Anything you’d like to know that’s not here? Send the author a message and ask.
Part 1
- The name Charlotte Sweitzer was created by Albert’s sister when she was about 5 years old. Albert’s original concept for the book featured Charlotte as the main character.
- Albert’s two brothers graduated from Tempe Preparatory Academy, where Charlotte and Jack work.
- Albert wrote the parts of the book that involve the Tempe Light Rail (chapters 14-15) while living in China before the train was operational. He used online station maps and plans to complete the story without ever having seen any of the train system himself.
Part 2
- Albert lived in Nanchang his first year in China and all the places mentioned in the Nanchang chapters are real.
- Albert and his friend Adrian visited Yongxiu (chapter 27) during the hitchhiking challenge of their Great China Quest in the summer of 2010.
- Albert imagined tricycle taxis operating in futuristic Downtown Tempe when he wrote the book. When participating in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in February, 2011, he was shocked to see tricycle taxis actually in operation around Downtown Tempe.
