The Late Bloomer (29 page)

The characters and events in this book are real. Names and identifying characteristics of some individuals have been changed or altered to protect their privacy. Where my memory of specific details or dialogue has failed me, friends and family members have filled in the gaps; where those sources have failed me, I have relied on a combination of my own reportage and best memory. The prolactin levels featured at the beginning of each chapter are estimates based on calculations by me and my
doctors.

My story would never have made it into print were it not for the love, support and genius of many people, all of whom I owe heartfelt thanks.

Jane Dystel, my literary agent, and Miriam Goderich indelibly shaped early versions of this manuscript, as did Samuel G. Freedman of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. But it was Ben Stein, the smartest man in Hollywood, who first told me I had no choice but to write this book.

The wunderkinds at TarcherPerigee—Joel Fotinos and Mitch Horowitz—have worked so hard to make me look good.

My CAA agent, Nate Greenwald, for having my back.

Throughout the writing process, my team of doctors—Hrayr Shahinian, Glenn Braunstein and Joshua Trabulus—generously provided me time and information, without ever billing my insurance company.

I'm also indebted to David Groff, John E. Friberg, Jr., Glenn Gaslin, Mayrav and Danielle Saar, Kevin Joyce, Sean Delgado, John Marrin, Joyce Maynard, Jennifer Mendelsohn, Ron Murphy, Mark Erickson, Sam McDonald, Marguerite Hargreaves, the Schlossers, Will Corbin, Melissa, Sarah, Drew Barrymore, Duncan Sheik, Jerry Maguire, The Depot, Café Kaldi, Jerry Weltsch, Paul Wilner, Don Snyder, Al Burton, Steve Bellamy, Sam Donaldson, Nekisha Mohan,
Troy Body, Stan Evans and the staff at
The Buffalo News
, Kris Hicks, the Dupont Circle posse, Gary Ross, Jason Greyerbiehl, Melanie, Tamara, Katie, Cyrill Walter, Dana Richie, Shane Fukushima, Chris Economou, Chris Walsh and Mitch Korn. These dear friends (and everyone else I have forgotten to mention) helped me in their own ways and many kept me laughing even through the most unfunny of times.
Namaste
, guys.

Every writer needs a muse who barks when protecting your computer from being stolen, and luckily I had the late Arthur Fonzarelli while writing this book. Likewise, every writer should take a class from Sandy Padwe at Columbia University, who showed me that a story is only as compelling as the size of its heart.

Brooke, I am blessed to have had you celebrate and create life with me.

Dad, I wish we could have talked all this out before you left us. Thank you Tyler Henry for connecting us. And a major expression of gratitude goes out to all of my E! family, who have made coming to work fun for nearly a decade, especially the coffee in the morning . . .

My brothers—Kris, Kyle, Keith and Kevin—and I have been through so much, and they have supported my writing my story, and I will always love them, even though I don't call them nearly often enough. My mother, Marcia Seiflein, and her husband, Norm, have reminded me that faith is the key to happiness. Steve and Paula, Jack and Judith, and the entire West Coast family have taken in this East Coast stray, which he appreciates.

Thank you to the team that made the
Late Bloomer
movie possible: Jesse Israel, Raffi Kryszek, Heidi Jo Markel, Kevin Pollak and the A-list cast.

Last but certainly not least, there are two very important people who weren't yet born when the first edition of this book was released, but since have become the shining stars of my life: Jackson, my son, and Chloe, my daughter. If you guys are the reward for all the challenges I faced, I would gladly endure them over and over and over again. I will always love you.

Thanks, God.

Ken Baker
is an award-winning author and journalist currently serving as Senior Correspondent for E! News and E! Online. Ken's on-air work for E! News has earned two Daytime Emmy Award nominations. A graduate of Colgate University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Ken has written seven books and has more than twenty years of experience as a reporter, producer, and TV/radio correspondent (Ken is a contributor to
On-Air With Ryan Seacrest
). He is a writer of fiction and nonfiction books, including his own story,
Man Made: A Memoir of My Body
, which has been adapted into the feature film
The Late Bloomer
starring Academy Award–winner J. K. Simmons. Ken also authored
They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven
, a 2004 nonfiction account of his career as a goalie, which included overcoming a skull-base tumor to play a season of professional hockey. He is writing a new book about his search for spiritual meaning in modern culture. Ken is a frequent speaker and lecturer at USC's Annenberg School of Communication and maintains his passion for hockey by coaching youths. A native of Buffalo, New York, Ken lives in the Los Angeles area with his family.

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