Andre Dubus III is the author of Such Kindness and eight other books, including the bestsellers Townie, a memoir; and House of Sand and Fog, a National Book Award Finalist in Fiction and an Oprah’s Book Club selection. His latest book is the nonfiction work, Ghost Dogs. He lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

*photo by C. John Hauschildt

Brooklyn musician John Brodeur conceived Bird Streets as a return to a band format after a lengthy stint as a solo artist. Bird Streets music is a refreshing blast of classic-yet-modern melodic rock that received accolades from PopMatters (“a rock solid power-pop gem”) and NPR Music, which named Bird Streets a Slingshot Artist alongside then-emerging talents like Phoebe Bridgers and The Beths. His collaboration with producer and multi-instrumentalist Jason Falkner creates songs both fresh and familiar -- a dynamic collection of introspective indie-rock and power-pop that draws liberally on the music of decades past without being nostalgic. Bird Streets’ latest record, Lagoon, has been called "sublime" (Coachella Valley Weekly), "luxurious and literate" (Rock & Roll Truth), and "an emotional tour de force" (Glide). 
*photo by David Doobinin

Claire Messud is the author of seven works of fiction. She teaches at Harvard and is the recipient of Guggenheim and Radcliffe Fellowships and the Strauss Living Award from the American Academy of Arts & Letters. She’s been longlisted for the Booker Prize and has twice been a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award. This Strange Eventful History is her first work of fiction in seven years.

*photo by Lucian Wood

Formed in 1981 and still writing and performing new music today, The Dogmatics is a Boston-based band known for their pioneering garage punk/rockabilly sound. Founding member, Jerry Lehane’s roaring guitar, kickin’ lead vocals and catchy songwriting chops are all crucial ingredients to the band’s garage-rock-meets-pop sound. Also a founding member, Peter O’Halloran’s ripping guitar, songwriting twists, and signature growling vocals add to the Dogmatics’ furious punk sound. Newcomer James Young, a singing, songwriting mandolin player, rounds out today’s Dogmatics with a hint of American roots rock energy. Says ‘zine, Boston Groupie News: The years seem to just melt away when you hear the new Dogmatics song “I Can’t Get Over You.”...it’s catchy and short. At 1:52 you can listen to it over and over – you know we did!”
*photo by Dan Busler