Doug Jones charted an ever-winding path on his way to publishing his debut novel The Fantasies of Future Things. It took a total of 30 years to bring the title to print -– the Brooklyn-native first starting to write the book in the ‘90s while working on his MFA graduate degree at Columbia University. He submitted the novel to numerous publishers over the years, but it took several decades and multiple rewrites for the story to finally go to print. The Fantasies of Future Things’ narrative follows the story of two Black men navigating their sexuality, their careers, and the moral dilemma of Atlanta’s gentrification during the 1996 Olympics. The novel has received acclaim for its Black queer representation, meditation on love, and its seamless switching between time periods and perspectives. And the book’s success — after its decades-long journey to shelves — is a testament to Jones’ resolve and the excellence of his writing talent.