Cast of Characters

friends

Max: Poet and bohemian, prog rocker, jewess. Eventually trans, always a real one.

Hannah:University of Texas best friend. Effervescent, dedicated, brilliant. Surrounded by confident and talented people, hosts great parties. Usually tied up in knots. Mom friend, KVRX DJ.

Frances Z: KVRX DJ. A practitioner of intentional living. Bikes and walks most places. Tells great jokes, always up for adventure, unafraid.

Ronnie Z:Frances's older sister, a powerful, outdoorsy type with a thoughtful conversation style.

more people, in no particular order

Elaine: Writer and Academic, best friend from Brigham Young University (2008). Cagey, elusive. Over-engaged in the suffering of the world, and in her own suffering.

Paul: Dear friend since school days. Wealthy, monk-like, anxious, Italian-American. Exacting but inconsistent taste. Publicly sardonic, privately earnest, secretly artistic.

Faye: C.O.G. cult-escapee, soul-sibling and best friend when possible. Tall, full of folk remedies, with bewitching eyes and star power.

Forest: A fair Austinite, well and comfortably connected. Philosopher, writer, benevolent trickster, and the best person to go tubing with. Also hosts great parties, and DJed at KVRX.

Diego: A charming and synaesthetic West Texas hayseed with a dynamic face. Areas of study include American History, Philosophy, Physical Comedy, Prevarication.

Chase: First Love and victim of many of my worst mistakes. Bane and idyll. Phantom, mystery. Wants me to stay away from him.

blood relatives, in descending order of age

Margaret: Oldest sister, born 1971. MFA Russian Literature. Mother of 6 children. Soft, entreating voice. Good listener. Suffers from madness.

Becca: Sister and mentor, born 1977. Lives in Manhattan. Artist, mystic, mormon. Has holy and terrible visions.

Chistine: Sister, Born 1979. Intense and driven, extremely wise. Mother of two well-adjusted daughters. Terrible taste in men.

Diane: Sister, born 1981. Maybe the loudest one of us all. Has traveled the world, and ridden the class roller coaster. Well-dressed.

Schmo: Overweight Russian Blue cat adopted from Diane. Favorite activity standing over my head watching my face while I sleep.

minor characters

Jennifer: Hardass and expensive Austin DBT therapist.

Michael: A tall, sarcastic cellist from Plano I dated and lived with for 9 months in 2009. Math enthusiast.

Kevin: Diane's husband, a gamer.