPER WILL BE DONATED TO BREAST CANCER RESEARCH. Hard Sleeper was a finalist in the 2003 Readers Preference Awards for the fiction category. “A spellbinding tale, weaving the power of an indomitable woman through some of the most turbulent times in twentieth-century China… one of those rare books that you simply hate to finish.” — J. Stapleton Roy, former U.S. ambassador to China, and Elissandra N. Roy “I couldn't put it down... a truly great read, with a strong plot and lots of suspense and surprises.” — Carolyn Aldigé President, Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation “A great novel, Hard Sleeper reels the reader in with beautiful writing, a fascinating trip through culture, and a story that will linger in the soul.” — Marilyn Tracy, best-selling novelist “An intriguing, suspenseful novel with a strong tug on the emotions. The mystery will leave you openmouthed. We rated it five hearts.” — Heartland Reviews “A good, historically accurate story that will keep you up late into the night.” — Sharon Woodcock, widow of Leonard Woodcock, First U.S. ambassador to the People's Republic of China “Evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of my childhood in pre-communist China.” — Joan Moyer “This is a mystery, a suspense novel, and a historical/cultural piece all rolled into one fascinating story. Well written, it draws the reader into the intrigue; you find yourself unable to put it down until you learn the answers. Suspenseful and exciting, it is highly recommended.” — Harold McFarland, Editor, Readers Preference Reviews “Szymanski and Bushman, who studied Chinese history and traveled extensively in China, have written a page-turner… this mother and daughter writing team have done a good job of capturing the dense complexities of China's history and weaving them into their tale.” — ForeWord Magazine “I found myself rapidly engrossed in this deeply satisfying tale of old and new China, which weaves together unforgettable characters, mystery, and romance against the backdrop of war and revolution in China. The authors have created imagined worlds and people that ring true, and a story line that had me finishing the book on my commuter train—at the expense of my habitual New York Times!” — John L. Holden, President National Committee on U.S.-China Relations “Hard Sleeper, so named because the story is partially set in a Chinese hard-sleeper train car, is a gripping novel that addresses change, war, family, and mother-daughter bonds. The story unfolds in contemporary times, when an American documentary film producer, Pippa James, attempts to flesh out a documentary lead on a mother-daughter reunion in Chengdu, Sichuan. She is told that the mother is an elderly American who has not seen her half-Chinese daughter for roughly sixty years. Jane and Mei slowly share their life stories with Pippa over the course of a cross-country train ride. Because Jane's missionary parents were killed, their unsolved murder—and several other unanswered questions—the novel quickly becomes a suspenseful, page turning mystery. Hard Sleeper is a fast-paced book that is suitable for a wide range of readers, including those with little knowledge of China (because Pippa is a China novice, ample historical background is provided). The novel will satisfy readers interested in China, history, and mysteries, among other subjects.” — Paula M. Miller, assistant editor, The China Business Review “With the ‘highly recommended’ review Hard Sleeper has been added to the ‘Best Books’ category.” — Harold McFarland, editor, Readers Preference Reviews “An elegant jacket and a Chinese-red bookcover preview this engaging tale of love and mystery, set in the politically turbulent days preceding the Communist era in China. Alternating between then and now, this page turner progresses through a succession of revelations and surprises to its unexpected conclusion, bringing the reader full circle.” — Joan Maine, 5 Star Review, Amazon.com Available from Baker & Taylor, Ingram, Partners/West Published by Lost Coast Press ISBN 1-882897-73-0 · Casebound · 272 Pages · 6 X 9