Jane Ciabattari is author of the story collection Stealing the Fire, a former National Book Critics Circle president, a columnist for BBC Culture and the Literary Hub, a member of the Writers Grotto, and on advisory boards of the Story Prize, the Bay Area Book Festival, and Lit Camp.

A past president of the National Book Critics Circle, Kate Tuttle writes about books and authors for the Boston Globe. Her reviews, profiles, and interviews have also appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post. She also writes essays on politics, race, and parenting.

Louise Erdrich is the author of sixteen novels, poetry, children's books, short stories, and a memoir. Her first novel, Love Medicine, and her novel LaRose won National Book Critics Circle Awards. The Round House won the National Book Award. The Plague of Doves was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Alice McDermott is the author of eight novels, most recently The Ninth Hour, winner of France's 2018's Prix Femina, and Someone, an NBCC finalist. Charming Billy won the 1998 National Book Award. At Weddings and Wakes, That Night, and After This were all finalists for the Pulitzer Prize.