FONDA LEE
First and foremost, I’m grateful to Shannon Lee for trusting me as a creative partner and making me a part of her father’s ongoing legacy. Collaborating on this project was a true pleasure, and it’s my sincere hope that Jun’s story inspires a generation of young readers to learn more about Bruce Lee’s life and work and the timeless messages he left us with.
Thank you to my agent, Jim McCarthy, for handling all the important business details behind the scenes, and for being endlessly patient and supportive of me during a very busy and overwhelming time in my professional life. Jane von Mehren and Penny Moore at Aevitas worked hard to find Breath of the Dragon an excellent home at Wednesday Books. Mara Delgado Sánchez’s editorial passion for this project shone through from our very first meeting; thank you, Mara, for championing our book with such enthusiasm. We looked at dozens of artists before deciding that Kiuyan Ran was the perfect cover artist for this book; we were right. Many others helped to bring Breath of the Dragon into the world: copy editor Lauren Hougen; jacket designer Kerri Resnick; Melanie Sanders, Lena Shekhter, Eric Meyer, and Kelly Too in production; marketing gurus Austin Adams, Alexis Neuville, and Brant Janeway; publicist Zoe Miller; Guy Oldfield in the audio department; and many others on the Wednesday Books team. Thank you, all.
My greatest appreciation is reserved, as always, for my family, without whom the writing couldn’t happen, and for my readers, who are the reason it does.
SHANNON LEE
My utmost gratitude goes first to Fonda Lee, without whom this story would not have become such a beautiful and powerful reality. Thank you for your vision, creativity, and effort. I am eternally grateful for your partnership, our growing friendship, and the way you have helped to extend and breathe new life into my father’s legacy.
Thank you to my agents, Jane von Mehren and Penny Moore, who shepherded this project and believed in its potential from the very beginning. Thank you for helping me to assemble all the pieces with such care and expertise. Your attention and skill coupled with your easy and kind ways have been greatly appreciated.
Mara Delgado Sánchez! As Fonda relayed, your passion and enthusiasm for the project have been infectious and inspiring right from the beginning. We are so happy to have found a home at Wednesday Books, and the whole Wednesday team has been wonderful to work with. We can’t wait to get this series into readers’ hands! Fonda listed everyone on the team and I second her specific gratitude, with a special shout-out to Kiuyan Ran for the awesome cover art!
Lastly, I want to thank my family—starting with my father, Bruce Lee, for his timeless creativity and continued impact. He inspired the world of this book and its characters and message. Thank you, Baba, for leaving behind such a beautiful and rich legacy of writings and dreams for me and for the world. To my mom, Linda; my brother, Brandon; and my daughter, Wren, thank you for enriching my life so powerfully. You teach, motivate, and support me with your love in ways that make everything possible. To my Bruce Lee team (Chris, Sydnie, Dennis, and Jenny), who are another family for me, thank you for encouraging me to create and for dreaming this legacy into the future with me. A special thanks to Brian Powell, who helped me to begin the birth of this idea a million years ago, or so it seems. And to all the faithful friends, students, and family who have cheered me on. Thank you for your kind words. My heart is full. I hope you all see something of yourselves reflected in these pages … “because under the sky, under the heavens, we are one family!”