Underestimated Affinities

by Matthew Scarcella

  Jen, thank you for reading my first draft when some things were still a little confusing, and even though I know you didn’t really have the proper time to read it. I truly admire your decision to add to your family not once, but twice since I have met you. You have incredible courage and patience and I continue to be awed by both with each passing day.

  Stephanie, you are an amazing person and I am so glad to call you my dearest friend. I have known you my entire life and I don’t know what I would do without you. I am immensely proud of all that you have accomplished and look forward to seeing you work further toward your career goals in nursing. You are indeed a rising star.

  Thanks also to my cousin Kristin Scarcella, and my friends Dasha Mushkin (formerly Shtarker), and Federico Alberto Sánchez Loyola for reading my book before it was published.

  Thanks to my beta readers, from Fiverr as well. Claire Kelly, you provided a lot of valuable insight and questions, and your input was very helpful. Tom Fisher, your comments helped me a lot as well. It was nice to hear another gay man’s opinion on my work. Amber Adams, even though I didn’t agree with everything you talked about, I believe that your feedback helped me look at my work objectively when I previously couldn’t.

  I’d also like to thank some of my favorite musicians/artists, as I was probably listening to music while writing at least 75% of this: Foxes, MØ, Dua Lipa, DYAN, Troye Sivan, Amy Winehouse, Years & Years, Allie X, Florence + The Machine, and Frenship. Much appreciation to Banks — your music inspired me to start writing, and it was such a genuine pleasure to meet you what now seems like ages ago; if you end up reading this, I hope you like the way I portrayed you in your namesake.

  Lastly, I’d like to make a note of appreciation for the Coldplay song “Hymn for the Weekend,” which reminded me of what I used to daydream about when I was fourteen and rollerblading by the Verrazzano Bridge.

  I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. For my undergraduate degree, I studied forensic science, and I have used a lot of creative enhancements to the science incorporated into this fantasy world. I currently live in New York City, but love to travel. I read frequently, mostly fiction, and enjoy knitting. This is my first finished book, and my first publication. I’m looking forward to the next one, and hope you’ll come along for the ride!