by Jeff Zentner
Jesse Andrews, for inspiring me to write a funny book.
My bosses, Amy Tarkington and Rachel Willis. I get asked all the time how I manage to write with a full-time job. You are how. Thank you.
John Corey Whaley, Rainbow Rowell, and Benjamin Alire Sáenz, thank you for letting me vent about politics in addition to leaving me in awe of your talents.
Adriana Mather, for being basically the epitome of cool and putting your head down, tuning everything out, and working. You’re one of my heroes.
Brendan Kiely, for being such a welcome and familiar face on so many of my travels, and for being such a powerful voice for good in our world.
Ryan Labay, for being the raddest and most supportive.
Kristen Gilligan and Len Vlahos, for being so awesome and talented, and such advocates for my books.
Marlena Midnite, Robyn Graves, and Blake Powell of Midnite Mausoleum, for creating such a fun, sweet, goofy, and bizarre show for me to randomly discover on my local public access station at eleven on a Saturday night. Josie and Delia aren’t an attempt to write you, but they certainly owe their existence to you.
Cameron McCasland, thank you for the insights on the strange and wonderful world of public access. I can’t believe I was so lucky to have a member of one of the all-time great horror-hosting teams right in my backyard.
Amber Addison, thank you for the MMA information.
Rose Little-Brock, for putting so much goodness into the world and basically encapsulating why I’d watch a TV series about Texas librarians.
Steph Post, for being not only a brilliant writer of books but an amazing advocate for them.
Nickolas Butler, for taking the time out of your day to hang out with a total stranger who happens to be one of your biggest fans.
The crew from Jeffz Game of Thronez Korner.
The brilliant authors who have allowed me the honor of being one of the early readers of their work: Sharon Huss Roat, Marie Marquardt, Estelle Laure, Calla Devlin, Ashley Woodfolk, Samira Ahmed, Randy Ribay, Maggie Thrash, Jared Reck, Richard Lawson, Anica Mrose Rissi, Kelly Loy Gilbert, Tanaz Bhathena, Carlie Noël Sorosiak, Gae Polisner, Kit Frick, Farrah Penn, Sarah Nicole Smetana, Eric Gansworth, Peter Brown Hoffmeister, and Susin Nielsen.
The staff and campers of Tennessee Teens Rock Camp and Southern Girls Rock Camp. Allowing me to see firsthand the magic and beauty of young women coming together to make art was a huge impetus for this book.
The readers, librarians, educators, booksellers, podcasters, book clubbers, Instagrammers, and bloggers (and every other category of book people) who have been such advocates for my books. I see you and the work you do, and I am so deeply appreciative. You make our country a better place when so many are trying to do the opposite. By sharing stories, you’re giving dignity to those who are targets of those trying to strip it away. You’re helping to write the counternarrative to the narratives of hate and fear that are all too prevalent now.
Mom and Dad, Grandma Z, Brooke, Adam, Steve. I love you all.
The love of my life, best friend, and first reader, Sara. I could not have written this or any other book without your love and support and the happiness you give me. Being with you turns a Comfort Inn in Jackson, Tennessee, into the Ritz-Carlton.
My precious boy, Tennessee. Nothing brings me more joy than watching you grow up, and calling myself your father is the greatest honor I’ll ever know. I love that I have a book of yours on my bookshelf now. I hope someday everyone gets to read the adventures of Mega Monster Man. Thank you for being my son.
JEFF ZENTNER is the author of the New York Times Notable Book The Serpent King and Goodbye Days. He has won the William C. Morris Award, the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award, the International Literacy Association Award, and the Westchester Fiction Award, was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the United Kingdom Literacy Association Award, and was a finalist for the Southern Book Prize and the Indies Choice Award. He was a Publishers Weekly Flying Start and an Indies Introduce pick. Before becoming a writer, he was a musician who recorded with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie Harry. Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee is his ode to people who try hard and come up short. He lives in Nashville with his wife and son. You can follow him on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter at @jeffzentner.
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