Melanie Thernstrom is an author and journalist from Boston. A contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine, her articles have appeared in outlets such as The New Republic, The New York Times Book Review, and The Wall Street Journal. Her book The Pain Chronicles was a finalist for the PEN West Prize for Literary Nonfiction. She lives in Palo Alto, CA.
Daphne Merkin is a critic, essayist, and novelist. She is the author of five books, including the novel Enchantment, which won the Edward Lewis Wallant Award. Her articles have appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times Magazine. She lives in New York City.
