Fall Salon: Mythology

Thursday, October 8, 2026, 7:30 pm

Crystal King is the author of four novels spanning historical fiction and contemporary fantasy. Her latest, The Happiness Collector, is a contemporary fantasy that Booklist calls “a must for V.E. Schwab and Katee Robert fans” and was named an Amazon Editor’s Pick. Her historical novels include In the Garden of Monsters (longlisted for a MassBook Award and selected as an Amazon Editor’s Pick), The Chef’s Secret, and Feast of Sorrow (longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize). Crystal’s writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy. You can find her at crystalking.com.

Luna McNamara is the author of Psyche and Eros and The Witch and the Huntress, which have been translated into fourteen languages. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard University with a focus on women and gender in world religions, and has studied ancient Greek language and philosophy. By day she works in social services, and by night she writes about historical women and forgotten gods. She lives in Boston.

Emily Ross is the author of Swallowtail, a mystery thriller set in Quincy MA, that blends a gripping murder mystery with themes of art, trauma, and mythology. It was praised by Publishers Weekly for its “nerve-shredding tension,” and featured in The Patriot Ledger (Crime thriller set in Quincy shows city’s beauty and rough edges). Her young adult thriller, Half in Love with Death was an International Thriller Writers Awards finalist. Her award-winning short story “Let the Chips Fall” appears in Devil’s Snare: Best New England Crime Stories 2024. She lives in Quincy, MA, with her husband and their very playful cat. 

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Winter Salon: Keeping Secrets

Thursday, January 7, 2027, 7:30 pm

Judy Bolton-Fasman is the author of ASYLUM: A Memoir of Family Secrets published by Mandel Vilar Press. Her essays and reviews have appeared in major newspapers including the New York Times and Boston Globe, essay anthologies, and several literary magazines. She is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, Best of the Net nominee, and a 2024 Best American Essay nominee.  She has been honored with writing fellowships from Hedgebrook, the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, the Vermont Studio Center, and the Mineral School. You can find her at www.judyboltonfasman.com.

Kimberly Hensle Lowrance is the author of the debut novel, What Remains of You. Her writing can be found in The Boston Globe, WBUR’s Cognoscenti, and Embark Literary Journal, among other publications. She’s also been included in two anthologies: The Pandemic Midlife Crisis: Gen X Women on the Brink and Specimen Science: Ethics and Policy Implications.  

Kimberly’s professional background is in nonprofit management, where she spent more than thirty years working for and volunteering at mission-driven organizations. She’s also been a consultant; blogger; elected official; and producer and on-air host for A Mighty Blaze, an online literary platform, where she co-hosted Authors Love Bookstores, interviewing booksellers and authors.

Katherine A. Sherbrooke is the award-winning author of four novels: Leaving Coy’s Hill, a New York Times notable novel and finalist for the Massachusetts Book Award; Fill the Sky, finalist for the May Sarton award in fiction and the winner of an Independent Press Award, The Hidden Life of Aster Kelly, PopSugar’s #1 pick for best historical fiction of 2023, and This Much is True (coming September 2026). Her work has also appeared in Cognoscenti and Zibby Magazine. She served as Chair of the Board of GrubStreet from 2013-2023, has two grown sons and lives in Cohasset with her husband.