Acknowledgments

I’d like to say a heartfelt thanks to:

The friends who read the book in its early stages and gave me important feedback: Alex Vera, Amy Lamphere, Andy Lim, Bernice Olivas, Bethani Herring, Cole Papadopoulis, Daniel Nyikos, Evi Wusk, Jacquelyn Stolos, Jeff and Linda Bouvier, Jeffrey Schindler, Militza Jean-Felix, Mitchell Waters, Oliver Bendorf, Sammi Bray, Sarah Thomas-Dusing, Saretta Morgan, Susan Martens, and Todd Pernicek.

My professors and mentors at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Daryl Farmer, whose creative writing class made me put my ass in the chair; Timothy Schaffert, who first helped me believe that I could be a writer; Amelia Montes, who answered every panicky email and who listened, cared, and helped me through some of my hardest times; Starla Stensaas, who pushed me to follow my passion and opened my eyes to the concept that life is change and growth; Gerry Shapiro, RIP, who gave me some of the best writing and life advice I’ve ever gotten; Jonis Agee, who saw a novel in me and helped me start writing it; Judith Slater, whose kindness and care helped me figure out what I was trying to say; and Joy Castro, who tirelessly made sure I knew the right people in the right places at the right times.

Mark Winegardner, my major professor at Florida State University, and my professors Robert Olen Butler, Skip Horack, and Elizabeth Stuckey-French, for their support and advice about publication.

The New York State Summer Writers Institute and the Lambda Literary Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices, where I wrote great chunks of this novel.

The writers of Write Here Write Now, who accepted me when I was most broken and gave me a space to heal, with a special thank you to Toni Amato, who not only gave me meticulous feedback, but who also helped me believe that I’m capable of great things.

The friends who read multiple drafts, who listened to me rant for hours about my characters, and who have often been my own personal cheerleading squad: Annie Bierman, Jennifer Dean, and Ev Evnen.

Sam Majumder, for being my Kris. Scott Schneider for putting up with me and this project for as long as he could. And the writers and friends at Florida State University for celebrating art and weirdness with me these last few years, especially Jess Cohen, Heather Bailey, Tom Tooley, Colleen Mayo, Gabby Bellot, Karen Tucker, and Rita Mookerjee.

My parents for giving me time and space to write, my brother Varun for being a walking anti-depressant, and Geoff Bouvier for being a wonderful muse, teammate, and life partner.

My agent, Connor Goldsmith, for believing in me and in the book, even when I didn’t. My editor, Mark Doten, for seeing the book for the best that it could be and pushing me to get there. Rachel Kowal, Abby Koski, and all the folks at Soho Press for putting so much love and care into this book.

Y’all are wonderful humans. Thank you, thank you, thank you.