The House of Eve (105)

To all of the independent bookstores, librarians, teachers, book clubs, bloggers, influencers, reviewers, and readers who lovingly show up for me, read my novels, and are ambassadors at spreading the word: thank you. I could not do any of this without your support. It takes a village and I am grateful to Marita Golden for your sensitivity read and for teaching me the art of craft at the Hurston Wright Foundation. Benilde Little, my first teacher; Victoria Christopher Murray, Kristin Harmel, Kate Quinn, Robert Jones Jr., Janet Skeslien Charles, Patti Callahan Henry, Julie Cantrell, Nomi Eve, Drexel University, Story Summit, Kimbilio Fellows, James River Writers, and Tall Poppy Writers for being a part of mine. Pens up to my writing students, thank you for making me better.

For my beautiful children: Miles, you make my heart burst with pride; Zora, you are the perfect firecracker and the world is not ready—burn, baby, burn! Lena, you are the Light, the keeper of our stories, and more talented than you know. You three are my greatest creation. To Glenn, my beloved husband, who has never wavered. Started from the bottom now we here. Rock solid, ten toes down—you can’t move what’s rooted in the ground. The promises do come true. I couldn’t love you more if I tried.