Terry Gross

Singer/Songwriter Marshall Crenshaw. He will talk about and sing songs from his new CD, “No. 447.” Crenshaw has been writing, recording and performing his songs for some 20 years. “No. 447” is his 10 th album. Singer/Songwriter Marshall Crenshaw. He will talk about and sing songs from his new CD, “No. 447.” Crenshaw has been writing, recording and performing his songs for some 20 years. “No. 447” is his 10 th album.

We talk about the state of welfare with journalist Jason DeParle (dee- PARL). De Parle has been covering welfare for the last 10 years. He has been monitoring welfare programs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where work requirements have been the toughest. He just finished a yearlong series for the New York Times, about the changes in the welfare system. He says that although there are far fewer people on welfare, the lives of the poor haven’t changed much.

Writer Lee Stringer. He spent eleven years on the streets of New York City, living n the tunnels under Grand Central Terminal, addicted to crack. His acclaimed memoir "Grand Central Winter: Stories from the Street" (Washington Square Press) chronicled his unraveling, from a marketing executive to being homeless and crack addicted. He collaborated on his new book with Kurt Vonnegut: "Like Shaking Hands with God: a conversation about writing" (Seven Stories Press)

Artist, writer and designer Maurice Sendak. Sendak has written and illustrated such classic children's books as "Where the Wild Things Are," "In The Night Kitchen," and "Inside Over There." Time magazine has said, "For Sendak, visiting the land of the very young is not something that requires a visa. He is a permanent citizen." Where the Wild Things Are was adapted into an opera, and Sendak designed the sets and costumes for the premiere production. He's since designed several other operas and ballets.. (REBROADCAST from 9/22/93)

"Mr Horror": writer Stephen King. He ushered in a whole new era of horror fiction with his first novel in 1974, "Carrie." In the ensuing twenty years he has penned novels, short stories, screenplays, comic books, and TV movies. His novel, “The Green Mile” has been made into a new film starring Tom Hanks (REBROADCAST from 7/23/92)

Poet and novelist Paul Monette. He died of complications from the AIDS virus in 1995, at age 49. His 1988 book "Borrowed Time: An Aids Memoir," was the first such memoir to be published about AIDS, and won a National Book Award. In it, Monette told the story of his "beloved" friend and lover's two year struggle with AIDS. The book was called "a gallant, courageous love story." In 1992, Monette wrote a memoir about his own life before he came out of the closet at the age of 25, "Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story," (REBROADCAST FROM 7/20/92)

Writer Wallace Stegner. His novels and essays were often based in the West where he grew up and lived for many years. Stegner started the creative writing program at Stanford University in California, which he ran for 26 years. In 1971 he won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel Angle of Repose. One of his most popular books was 1943’s semi-autobiographical Big Rock Candy Mountain. Terry talked with him at the time of the publication of his book of essays, Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs. He died in 1993. (REBROADCAST from 4/15/92)

Poet Jane Kenyon. She was married to poet Donald Hall who was also her former teacher. She died in 1995. Kenyon's books of poetry include Boat of Quiet Hours and Let Evening Come. Her collection of poems, Otherwise was published shortly after her death in 1995 of leukemia. The new book A Hundred White Daffodils (Consortium Books) is a posthumous collection of her prose and poetry. (REBROADCAST from 9/1/93)

Novelist Richard Price is the author of “Freedomland” and “Clockers” which was made into a movie. He’s also the screenwriter for the films "Sea of Love," "Ransom," and "The Color of Money." (REBROADCAST from 1986)