ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many read a book by a new author and assume it’s the first book that person’s ever written. In a few rare cases that’s true. Most times, not. So the road to publishing a first novel often has years of struggle and discarded manuscripts behind it. Write. Rewrite. Collect rejections. Repeat.
Book after book.
All the while, the author depends on a vast support system, so you can understand those lucky enough to see their work in print for the first time have much credit to give. Starting with you, the reader, without whom stories cease to exist. Thank you for letting me tell you a story. I hope I didn’t disappoint.
Huge and warm thanks to my agent Pam Ahearn, who has the patience of Job. You guided me into becoming a stronger writer without telling me what to do. You didn’t give up on me when you easily could have, and I will never be able to properly express how much that means to me. Thank you to Joe Pittman and the fine people at Vantage Point Books, a scrappy new imprint who took a chance on me. Here’s hoping I bring success to you, and you to me. To
my friends at Old Possum: Ed, Linda, Dirk, Sean and John. You told me what was good and what sucked, and you were right almost all the time. To Jessica, who not only is my rock and has supported me through this process on so many levels but read everything with a wonderfully delicate eye for detail. To Sole, who makes me happy when she says she’s proud of me, and to my beautiful children Ili and Sawyer, who tell their friends their daddy is a writer. To my mom, sister, and the rest of my family, who read every word and supported it all, even the gnarly bits.
Dad, to whom this book is dedicated: you never had a chance to read this, but I think you would have appreciated a good yarn about crucifixion. You were good like that.
Endless thanks to Rioja, Malbec, Sangiovese, and Margarita. You ladies know how to inspire.
And lastly, to me. Good for you, goddamnit.
Table of Contents
PART I
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
PART II
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS