The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is the best, most gorgeous coming of age story ever written. So Long, See You Tomorrow, by William Maxwell. It captures grief in a way no other book does. Anna Karenina,  by Leo Tolstoy.  It is one of those books where you can lose yourself, every time. The Collected Stories of Alice Munro. The author breaks every writing rule, and creates the most perfect stories. Cathedral, by Raymond Carver. This book–well, really everything Raymond Carver wrote–changed the way I viewed writing and stories forever. *** Ann Hood was born in West Warwick, Rhode Island. She grew up with stories of her father’s travels around the world during…

The talented artist of Haitian descent, Ayiti Coles, talks about her roots, her singing career, and all of her influences. Who is Ayiti Coles? I’m 19 years old. I consider myself a real artist at heart whether it’s singing, writing, drawing, photography… I’m laid back, silly, a bit of an airhead and quite impatient. I always try to stay open minded and really think it’s important not to judge anyone or anything. Where did you grow up? I was born in Paris, but I’ve considered Haiti my home ever since I arrived there at the age of two. Got there as a toddler and never left! I’m currently…