Once upon a time in China, the most beautiful and gifted women were known as "skeleton women" - the ultimate femme fatales who could bring a man to his knees, or to his doom...When Camilla, a young orphan girl in Shanghai, is adopted and brought to live in luxury, it seems like a stroke of luck. But as Camilla grows to womanhood, she realizes that her "rescue" was part of gang leader Big Brother Wang's scheme. Camilla is trained in singing, dancing, knife-throwing and contortion - all to attract the attention of Wang's enemy, the ruthless Master Lung. Forced to become Master Lung's mistress, Camilla meets two other intriguing women. Shadow is a magician and rival for Master Lung's affections, while Rainbow Chang dresses like a man and wields power through her incendiary gossip column. Both pose risks to Camilla's safety and status. But an even greater danger comes in the form of Master Lung's eldest son, Jinying, who despises his father's violent lifestyle - but loves Camilla. Only by plotting to eliminate Lung can she make her escape, but at what cost?
Mingmei Yip grew up in Hong Kong and immigrated to the United States in 1992.
Her debut novel, Peach Blossom Pavilion, tells the story of the last in the Chinese tradition of poet-musician-courtesans, was published by Kensington in 2008.
Her new novel is Petals from the Sky, (Kensington Books, March 2010) story of a young Chinese woman who escapes her dysfunctional, ne'er-do-well family to become a Buddhist nun - only to realize she had run away from her own heart. Petals from the Sky was inspired by Mingmei's life since she befriended powerful Buddhist nuns in her youth and was once groomed to be one.
Her Chinese Children's Favorite Stories, which she both wrote and illustrated, was published in 2004 by Tuttle. She is now writing and illustrating another children's book for Tuttle.
Mingmei has appeared on over 60 TV and radio programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and the United Sates, as well as many newspaper interviews. She has published five prior books in Chinese and wrote columns for seven major Hong Kong newspapers. Her song lyrics have been published and performed in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the U. S.
Mingmei received her Ph. D. from the University of Paris, Sorbonne. In Hong Kong, she held faculty appointments at the Chinese University and Baptist University and has published over forty scholarly articles.
