"First Mistake" is both a love story about defying the odds (even certain death) and a spiritual memoir about the search for identity, partnership, and the meaning of life. After the trauma at age 9 of witnessing and feeling partially responsible for the death of her caregiver, Ah Kung, he becomes the author's life's spirit guide. For 40 years, he has been with her on her journey to make sense of the world around her -- from South African Apartheid to the AIDS epidemic to the fight for marriage equality -- and with her as she grew in love, faith, and purpose. "First Mistake" is a memoir that should speak to anyone who, like the author, is still on a quest for the meaning of life.

Praise for "First Mistake"

"What a saga: wrenching and real, a love story that stretches across the decade, into and triumphantly through the AIDS crisis, interlaced the whole way with a spiritual quest. Chang has written a poignant and ultimately inspiring memoir." - Tamim Ansary, Author of "West of Kabul, East of New York" and "Road Trips"

"This memoir is nearly impossible to put down. It's about making extraordinary decisions in what could have been an ordinary life. There are faith and philosophical discussions amid a page-turning account of coming out and coming of age during the emergence of AIDS in New York City. The prose is written in a straight forward manner but peppered with nearly poetic sections embodying self-love and self-care." - Nancy Cambria, 2017 James Aronson Award Winner for Social Justice Reporting

"I became completely caught up in reading about the life of Ms. Chang, staying up late at night to see what happened next in her riveting story... This is an inspiring story of self-discovery and spiritual awakening, as we trek along with Ms. Chang from a place of dark despair into the light of hope and miracles... I highly recommend this book, as not only is it a wonderful story to read about this strong woman, but it inspires us to open up to our own true selves."
- Dr. Mara Karpel, Author of "The Passionate Life"