Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld. He was the cinematographer for the Coen Brothers' "Blood Simple," "Raising Arizona," "Miller's Crossing," and for "Misery." He's just made his directing debut with the new film, "The Addams Family."
Commentator Maureen Corrigan tells us about a new biography of Edgar Allan Poe by Kenneth Silverman: "Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-Ending Remembrance." (published by Harper Collins). She says it's "mesmerizing."
Film critic for the Wall Street Journal, Julie Salamon. She's just written a new book about the making of the film, "The Bonfire of the Vanities." The book is "The Devil's Candy: The Bonfire of the Vanities Goes to Hollywood," (published by Houghton Mifflin). The movie, based on the Tom Wolfe novel of the same name, was directed by Brian DePalma and was eagerly anticipated but turned out to be a critical and financial bomb. Salamon followed the entire film making process from casting to editing.
Denver Post financial reporter Seven Wilmsen. Wilmsen was the reporter who discovered the ties between the President's son, Neil Bush, and the collapse of Colorado's Silverado Banking Savings and Loan. That's the subject of his new book, "Silverado," (published by National Press Books).
Cartoonist John Callahan. Callahan comes up with comics that are both funny and often offensive (a typical example: an obese man stands with his obese son in front of the refrigerator, saying "Son, someday all of this will be yours."). Callahan often pokes fun at alcoholics and the disabled, something he's qualified to do. Callahan was a alcoholic for many years, and he was left a quadriplegic after a drunk driving accident.
Teenage mother Leticia Johnson (pseudonym). She's the main focus of a new book that deals examines one family with a legacy of teenage pregnancy. The book's called "Before Their Time: Four Generations of Teenage Mothers," by Joelle Sander. Sander uses oral history to look at the effect poverty and society has had on one family. It's published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Rapper King Lou (Louis Robinson). He's one half of "The Dream Warriors," a rap duo out of Toronto. Lou and his partner, Capital Q, were both born in the Caribbean, and they bring Caribbean influences to their music. Their latest album is called "And The Legacy Begins." (It's on Island).
The head animator for the character of the Beast in the new Disney film "Beauty and the Beast," Glen Keane. Keane stated at Disney Studios in 1974. He's worked on "The Fox and the Hound" and "The Little Mermaid." (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Legendary television producer Norman Lear. His shows include All in the Family, Maude, the Jeffersons, and Good Times. Lear returns to the small screen next year with the show The Powers that Be. Lear is also the founder of People for the American Way, a citizens' group dedicated to stemming the influence of the Religious Right. The group is currently fighting the "gag" rule preventing doctors from discussing abortion in federally funded facilities. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Commentator Maureen Corrigan gives her argument for why poetry is still a viable art form by telling us about two new collections by two poets: "An Atlas of a Difficult World--Poems 1988-1991," by Adrienne Rich (published by Norton). And "Seeing Things," by Seamus Heaney (published by FSG).
British writer A.S. Byatt. Her book, "Possession," has become a bestseller. It's a literary mystery about a couple of scholars whose own lives begin to mirror the lives of two 17th century poets whose secret correspondence they are researching. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Novelist and doctor Ethan Canin. His first book, "Emperor of the Air," a collection of short stories was published when he was only 27 and was the winner of a Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship. His new novel is "Blue River," about two brothers who make new discoveries about their childhood when they are reunited after a long separation. (published by Houghton Mifflin Company). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Book critic John Leonard reviews "Mariette In Ecstasy," (pronounced "mah-ree-ett") by Ron Hansen. It's the story of a young woman who enters a convent and then develops the Stigmata (published by Harper and Collins).
Actress Holly Woodlawn. Woodlawn was part of Andy Warhol's New York's scene in the 60s and early 70s. Perhaps her high point came when she starred in Warhol's movie "Trash." Woodlawn was born a boy, her career as a transvestite was immortalized in Lou Reed's song, "Take A Walk On the Wild Side." Woodlawn has a new memoir, called "A Low Life in High Heels: The Holly Woodlawn Story.." (It's published by St Martin's Press).
English professor Arnold Rampersad. He's just edited a new edition of the works of black writer Richard Wright. Wright's novel, "Native Son," was a breakthrough in African American literature when it was published in 1940. It also turns out many scenes dealing with the sexual activities of the main character were removed, to make the novel more palatable to Book Month Club subscribers. Those cuts have been restored in this new edition (by The Library of America).
Poet Linda McCarriston. Her new book of poems, "Eva-Mary," is up for a National Book Award. Many of the poems in the book are about how her father sexually abused her and her mother. (published by TriQuarterly Book/Northwestern University). The winner of the award will be announced tomorrow in New York.
