Talon Marks on the Snow

The book tells the story of Chia family, and the traditional ceremonies that accompany marriage, death, and birth. The family's peaceful life is up-ended with the Japanese invasion and the family flees to the countryside. As the country falls into turmoil, the household head, Chia Hao-tz’u is kidnapped. The family’s burdens fall on the shoulders of his wife, Tu Hua. After the long war ends, civil war breaks out. The Communists take over the mainland and confiscate the family’s property. Tu Hua makes her way south to her youngest daughter Chia Chen's home. Together, they fly to Taiwan. Tu Hua lives on the island for several decades. She returns to the mainland to her older daughter Chia Wei's home. This title is author's second story and it took author more than ten years to finish, and is loosely based on author family’s experiences during the Chinese civil war and World War II.

My name is Grace Chang, and Yu Lu is my pen name. Before moving to the United States in 1974, I was a certified junior high school teacher in Taiwan.
I graduated from Pima Community College with an Associate Degree in General Studies in 1984. In 1987 I received a B.A. in Literary Chinese from the Department of Oriental Studies at The University of Arizona, and received a M.A. from the same department in 1992.
Later, I decided that I wanted to write stories based on my experiences both in China and the United States. I knew this would be a difficult endeavor because I did not learn English until the age of 55.
In 2003, I wrote a short story and published it myself. I produced only a small number of copies for family and friends, rather than for commercial interest.
Now, I have finished my second story entitled “Talon Marks on the Snow.” This novel took me more than ten years to finish, and is loosely based on my family’s experiences during the Chinese civil war and World War II.

Table of Contents:
CHAPTER 1
The Dwelling of the Chia Family and Some of Its Occupants
CHAPTER 2
Chia T’ai-ching, the Householder
CHAPTER 3
The Marriage of Chia Ku
CHAPTER 4
The Two Marriages of Chia Hao-tz’u
CHAPTER 5
The Passing of Chia T’ai-ching
CHAPTER 6
The Establishment of the Monument
CHAPTER 7
Separating the Family Property
CHAPTER 8
The Birth of a Male Heir
CHAPTER 9
The Newborn Came on New Year’s Day
CHAPTER 10
The Continuous Accidents in Chia Chēn’s Childhood
CHAPTER 11
The Espousal of Chia Hao-tz’u’s Eldest Daughter
CHAPTER 12
The Last Child of Tu Hua
CHAPTER 13
The Two Younger Siblings
CHAPTER 14
The Jubilant Celebrations
CHAPTER 15
The Small New Year’s Day
CHAPTER 16
Spring Outing
CHAPTER 17
The Festival of May Fifth
CHAPTER 18
To Go on a Pilgrimage
CHAPTER 19
The Seventh Evening of the Seventh Lunar Month
CHAPTER 20
The Mid-autumn Festival
CHAPTER 21
The Betrothal of Chia Wan
CHAPTER 22
To Compose Poetry on a Snowy Day
CHAPTER 23
The Indelible Pain of Chia Chēn’s Heart
CHAPTER 24
Chia Min’s Disillusionment
CHAPTER 25
The Japanese Invasion Begins
CHAPTER 26
The Cause of China’s Later Weakness
CHAPTER 27
To Seek Refuge from Calamities
CHAPTER 28
The Marriage of Chia Min
CHAPTER 29
Going Home
CHAPTER 30
The Unfolding of Chu Liu’s Illicit Affair
CHAPTER 31
Disaster Before Dawn
CHAPTER 32
Chia Min, the Drug Addict
CHAPTER 33
The Marriages of the Chias’ Younger Girls
CHAPTER 34
The Death of Chia Lan and Her Daughter
CHAPTER 35
The Matriarch Returns to Heaven Aftera Long Life
CHAPTER 36
Winding up the War
CHAPTER 37
Civil Strife
CHAPTER 38
The Plight of Refugees
CHAPTER 39
Tu Hua Longing for Home
CHAPTER 40
A Midnight Dream