ms. diaz was born in puerto rico her work has been published in rolling stones, the guardian, long reads. the new york times' out magazine. and included in the best american essays 2016. the recipient of two prizes and the elizabeth and george foundation george foundation grant and fellowship from the mcdowell colony. and the wisconsin institute for creative writing. she lives in miami beach with her partner please give a warm savanna welcome to jacquira diaz. >> thank you so much. i am so happy to be here and it's wonderful to see all of you book lovers here. and thank you savanna for your southern hospitality. i also want to thank the savanna book festival and everyone who made this event possible let's give it up to the indie booksellers in the room. i love you all. thank you for all that you do for loving books and championing writers. because of you i'm here. thank you. i want to open with a just the just a little piece that opens the book it functions like we were the girls who strolled

ms. diazorn in puerto rico her work has been published in rolling stones, the guardian, long reads. the new york times' out magazine. and included in the best american essays 2016. the recipient of two prizes and the elizabeth and george foundation george foundation grant and fellowship from the mcdowell colony. and the wisconsin institute for creative writing.