GrubStreet runs on coffee, printer ink, and community. This series features just some of the Grubbies who make our community strong. In this edition, meet Novel Generator student Mariya Taher. Mariya has worked in the anti-gender violence field in the areas of research, policy, program development, and direct service

Lydia McOscar of the Brookline Booksmith, a booklover's paradise that has called Brookline home since the 1950s, teamed up with Grub to curate a series of personal essays from debut authors connected to our fair city of Boston. In this edition, Annie Hartnett, author of Rabbit Cake writes about where she drew inspiration from for her first novel and the most important reviews she received. Catch Annie in action during Grub's Novel Generator. 

I didn’t know my mother was smart until she won the Newton citywide spelling bee. I was in the fourth grade; I had …