The book charts Smith's relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe as they both came of age in their respective art forms in New York City during the '60s and '70s.

Logan won a Tony Award for Red, about painter Mark Rothko. He received Academy Award nominations for The Aviator and Gladiator. Among his other film credits are the screenplay for the movie musical Sweeney Todd and the forthcoming Coriolanus.

Among Smith's other writing credits is the play, Cowboy Mouth, co-written with Sam Shepard.