Maura Cheeks is the author of Acts of Forgiveness, a debut novel that imagines a contemporary moment in which our government has approved reparations for Black Americans-but only if they can prove they are the descendants of enslaved people. Based on a feature-length article she produced during a masthead reporting residency at The Atlantic, R. Eric Thomas calls the book a ''generous and empathetic study of burden and inheritance, consequence and regret.'' Cheeks has contributed other writing to a variety of publications, including the Paris Review, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review, Tin House, and Lenny Letter.

Zoe Sivak is the author of Mademoiselle Revolution, an NPR Best Book of 2022. Zoe advocates for diverse stories and characters in historical fiction, where she strives to explore famous male figures through the lenses of the women beside them--women who could have existed, even if history left them behind. Zoe received her Juris Doctor and masters in public health in Philadelphia, where she continues her work in healthcare and shares a home with her partner, Adam, and two cats.

The views expressed by the authors and moderators are strictly their own and do not represent the opinions of the Free Library of Philadelphia or its employees.

(recorded 2/21/2024)