There wouldn’t be a single word on paper without the encouragement, faith and tough love of my momma, Georgia Virginia Willis-West; my awesome big-little brother, Gerald West, Jr., and my father, Gerald West, Sr.
Thanks to my courageous and ah-mazing agent Beth Marshea of Ladderbird Literary Agency. I don’t believe I’d be here if you didn’t take a chance on me. Everlasting gratitude, hugs and tacos to my fantastic editor Laura Brown of Park Row Books. Your faith in this story and your exceptional skill in helping me make it better is the stuff of legend!
Also thank you to my wonderful friends who are more like the additional annoying brothers I didn’t know I needed: Branden Johnson (Probie); Kevin Savoie (Mellow); Andrew Dolbeare (Drew); Michael Burgner (Burgner); and Michael Cody (Cody). You guys know where the bodies are buried because you helped me bury them and would help me bury more if I called you in the middle of the night.
Lastly, to my grandma Viola Willis, and my great-grandmother Georgia Whitaker. I don’t know all the parts of your stories, what you sacrificed, so a black girl from the South Side of Chicago could become a writer. I wish I did. I do know there’s no way to repay you, so I will pay it forward. I will make you proud.
Thank you.