War by Candlelight: Stories

acknowledgments

I owe many people for many gifts. It’s a bit self-indulgent to try to thank them all, but I’ll give it a shot. My teachers, who have given generously of their time and wisdom: Paul McAdam, Mark Slouka, Colin Harrison, Ethan Canin, Chris Offutt, Edward Carey, Elizabeth McCracken, and ZZ Packer. Alan Ziegler and Leslie Woodward have been friends and supporters for many years. Kathleen McDermott has always looked out for me. Frank Conroy challenged and encouraged me to work harder; for this I am in his debt.

I rely on good friends for inspiration and, often, for sanity: Antonio Garcia, Agustin Vecino, Maggie Berryman, Laura Rysman, Danny Rudder, Andre Morales, Zea Malawa, Adrienne Brown, Josh Seidenfeld, Pascual Mejia, Stacey White, Scott Wolven, Claudia Manley, Clay Colvin, Caroline Wingo, Neil Roy, Wayne Yeh, John Green, Emmett Cloud, Shazi Visram, and Sean Titone — all beautiful people with big hearts. Sonia Gulati, with love. Carlos Aguasaco, mi compa. Mario Miche-lena, mi primo, mi colega. Jai Chun, wherever you are. The Class of 2003 at Bread and Roses Integrated Arts High School in New York, for putting up with a first-year teacher. To Olivia Armenta, for innumerable gifts.

In Lima, the Aronés family looked after me while I lived in San Juan de Lurigancho. All of my friends from AAHH 10 de Octubre and AAHH Jose Carlos Mariátegui, especially Vico Vargas Sulca, Jhon Lenon Mariño Yupanqui, Geral Huaripata Vasquez, Cesar Ortiz, Jorge “Koky” Ramos, and Roller Li Alzamora. The Diaz Tena family from Cruz de Motupe, especially Carmela. Everyone involved with the Defensores de La Paz Project, especially Carla Rimac, Jenny Uribe, and Olenka Ochoa from Incafam. The folks from Fulbright in Lima were great, always helpful and supportive, especially Migza and Marcela. Carlos Villacorta, for his friendship and his poetry. Pepe Alvarez, Felipe Leon—hermano! Lucy Naldos, Betsy Zapata, Mauricio Delfin — these are friends I can count on.

My family: the Alarcón clan, from Lima to Arequipa to La Paz; the Solis Diaspora, from Lima to Sweden to New York to Belgium. Claudy is my friend and confidante. I couldn’t have written this book or any book without the folks I met at Iowa: writers, poets, artists, and all-around wonderful people — too many to name. A few people deserve special mention for being great friends and great readers: Dave Sarno, Lila “Stealthy” Byock, Vinnie Wilhelm, Mark Lafferty, Kerrie Kvashay-Boyle, Sam Shaw, Grace Lee, and Mika Tanner.

Thanks also to Guillermo Martinez, Hugo Chaparro, Alejandra Costamagna, and Cristian Gomez for their advice and encouragement. Connie Brothers, Deb West, and Jan Zenisek have made my life easier. Thanks to the Foxhead, for existing, to Prairie Lights, to the Wobblies, for a winning season and a shot at glory. Ricardo Gutierrez, for the book recommendations. Nicholas Pearson, for his insight. Susan and Linda at Glimmer Train, for buying my first story. Julio Villanueva Chang from Etiqueta Negra. Leelila Strogov at Swink. Deborah Treisman, for the education and the opportunity.

An extra-special big dawg thank-you to my comrade in the struggle, Eric Simonoff, who made it happen, and my editor, Alison Callahan, for her guidance and confidence. Thanks also to René Alegria, mi patrón at Rayo and a good friend.

Finally, my parents, Renato and Chela, and my sisters, Patricia and Sylvia, to whom I’ve dedicated this book. I owe them everything. To my newest family: Pat, Marcela, and Lucia.