I do not exaggerate when I say Berkley Books is a dream team: Ivan Held, Claire Zion, Craig Burke, Jessica Plummer, Lauren Bernstein, Sareer Khader, Jeanne-Marie Hudson, Jin Yu, Dache’ Rogers, and Elisha Katz. And, of course, I have to give a very special thanks to my editor, Amanda Bergeron, for believing in me and this book and this story. I love working with you, Amanda.
Finally, I want to thank my family: my mom, Barbara, who was my first fan and supporter; my beloved late daddy, who encouraged my life of the mind; my brother, Harry, who always has my back; my brother-in-law, Roscoe, who is steady and loyal. And to my sweet sister, Jeanna: You are my forever angel, my forever love, my forever best friend, and I miss you. A whole host of Jones family members—nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins—keep me grounded in rich Memphis soil. My Aparicio family in Los Angeles feeds my soul. Words cannot express my gratitude to my husband and partner for life, David, who patiently listens to every frustration, every story idea, every roadblock, every triumph. You are my rock. Samanta, Monica, Ana, and Paty: Thank you for watching over my girls. Speaking of my girls, Elena and Emilia, I hope you will carry this story in your hearts. This is your lineage, too.