Dawn must be near, but she could not see it through the downpour, still falling steady and relentless. She lifted her face to the sky, but even the rain that fell from heaven could not quite wash her clean.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Most people don’t know this, but I was a pretty religious kid. And while I am not religious now, the mythology and vocabulary of Judeo-Christianity is imbedded deep in my bones. I went to Catholic schools for the first eight years of my education where people like my 8th grade religion teacher, Mr. Shields, instilled a lifelong curiosity about religion. Later, I attended Yale as an undergrad and majored in Religious Studies and there had some amazing teachers as well, most of them long retired but never forgotten. And, after, I received a Master’s in Theology from Union Theological, where I was honored to work with many minds on the forefront of radical reimaginings of Black and feminist religious praxis.

None of that great academic stuff made it into this book, although I do owe a debt of gratitude (and perhaps an apology) to all my wonderful religion teachers throughout my formal education.

What did make it into this book was a trip to Leadville, Colorado, some deep thoughts about the trope of the “tragic mulatto” and the need to upend that, an interest in the lives of the people who lived on the margins of the Old West, ten years as a practicing attorney, and a story sparked to live in equal measure from Guillermo del Toro’s remake of Nightmare Alley, P. Djèlí Clark’s A Master of Djinn, and a handful of Urban Fantasy novels about angels and demons.

Thanks to my editor, Joe Monti, for letting me write this quirky little novella and allowing me to bring all my disparate interests together. Being creative in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge, as was getting out of bed and continuing to function. You gave me the freedom to explore something outside of what I might normally write, and that is very appreciated.

Thanks to my agent, Sara Megibow, who continues to be both friend and business partner.

Thanks to Turquoise Apocalypse—Lauren C. Teffeau, Sarena Ulibarri, Brian Hinson, and Ian Tregillis. Special shoutout to Ian, who also has Judeo-Christian mythos deep in his bones and whose enthusiasm for the story kept me going.

Thanks to my husband, Michael Roanhorse, who could never remember what the story was about—is this the one with Serapio?—but who nonetheless cheered me on, fed me, caffeinated me, and is the best partner I could ask for.

Thanks to my daughter, Maya, who did remember what the story was about and advised me on plot issues accordingly. As always, you are a bright light in my life.

Thanks to the team at Gallery Books/Saga Press for all the work and dedication and love. This book wouldn’t exist without you.