Cookbook author Bruce Aidells. He's co-authored (along with Denis Kelly) the new book, "The Complete Meat Cookbook" (Houghton Mifflin). It's the first comprehensive reexamination of meat cooking to come along in 20 years. Recipes include: The Classic Hamburger, Not-Like-Mom's Meat Loaf, and Beef Stew with Mushrooms, Onions, and Dark Beer. Aidells is also the founder of Aidells Sausage Company. The teams previous cookbook "Hot Links & Country Flavors" won a Julia Child Award.
Journalist David Goodman. He's written a new book about post-apartheid South Africa, "Fault Lines: Journeys into the New South Africa" (University of California Press). He tells the story of four South Africans whose lives are divided by race and/or class. Goodman has written for The New Yorker, The Nation, Boston Globe, and the Village Voice. Archbishop Desmond Tutu says of his book, "A searingly honest b
Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "The Amateur: An Independent Life of Letters" (Pantheon) a memoir by Wendy Lesser, the founder and co-editor of "The Threepenny Review" a journal of literature and arts which will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Pianist Andrew Rangell has emerged as one of America's best interpreters of the works of Beethoven and Bach. His newest CD is "Andrew Rangell: A Recital of Intimate Works" (Dorian) It includes six Beethoven works, a work of Bach and others.
Soprano singer Julianne Baird. Her new CD is "Fanny Mendelssohn Lieder" (Newport Classic). She is an expert musicologist of 18th century European baroque music. But she also explores music of other periods, including contemporary works and 19th century popular tunes. She recently toured France, Poland, Austria, Germany and Holland in recital. Her discography includes more than 85 recordings. She is on the faculty of Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Actress and rapper Queen Latifah. She's written a new memoir, "Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman" (William Morrow). At the age of 19 she was the first female solo rapper to have a major record deal. She also had breakthrough roles in TV's "Living Single" and in Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever." She also had a lead role in the recent film "Living Out Loud." Her latest CD is "Order in the Court" (Motown).
Mystery writer Charlotte Carter. She made her debut last year with "Rhode Island Red" featuring heroine Nanette Hayes, a jazz saxophonist. Carter's second novel featuring Hayes is "Coq Au Vin" (Mysterious Press/Warner)
Linguist Geoff Nunberg reflects on Europanto, a form of language aimed at allowing Europeans to talk with each other without using English all the time.
Film critic John Powers comments on the plan to award Elia Kazan an honorary Academy Award. Kazan is best known for his films "On The Waterfront," and "A Streetcar Named Desire." The award is controversial because Kazan turned over names of suspected communist members during the 1950s.
Former Executive Editor of The New York Times Max Frankel talks about his life in one of the world's most influential papers. His new book is "Max Frankel: The Times of My Life and My Life with The Times." (Random House) Frankel began writing for The Times as a stringer while at Columbia University in New York City. Over the next half of century, he rose to become Executive Editor a post he retired in 1994. He received the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting in 1973.
Crime novelist Evan Hunter talks about writing the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's classic film "The Birds". In 1997, he wrote "Me and Hitch" detailing his working relationship with Hitchcock. He is the author of "The Blackboard Jungle," and "Privileged Conversation." Under the pseudonym Ed McBain, he is the author of a series of mystery novels for which he won the British Crime Writers Association's highest award, the Diamond Dagger, and the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award.
Actress Janet Leigh talks about working in Alfred Hitchcock's most infamous film "Psycho". She starred as Marion Crane who was Norman Bates kills in the infamous shower scene. Leigh wrote about the film in the 1995 book "Psycho: Janet Leigh Behind the Scenes of The Classic Thriller" Also The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) next month will feature the exhibit "Alfred Hitchcock: Behind the Silhouette".
Journalist Burkhand Bilger. He's currently working on a new book about clandestine Southern traditions (to be published by Scribner's). For now, his article "Enter the Chicken" appears in Harper's Magazine (March 1999). It's about cockfighting in Louisiana, where it's legal, but still secret.
Writer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jon Macks. He has a new book that spoofs books about spiritualism. It's called "Heaven Talks Back" (Simon & Schuster).
Critic Milo Miles reviews the work of two contemporary klezmer bands, "Smash, Clap!" (Tzadik records) by Naftule's Dream, and "Roots & Culture" (Triple Crown records) by King Django.
