I grew up, especially when I was really young, reading Harry Potter with my dad. In between chemo treatments and with the help of my radio-savvy uncle, my dad recorded himself reading THE ENTIRE Sorcerer’s Stone book. All 320 pages, culminating in a 9 hour and 40 minute “audiobook”.

He’s fatigued, occasionally nauseous, and overall exhausted. Still, amongst the incredible chemo schedule he found time to create magic.

My dad is receiving fantastic treatment at @mdanderson.bsky.social and, thankfully, has been responding well to chemo thus far. That said, he’s on an extraordinarily difficult regimen. Every 2 weeks, he receives an infusion of 3 chemo drugs
for 6-7 hours. He’s on chemo #10 out of 12. My hero.

This Christmas, I received the best gift of my life.

Here’s the backstory: my dad is my best friend and truly a fulcrum of my life. In August 2024, after battling metastatic prostate cancer for 9 years, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 3 pancreatic cancer.

My world, for the second time, shattered.

with my dad for the holidays in between his chemo sessions. grateful for this precious, invaluable time together ❤️

It is the honor of my life to share that Starstruck has been selected for the Longlist of the 2024 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.

Impossible to sum up all of the emotions, but for now, gratitude and wonder eclipse the rest. Thank you to every person who has championed this book.