To the people of Borikén, whose resilience is the root of this novel, thank you. Thank you to Centro, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College, for being an invaluable resource not only for this book, but for the entire diaspora. And to Iris Morales, whose film, ?Pa’lante, Siempre Pa’Lante!, and book Through the Eyes of Rebel Women were invaluable resources.
This is in no small part a love letter to Brooklyn, my hometown, and its people. Shout-out to my teachers at P.S. 48, P.S. 105, I.S. 227, and the late Gail Katz and Saul Bruckner. To John Faciano, Georgia Scurletis, Sheila Hanley, Scott Martin, and the inspiring teachers at Edward R. Murrow High School: You made me a better reader, writer, and thinker. And my Murrow crew, who’ve always had my back: Alex Rosado, Tascha Van Auken, Jace Van Auken, and the entire Joyce family, especially Rebecca and Josh.
To my Brooklyn fam: the incomparable and beloved Marcy Blum, Aja Baxter, “Cousin Danny” Lubrano, Indira Goris, Destin Coleman, Yohance Bowden, Brandon and Iman Nelson, De’Ara Balenger, Pao Ramos, Walt Brown, Nya Parker Brown. And to Ian Niles, Kendra Ellis, and my heart, soul, third-line, and no-nonsense hype woman, Sharon Ingram: Be you in D.C., L.A., or anywhere in this world, your time in Brooklyn touched my life, and I love you.
I started this book in Fort Greene Park but finished it in Iowa City. Thanks to Lan Samantha Chang, the faculty at the Writers’ Workshop, and the University of Iowa for the life-changing financial support that allowed me the time and space to complete this novel. Thank you to Disquiet International, Ninth Letter, and Joyland magazine for supporting my writing.
Eternal gratitude to the 2019 IWW Novel Workshop: Jeff Boyd, Belinda Tang, IfeOluwa Nihinlola, Aaron Huang, Elliot Duncan, Elaine Ray, David McDevitt, Marilyn Manalokas, and Jing “JJ” Jian. And to Alonzo Vereen and Abigail Carney, who talked me off many a revision ledge.
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, the best film teacher a girl could ask for: Our work together brought so much depth and clarity to this project. Thank you for loving Olga so much.
The Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference is a special place from which emerged my invaluable writing circle: Cleyvis Natera and T. J. Wells. On the mountain I found magic: Lizz Huerta and Mai Schwartz. Amazing readers, writers, and even better friends.
Many strong women have supported this midlife journey: Sofija Stefanovic, a writer of unbelievable generosity; Karen Rinaldi, an inspiration; Jennifer J. Raab and my colleagues at Hunter College, who encouraged this pivot; Melissa Martínez-Raga, whose perspective as a writer and an island-born Boricua made this book infinitely better; Jackie Furst, who put Humpty Dumpty back together again; and my magnificent aunt Linda （and my uncle Frank）， who fueled my love of books and writers and writing—I love you.
Christina H. Paxson, Celeste Perri, Caryn Ganz, Margo Gallagher, Elyse Fox, Pam Brier, Heather Ortiz, Steven Colon, Carmen Vargas, Suyin So, Sarita Gonzalez, Kirsten Johnson, Michaela RedCherries, Marisa Tirado, Ruben Reyes, Natalee Dawson, Indya Finch, Maggie Mitchell, Vix Gutierrez, Hannah Friedland, Emily Upton-Davis, Jordan Helman, Tony Tompson, Camille DePasquale, Roxanne Fequire, Payton Turner, Abby Adesanya, Alex Norcia, Quinn Murphy, and my godbabies, Rocco Van Auken and Vivi Baxter, who’ve all lent support and inspiration in ways big and small.
My grandparents, Alberto, Assunta, and Raquel, and all my ancestors, for holding me up.
And thanks, above all, to God.
Pop. We did it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Xochitl Gonzalez received her M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she was an Iowa Arts Fellow and the recipient of the Michener Copernicus Prize in Fiction. Prior to writing, Xochitl wore many hats, including entrepreneur, wedding planner, fund-raiser, and tarot card reader. She is a proud alumna of the New York City Public Schools system and holds a B.A. in art history and visual art from Brown University. She lives in her hometown of Brooklyn with her dog, Hectah Lavoe. You can sign up for email updates here.