Between 1980 and 2005, a serial arsonist terrorized neighborhoods throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. In 2005, Thomas Sweatt was arrested and eventually confessed to over 340 arson-set fires that killed 4 people. Investigators named him the "most prolific and dangerous serial arsonist in American history."Dozens of authors, TV producers, and movie producers tried to contact Thomas in prison but were all unsuccessful. Only Jonathan Riffe was ab...

Between 1980 and 2005, a serial arsonist terrorized neighborhoods throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. In 2005, Thomas Sweatt was arrested and eventually confessed to over 340 arson-set fires that killed 4 people. Investigators named him the "most prolific and dangerous serial arsonist in American history." Dozens of authors, TV producers, and movie producers tried to contact Thomas in prison but were all unsuccessful. Only Jonathan Riffe was able to break through. For three y...

Surprising teachers. Tragic losses. Unexpected gifts. Every neighborhood has stories, and ways of singing the stories of their place. Start digging in, and you find all sorts of music. In a neighborhood skilled in improvisation, like Enderly Park, you also discover new ways to sing those songs, and a choir of new kinfolk to sing them with. Since 2005, author and saxophonist Greg Jarrell has been learning the songs of Enderly Park, his Charlotte neighborhood. A Riff of Love explores the rif...