When the Clouds Rose, book 1 in the Moments in Shanghai series, is set from 1930-1933. It is inspired in part by the life of my mother and her caring father-a witty, artistic businessman, but unfaithful husband-and his illiterate, superstitious, strong-headed wife. We lived with them in an English and American concession, after my uncles left. The novel depicts (in a whimsical style) the way of life and traditional customs in early 1930's Shanghai. It touches on the subjects of love, betrayal, suicide, heaven, Buddhism, Taoism, foreign worship, racism, boycotts, patriotism, revolution, communism, and war through the eyes of Shuxian, a spoiled, seven-year old girl, who resents revolutions and government. She is good at poking the adults with naive, funny, yet logical questions when she sees their deeds conflicting with their words, and tries to take advantage of their hypocrisies. Her specialty, in spite of her name means wise and no talking back, is, to talk back.