Xuemei Ding

Inspired by her 9-year-old son's passion for golf, Xuemei Ding wrote her debut children's book, Luke’s Golf Discovery, to capture the authentic magic, challenges, and joy of golf through the eyes of a young child. Her son, Lucas Dunaway, a dedicated junior golfer, has competed in various junior golf tournaments and is a 2025 National Finalist in the prestigious Drive, Chip, and Putt. His enthusiasm and accomplishments have been the driving force behind her storytelling.

The idea for the book was born during a family dinner, as they discussed ways to do something fun and meaningful together before Lucas's big event on April 6, 2025. It was Lucas who suggested, "Why don't we write a children's book about golf?"—a spark that turned into a heartfelt project. This book is not just about celebrating her son's achievement, but also about the strong bonds they share as a family. Xuemei hopes to inspire young readers and families to discover the lifelong joy of the game, the importance of perseverance, and the lasting bonds built on and off the course.

Xuemei is a lawyer and currently works in a non-legal role at a public university in the U.S. She lives in Virginia with her husband, son, and their beloved dog.