Eric turned to her, glad for a chance to play the expert, even if it wasn’t a suggestion he personally believed in. He was often giving advice, in his classes, that he didn’t use himself—but that didn’t mean it wasn’t useful to his students. Hadn’t he had glowing reviews from his students in Dubai? Hadn’t they wanted him to stay another term? “Basically, if you’re stuck, you write the more exciting parts—the climax, or just the intense scenes of conflict—first. Then you fill in the rest later. It can be motivating for new writers.”

“I tried that, but I kept writing the temptation scenes, because that was the part I connect with the most with this character.” Davonte put his hand over his heart. “I think Damian has got too many women in his life now. Honestly, I’m not sure I’m a good novelist on my own. When my life coach found this opportunity, he kind of led me to believe I’d get some help.”

“The classes aren’t helpful?” Regina asked. She pushed her plate aside and took out a tablet, wiped her hands on her napkin, and began typing.

“A ghostwriter,” he explained. “I was hoping to find a ghostwriter. Like Jay-Z. You know he didn’t write that book himself. Three hundred and fifty pages? I don’t fucking think so. Excuse me, I don’t think so. I mean, I would supply the ideas—I’ve got the ideas—but someone else would do the rest.”

Regina nodded. Eric wondered how she’d handle the dispiriting news that a novel wasn’t the same thing as a celebrity tell-all, and Davonte would have to write it himself—just like Joyce, like Hemingway, like Terry McMillan. Like Eric.

“That’s a marvelous idea,” said Regina. She turned to Eric. “Don’t you think?”

“Um,” said Eric, setting down his fork. “No?”

“At GWGW, we believe that our students need to be given the tools to access success—on their terms. It’s one of our founding philosophies,” she said, tapping a screen on her tablet and holding it up for Eric and Davonte to see. “That’s one of the things we like so well about the Ranch. You are built to honor the students’ needs for a flexible schedule.”

“The low-residency model is pretty well established, actually,” said Eric.

“But combined with your focus on faith—that’s what makes the school unique. Plus a flexible schedule and availability to the students’ needs. I think what Davonte needs is someone to help him, to get him started. Would that be useful to you, Davonte?”

“Definitely,” he said. “It would also be great if the Ranch had a gym.”

Regina typed that into her tablet, too. “I just know that with my marketing contacts, and Eric’s talent, we can help you make a big splash in the publishing world.”