Cartoonist and novelist Jeff Danziger. Danziger is the political cartoonist for the Christian Science Monitor, and his cartoons are featured in more than one hundred newspapers around the country. Danziger's just written his first novel. It's called "Rising Like The Tucson," and it's a dark comedy about the Vietnam War. (It's published by Doubleday).
Comedian Nora Dunn. Dunn was a cast member of Saturday Night Live for 6 years, and portrayed such roles as the vapid talk show host Pat Stevens, the lounge singing Sweeney Sisters, and French sex kitten Babette. She was also at the center of controversy when she refused to appear on SNL when Andrew Dice Clay was the guest host. Dunn has written a new book, in the personas of her characters, called "Nobody's Rib." (It's published by Harper Perennial).
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new album from drummer Aldo Romano. It's called "To Be Ornette To Be," and it's a musical tribute to free jazz composer Ornette Coleman. (It's on the French Owl label).
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz is also an accomplished poet. The U.S. Information Agency recently sent Lloyd to Brazil for a lecture tour. He tells us he found a country with a huge love of poetry.
June Reinisch the Director of the Kinsey Institute, and the principle author of "The Kinsey Institute New Report on Sex." In it, she debunks many myths Americans have about sex, and she discusses what she calls the "sexual illiteracy" of many Americans. (It's published by St. Martin's Press).
Private eye Hal Lipset. Lipset's the subject of Patricia Holt's new book, "The Bug In The Martini Olive." That title refers to Lipset's ability to plant secret listening devices just about anywhere. He also photographed adulterous couples and worked for everyone from the Senate Watergate Committee to cult leader Jim Jones. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Actress Claire Bloom. After a long and illustrious career playing opposite the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Richard Burton, and Sir John Gielgud, Bloom is now performing a one woman show, called "Women Observed." In it, she reads roles from Anna Karenina, Jane Eyre, The Turn of the Screw, and A Room of One's Own. (The performance runs Thursday through Sunday at New York's Symphony Space). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Writer Ward Just. Just's new novel, "The Translator," is a thriller set in Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Just has written nearly a dozen other novels, including "Jack Gance" and "The American Ambassador." Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Just was a journalist, covering the Vietnam War for Newsweek. ("The translator" is published by Houghton Mifflin). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Classical music fans around the world are commemorating the bicentennial of Mozart's death. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz is observing a happier anniversary, the 100th anniversary of Prokofiev's birth. He reviews a new compact disc (on the Pearl label) of Prokofiev playing his own works.
Writer Norman Rush. Rush has a new novel, called "Mating." It's a comic romance that takes place in Botswana in the 80s. The novel builds on Rush's critically acclaimed collection of stories, "Whites." Rush himself served as the Peace Corps director in Botswana between 1978 and 1983. ("Mating" is published by Knopf). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the songwriting team of Don Harris and Dewey Terry. They worked at Los Angeles' Specialty Records, where Little Richard also recorded, and gave the studio some of its biggest hits.
Economist Sylvia Ann Hewlett. Hewlett's new book, "When The Bough Breaks," argues that the United States is guilty of shocking neglect of its' children, both poor and affluent. Hewlitt also shows how that neglect is actually costing the nation billions of dollars. (It's published by Basic Books). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
British writer Clive Barker. Some call him the "King of Horror," but he likes to think of himself as a writer who "delivers his readers into a new realm and states of reality." His novels include, "Cabal," and "The Great and Secret Show." He's also a filmmaker; his films include, "Hellraiser," and "Nightbreed." His new book is "Imajica," (published by HarperCollins.) (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Television critic David Bianculli reviews two new programs this season: "Good & Evil," by the creator of "Soap," and "Golden Girls," and "Brooklyn Bridge" by the creator of "Family Ties."
Chinese writer Jung Chang. She was born in China but left in 1978 to study. She now lives in England. Her book, "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China," (published by Simon & Schuster). It's the story of Jung Chang, her mother, and her grandmother Chang's grandmother was born into feudal society, whose feet were bound at the age of two; she was a concubine at 15. Chang's mother grew up under Japanese occupation, was a part of the Communist-led student underground, and later a heroine of the revolution.
Actor Hume Cronyn. For more than 50 years, Cronyn has been one of the most distinguish actors working. He's written a new memoir about his life, called "A Terrible Liar." (It's published by Morrow). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
