It is a feat how novelists infuse the outline of a character with a past, a present, a voice, and the nuances that usher them forth, fully-formed, from the page. What happens if that character is not alone? What if her past is the generations who came before—who made decisions that would reverberate to our heroine’s present? What if her voice echoes from her ancestors, yet she must find a way to stand apart? Not only do these writers steer readers through history, but they address deep-seated questions we all have about where we come from and what we carry with us.

Presenters: Catherine Newman, Kate Pearsall, Tara Karr Roberts

Moderator: Karen Nemecek