The Seeds of "Later Days" and the Ties Binding Our Two Main Characters, Denny & Luke

The resulting narrative reimagines our time together based on where we first met: a rigorous, “Lord of the Flies”-esque prep school near Pasadena, California, rescuing each other, often from self-sabotage, one zany mishap at a time. Life reconnects them and their shattered friendship in YSK, when neither of the estranged pair have exactly lived up to the high expectations yoked around their necks.

The novel, though, is far more than either a coming-of-age tale or a life-coming-apart saga. It’s a valentine to a unique brotherhood suffused with belonging, and also field notes from a revolution, when our historically all-boys transitioned to coed our senior year, redrawing the contours of our old bravado world. It burrows into life in the time of “national malaise” and seriously diverse rock music, when vigilant parenting was optional and teenage partying was mandatory.

Whether it’s knuckle-dragging bullies, crush-worthy teachers, classroom brinksmanship, or a crash-and-burn playoff-game, you’ll live in our shoes (Vans, Adidas, flip-flops), and feel our heartache when it’s time to say goodbye.

Until, that is, a class reunion and a test of friendship so farfetched, so cockamanie, it just might be the lightning bolt out two antiheroes need. 💫

Later Days is available now. https://loom.ly/ajEnKmg

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