An invitation from the author: Come join me on a journey to Coral Island, a place in ancient China that you, the reader, can dream about and remember forever. Meet the people who live in this exotic land of red and black and gold - from pirates to kings and monks to lepers. Walk through the halls of the old pagoda palace lighted by torches in the night, only to hear the muffled cries of the queen behind the door. Step along the white shell paths in the moonlit orchard of mulberry trees, the bountiful green leaves of the secluded area adorned with silkworm cocoons and surrounded by a large guarded stone wall. Only here will you find that love and silk can both be secrets of the heart. Stroll the palace gardens of lily covered ponds teeming with goldfish. Listen to the musical water bubbling over the pebble bottom streams dotted with bright red bridges. View the glorious pink flowered cherry trees and rock formations that tell a story of the three sacred mountains on the horizon. Many an adventure will you have from your visit to the Emperor's court in China to a boat ride down the Ganges River into India where you will enjoy monkeys working in coconut trees, an elephant parade and a glimpse of the primitive forest people. Watch as the king of Coral Island receives his tattoo of the mighty dragon and hear the bell in the village ring warning of danger in the harbor. And amidst all of the historic beauty and culture of this land, let me introduce to you a most interesting legend of the secret of silk and you will discover a princess whose tale should be told. To your new adventure! Laura Lita Fairman-Powers