Author Mark Small, Susan Berk, Lee Berk's wife, and KSFR radio host John Trentacosta shared memories and stories about the remarkable, generous life of Lee Berk, who served as president of his namesake Berklee College of Music for twenty-five years. From their stories, it's no wonder he turned a small, family-operated school into the world's largest and most innovative music education institution. We were thrilled to have several Berklee alumni in the audience with us.

Diné filmmaker Ramona Emerson might never have become an author without Joan Tewkesbury’s encouragement. On stage together, they shared that story, as well as delving into Ramona’s protagonist, who can see the ghosts of murder victims, and how that story draws on Diné culture. Ramona also explained how the rich, intricate details in the second book in her series, Exposure, come from her time in CSI class studying at the Albuquerque Police Department.

In a poignant evening of storytelling, Charlie Soap spoke with Greg Shaw, author of his biography. Charlie shared the challenges and triumphs of leading his Cherokee community, who lived without water, to build their own sixteen-mile water system—starting with just a shovel. By working together and embracing the principles of self-help, the community turned vision into reality. His leadership showed that when people come together, no challenge is too great—and that collective effort can achieve what seemed impossible: bringing water to every home.

In a rich conversation between Philip Connors and radio/podcast producer and host, Mary Charlotte Domandi, Philip shared his incredible experiences as a fire watcher - looking out for the slightest smoke signal - in the Gila wilderness. For six months of the year, he spends time writing, reading and fire and animal watching. Listen to this wonderful conversation.

The recently turned 90-year-old poet, a leading figure in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, A.B. Spellman kept the audience enraptured as he read from his collection of poems, both early work and powerful new poems.

In a thought-provoking discussion, biographers Alec Nevala-Lee and Caroline Fraser (Murderland) explored the often-blurred boundary between genius and jerk.

In this lively conversation, CWB Events Producer Cecile Lipworth talks with her friend and author Joan Brooks Baker about the childhood memories captured in her book, as Joan reflects on both living the story and stepping back to understand it.

Karen Chase, in a conversation with her son, Axle Contemporary co-founder Matthew Chase-Daniel, discussed and read from her book Two Tales: Jamali Kamali and ZundelState. Each story explores forbidden love, one in 16th-century India, the other 1000 years into the future in a repressive land where history is banned, and dreaming has vanished.

Another extraordinary night of storytelling, connection, and community brought to you by CWB, Santa Fe Library, and the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library. From Pescadero Beach to the atolls of Fiji, from war zones and the streets of Baltimore to the Santa Fe Symphony, and from Texas to Tinkertown, Lisa Harris, Natachee Momaday Gray, Roxy Podlogar, Carla Ward, Richard White, and Will Whiteman shared their adventurous lives.