About the Author

The oldest of five children, Kim Luke, was born in 1943, toward the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. She grew up in Cuiheng Village, Zhongshan County, Guandong Province, China. While in China, she and her family suffered through WWII, the Japanese invasion, the civil war, and the Communist Revolution.

After escaping from Communist China, Kim spent her late teenage years in Hong Kong, where she went to a private English school to learn basic English.

In 1965, when Kim was twenty-one, her entire family immigrated to the United States. Her first job in Sacramento was as an NCR (National Cash Register) machine operator at Bank of America. It was the only job the bank offered because she did not know a debit from credit and had no idea what a vault was. While working at different banks, she enrolled in night school and took specialized financial and real estate courses for many years. She earned PFP (Personal Financial Planner) from UC Davis and became a Vice President in the banking industry.

Kim also worked in real estate syndication and land development. When the industry went bust, she was elected as the trustee overseeing the $150 million bankruptcy.

Kim was also involved in politics, volunteering for fundraisers and community services, and was a board member of many non-profit organizations, including the American Red Cross.

Kim has two children, of whom she is very proud. Son, Keith, graduated with a degree in Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona. Keith and his family live in Southern California. Their daughter, Selene, attended UC Irvine on a four-year scholarship, graduating with honors in Economics. Later, she earned a doctorate in Optometry from UC Berkeley. Selene now lives and works in Sacramento.

Nowadays, Kim enjoys her retirement with her family and friends. There are more than 100 members of the close-knit Luke family, most of whom live in or near Sacramento. Kim is a passionate ballroom dancer. She also enjoys traveling, singing karaoke, painting, writing, and gardening.