Carole Maso is the award-winning author of Ghost Dance, The Art Lover, The American Woman in the Chinese Hat, AVA, Defiance, Aureole (a book of short fictions), Break Every Rule (essays), The Room Lit by Roses (a journal of pregnancy and birth), and Beauty is Convulsive: The Passion of Frida Kahlo. She is the recipient of many awards, including a Lannan Fellowship.

For more than 30 years, the Kronos Quartet—David Harrington, John Sherba (violins), Hank Dutt (viola), and Jeffrey Zeigler (cello)—has pursued a singular artistic vision, combining a spirit of fearless exploration with a commitment to expanding the range and context of the string quartet. Kronos’ work has also garnered numerous awards, including a Grammy in 2004 for Best Chamber Music Performance.