Brock Clarke’s books include the novels Who Are You, Calvin Bledsoe?, The Happiest People in the World, and An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England; the short story collection The Price of the Haircut; and, most recently, the essay collection I, Grape; or The Case for Fiction. His tenth book—the short story collection Special Election—will be published in September 2025. He lives in Portland, Maine, and is the A. LeRoy Greason Professor of English and Creative Writing at Bowdoin College.

*photo by Nate Eldridge

Meg Toohey’s music transcends all genres. An original member of the band The Weepies, as a songwriter, she’s collaborated with Grammy winning artists like Sara Bareilles, Lori McKenna and Josh Ritter. She’s also had some of her originals on hit TV series such as Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries, and Gossip Girl. And somehow she’s also found time to delve into some creative projects in various children’s programs on Nickelodeon and PBS, as well as co-founding The Cold and Lovely that featured an all-girl indie rock supergroup featuring band members from The Smashing Pumpkins and Hole. Meg also helped orchestrate “Waitress The Musical,” and the new show "Wild About You” that opened in the West End in 2023. She is currently producing her 11th studio album to be released in fall 2025.

*photo by Meg Toohey

Marianne Leone is a writer, actress, and screenwriter. Her essays have appeared in the Boston Globe, Lithub, Ploughshares, Post Road, Bark Magazine, Coastal Living, Solstice, and others. She is the author of Jesse (Simon & Schuster 2010, and in Italy by Nutrimenti), Ma Speaks Up (Beacon Press 2017), Five Dog Epiphany (Akashic 2024) and Christina the Astonishing (Akashic 2025). She had a recurring role on HBO's “The Sopranos" for 4 seasons as Joanne Moltisanti, Christopher's mother. She has also appeared in films by David O. Russell, Larry David, John Sayles, Nancy Savoca and Martin Scorsese. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, actor Chris Cooper, and their two dogs. 

*photo by Kerry Brett

The recently reunited indie-art-folk band, The Grownup Noise, hails from Boston and was formed in the early aughts by songwriter-guitarist Paul Hansen and bassist Adam Sankowski. Known for their songwriting which bridges the gap between Americana and indie music, they have a brand new album coming out in early 2026 titled “No Straight Line in the Universe.” According to The A.V Club, “The Grownup Noise’s best asset is the songwriting, with lines of love and the changing seasons coming out as gently and colorful as the music itself."

*photo by Beth Hansen