Writing a novel is synonymous with living a life. I thank those who helped me live a good life and write a good novel.
Tanzanika Ruffin: soulmate, genius, contrarian, North Star.
Ma and Dad—rest in peace: who gave me whimsy and a love of people.
Victory Matsui: editor, whose wisdom and grace brought this book to its best form. Chris Jackson: publisher and editor in chief of One World/Random House, who greenlit my dream. PJ Mark: agent, whose competence, confidence, and optimism aligned planets.
Tad Bartlett, brother-in-arms, who has the soul of a poet, the mind of a supercomputer, and the heart of a lion. Terri Shrum—rest in peace—sister-in-arms, whose incredible kindness and talent continue to inspire me. Emilie Staat, sister-in-arms, a gifted writer who read everything and gave out gold stars.
Che Yuen, whose short stories and humane example inspired me to ignore limitations. Jamey Hatley, who pushed me to tell honest stories and who used tarot cards to predict this very moment. Mat Johnson, first reader, wonderful mentor—a nicer guy could not happen to me. James Nolan, fearless teacher and friend. Ben Morris, early reader and expert technical editor. April Blevins Pejic, early reader and encourager.
Susan Kagan, Bryan Block, Sabrina Canfield, Amy Serrano, Emily Choate, J.Ed. Marston, L. Kasimu Harris, Amy Connor, Cassie Pruyn, Kelly Harris, Denise Moore, Janis Turk, Susan Bennett Vallee, Keri Rachal, Zach Bartlett, Andrew Kooy, Alex Johnson, Larry Wormington, and all the members of my writing group, the Peauxdunque Writers Alliance, for providing safe harbor.
My writing community: Barb Johnson, Neal Walsh, Rick Barton, Amanda Boyden, Joseph Boyden, Randy Bates, Kay Murphy, Joanna Leake, Richard Goodman, Zachary Lazar, Jami Attenberg, Wells Tower, Rodger Kamenetz, Moira Crone, Alexander Chee, Roxane Gay, Laila Lalami, Kiese Laymon, ZZ Packer, Rachel Kushner, Charles Blackstone, David Mura, Nicole Bartlett, Rosemary James, Joseph DeSalvo, Melissa Remark, Cate Root, Chris Lawson, Willemijn Lamp, Joris Lindhout, Maaike Gouwenberg, Loraine Despres, T. Geronimo Johnson, Naomi Jackson, Sarah Broom, Garnette Cadogan, Tom Piazza, Robert McKee, Jim Randels, Kurtis Clements, Danielle Pellegrin, jewel bush, Mary Jane Ryals, and Ms. Pauline of the long-defunct Bookworm Comics in New Orleans East, who encouraged all her young patrons to read as much as possible and go to college.
Thanks to Read My World, Deltaworkers, VONA, and the Middlebury Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference for institutional support.
To my family, who gave me a reason to tell stories: the Ruffins; my brother, James, and the Alexanders; Ms. Claudia, Ernest M. Washington, Jr., and the Washingtons; Auntie Edie and the Brandons; and the Jourdan family.