Black Buck(121)
Aside from you, the reader, the first person I need to thank is my agent, Tina Pohlman. Tina, we did it! Whew. Feels like just yesterday when we first spoke. I knew from our first conversation that you were the one. Seriously. When you said, “This sounds like a sales manual,” I was knocked flat on my ass because someone other than me understood what I was doing. Thank you for being my confidante, my therapist, and for being a true partner I can always rely on.
Pilar Garcia-Brown. Pilar! Missing my flight in San Francisco and taking my call with you in a dingy hotel room was one of the best decisions of my life. This book would not be what it is without you, and I am indebted to you for your calming manner, how patient you are, and for how you’ve helped me become a better writer and literary citizen. Thank you, Pilar.
Other folks at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt I’ve relied on—Taryn Roeder, Lori Glazer, Michael Dudding, Matt Schweitzer, Jenny Freilach, and everyone else working to get Black Buck into as many hands as possible—thank you, thank you, thank you. Shout out to the sales team, too. It’s an honor and a privilege to publish my debut novel with HMH.
Shout out to David Hough, who copyedited the hell out of this! David, whether you know it or not, you helped me become a better writer through your encouraging edits. For real.
Pat Mulcahy and Matt Sharpe, two of my early readers whose notes helped this book puff its chest out and gain some good mass, I thank you. Same to Julio Saenz and Gow Mosby, two close friends who read early drafts and let me know I was on the right path.
Again, stream of consciousness, so let me express my deep, really bottomless, love for my family. Words won’t do this justice. But, Mom, Sonia Askaripour, I love you so much. I have tears in my eyes as I write this. You always believed in me, even when I was lost, and I wouldn’t be here without you. Pops, Aziz Askaripour, same to you. You taught me what it means to work hard and never let up, no matter the obstacles, and I will never be able to thank you enough. Doostet daram, baba.
My brothers—Darius, Dave, Khalik, and Andrew—you four have been my greatest teachers, supporters, and friends. I know that when everyone and everything else in the world fades away, you will always be there for me, and I will always be there for you. Sometimes it feels like the earth is getting ready to split when we’re together, and I’m grateful for that feeling. When the five of us are aligned, nothing can stop us. I love you with all that I am.
To my aunts, uncles, and cousins—from the United States to Jamaica to Iran to Canada to England and everywhere else we are—thank you. I feel your love and send you my own. RIP to Uncle Dicky and Aunt Sheri.
Grandma Clarine Emily Case and Grandpa William Rochester Case, I am proud to have your blood running through my veins. The blood of enslaved people, yes, and so much more. The blood of teachers, of politicians, of dedicated community members who uplifted the lives of so, so many. Thank you for teaching me how to read, Grandma. Thank you for teaching me how to lead, Grandpa. I hope that you both are proud.
Johania Dinora Ramos. My first love. My Soraya. My first reader. Thank you for allowing me to read you new chapters every night, as well as for your candor in what you liked and didn’t. Thank you for our history. Thank you for still being in my life. I hope everything has been worth it.
Quemuel Arroyo. YO! We did it, Q! Damn, man. I truly understand the limitations of language when I try to express how I feel about someone like you. You’ve held me down from day one. Whether it was introducing me to Moet and ice cream from Trader Joe’s, letting me indefinitely cohabitate with you, or just being there for my manic ups and downs, yo, I love you, man. I don’t need many people in this world, but I do need you. Thank you for always leaving the door open . . . except that first time.
Geetanjali Toronto and Adam Vinson: two homies who have been there for me and supported this book from way back when. I thank you. Same to Michael Esposito. A real one.
Thank you to Delaney Poon and the whole Poon gang for your support when everything—getting an agent, a book deal, selling the film/TV rights—was popping off. The time we spent together was meaningful, and I am glad to have met when we did.
Grovo. Grovo. Grovo. I know, all of this is crazy. I can’t wait to hear what you think of this book. I don’t know what to say. Working with you all was one of the best times of my life. Also, one of the craziest. Thank you for allowing me to lead, as well as for forgiving me, at times, for my inability to do so—I, too, was just trying to figure it all out as best as I could. Special shout outs to Nick Narodny, for being there for me after I left and remaining a true friend; to Jeb Pierce, for making sure we kept in touch, even when I fell out of it with so many others; to Ben Contillo, yes, you, Ben Contillo, for always saying I was your #1 draft pick; to Dan Levine, for helping to edit a book manuscript that will never see the light of day, and for doing so with an open heart and enthusiasm; to the SDRs, the other founders, for giving me an opportunity; and everyone else who made Grovo one of the “best places to work in NYC tech.”
Big ups to the team at MACRO. They are not only a pleasure to work with, but also committed to creating works by and for people of color—thank you all for your hard work. And thank you, Anna DeRoy, my film/TV agent! Black Buck couldn’t have a better shepherd in Hollywood. Also shout out to Jay Ellis, who has become a real friend and source of guidance. Thank you for entering my life, brother.
Speaking of people who enter your life, yo, the biggest of shout outs to the Rhode Island Writers Colony. I can say with the surest conviction: the road to publication would have been so much lonelier and more difficult without all of you. You were the writing family I needed but didn’t know it. Jason Reynolds, bro, thank you for all of the game you’ve dispensed and continue to pass to me. Miss Dianne, I love you so much. John and Mary, thank you for always making Warren feel as welcoming as possible. My 2018 cohort—Lena, Carla, Qurratulayn—I am so happy to know you. All of the other RIWC fam, especially those who allow me to vent like a madman, Candice Iloh and Irvin Weathersby, I thank you. RIP to Brook Stephenson. Your spirit lives on, brother.