The Story Behind No Price Too Great

I didn't set out to write this book. It just happened. My original purpose in writing about our family was to share our story with a group of interested readers on a forum. I also wanted to preserve the story of merging cultures that I knew would be lost to time and fading memories if I didn't write about what was happening every day after my wife and daughter were with me in America.

Frankly, I was amazed by the level of interest in our story. Some readers would write to say that they could not enjoy their coffee each morning without reading more of our story as they began their day.

Our story, and the recording of our story, extends well beyond the pages of No Price Too Great. We continue to write our story every day in real time, and we are sharing it with the readers of this website. Those readers who have been following our story from its beginning often communicate with me by email or telephone or even in person. Readers who have joined us along the way have usually played catch up with our story, and then followed along each day as new things are shared with them.

What readers have not yet seen is the remarkable story that is told in a sequel to No Price Too Great. Tentatively titled Discovering Angela, this book when published will share the heartwarming story of how a father and daughter from opposite sides of the planet came together in a way that could never have been expected. It discloses the daily challenges they faced that drew them ever closer together as she struggled to overcome the limitations of language, and the cultural differences, that threatened to destroy her dream of being part of a warm and loving family in America.

Discovering Angela was also written with no intention of publishing a book, but it came together naturally just as No Price Too Great came together. A preview of what Discovering Angela will offer to readers can be gleaned from the Foreword that has been written for the soon to be published second edition of No Price Too Great. This Foreword was written by the young Chinese girl who became Angela in America. Here is what she wrote:

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Foreword to Second Edition
No Price Too Great

Hello, my name is Angela Tianjiao Solomon. In this book, No Price Too Great, I am called Cici, which is what my Mama and Papa call me. My Papa wrote this book, and he asked me if I would like to write the Foreword.

I don't think I am qualified to write the Foreword, but I wrote it for my Papa. If you are thinking about reading this book, I hope that my words will help you decide whether you want to read it or not.

You should know that I was born in China, and I am fifteen years old. I am very lucky that my Mama is a smart woman. As I grew up in China, my Mama worked very hard and took very good care of me. When I got older, I could see that my Mama was surrounded by many friends and family members, but she was still a lonely person.

One day my Mama told me that she had met an American man. I could see that she was very excited and very happy. I had a secret dream about one day living in America, so I was also happy and excited with Mama.

When I was growing up I never had a father. I wanted a father, but I thought I would never have one. When my Mama decided to marry my Papa, I still wasn't sure that I would have a real father. I hoped it would be true, but I didn't want to be disappointed.

Mama and I moved to America to be with Papa. In this book you will read many things about our life as a family. We have a wonderful family and I hope you read all of our story. But what I hope you read the most is the story about how a man who was born on the other side of the world from me became my true father.

How do you know that someone is your true father? Is it because Papa worked with me many hours every night to help me become a good student in America? Is it because Papa treated me and my Mama with respect and showed us love every day? Is it because Papa adopted me and gave me his name? Is it because Papa wakes me every morning and drives me to school, and then drives me home at the end of the day? Is it because Papa calls me “Cicia” and makes me feel special?

Yes, I can tell you that all of those things my Papa has done for me, and I can tell you that all of those things helped to show me that he is my true father.

But I knew for sure that I had found my true father after I lived with my Papa every day for a long time after I arrived in America. My Papa has shown me every day that he wants only the best for me and he helps me with everything.

The more time I have spent with my Papa, the more I have known for sure that he is my true father. If you have always had a father I am happy for you. Mama tells me that my Papa is the only man who could ever be my true father. I already told you that my Mama is a smart woman, and I know in my heart that what she says about my Papa is true.

Yes, there is only one man in the world who could be my true father. This is my Papa, and he changed my life. I hope you enjoy reading the story that he wrote about our family. I hope that your family is just like our family: Happy Every Day!

Angela Tianjiao Solomon