Baker and blogger Marissa Wojcik, BA ’16, combines her love of Jewish family tradition with a streak of culinary curiosity to adapt centuries-old recipes for the modern-day foodie. Pass the Canadian Poutine Challah, and try the Chicago Hot Dog Babka.

Aspiring scientist Ariel Djanikian, MFA ’04, read the writing on the lab wall when she found herself prioritizing creative writing over her latest experiment. Her fascinating and often tragic family history informs a recurring theme in both of her novels: the obliteration of one group of people for the convenience of another.

They say truth is stranger than fiction. But what about historical fiction? In researching her book Ward, Wife, Widow at the Bentley Historical Library, author Mary Crum Scholtens, BM ‘84/MM ’86 (aka A. Arbour), discovered the truth behind the bizarre relationship between former Michigan Governor Chase Osborn and his daughter/second wife, Stellanova Lee “Stella” Brunt Osborn. It’s a doozy.

How a doctor’s brush with her own death forced her to rethink the healing process and re-imagine the profound impact of empathy in patient care.

Jon Hein introduced “jump the shark” to the pop-culture lexicon. Now, in a new book about fast food, Hein shows one man’s “junk” is another man’s pleasure.

MT’s own James Tobin, BA ’78/PhD ’86, demonstrates creative flexibility with two new books in one season.