Literary Figures: Novelists

Writer and criminal defense lawyer, Alfredo Vea, Jr. He's just written his first book, a novel, "La Maravilla." It's based on his own life growing up in the desert outside of Phoenix, where Mexican, Indian, Spanish, and Afro-American influences converged.

Barnhardt is getting a lot of press and praise for his new novel, "Gospel," an 800-page saga about a present-day search for a lost gospel. It's been described as an "intellectual detective novel. . . written on the grand scale." Barnhardt's first novel was "Emma Who Saved My Life."

Tolkin wrote the novel, "The Player," a satirical look at Hollywood which was made into a film by Robert Altman. He also wrote and directed the film, "The Rapture." His newest work is a novel, "Among the Dead."

Cody's new book Bucket Nut is her first featuring detective and wrestler Eva Wylie, known in the ring as "The London Lassasin." Cody's earlier series of mystery novels about London security officer Anna Lee, include Headcase, Stalker, Under Contract, and Backhand, which was shortlisted for this year's Edgar Award for Best Novel.

Ghosh was born in Calcutta and studied in India, Britian, and Egypt. He has a new novel, "In An Antique Land," which tells the story of two Indians in Egypt: a 12th century slave who Ghosh had read about, and Ghosh himself. He'll talk with Terry about the current violence in India between Muslims and Hindus.

The Russian literary critic and dissident writer has written his first novel, "Russian Beauty." The book, about a young bisexual beauty who leaves the provinces for Moscow, has been a best-seller in Russia. Erofeev is also the son of a Soviet diplomat.

Gaines wrote "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" and "A Gathering of Old Men." He talks about growing up in rural Louisiana and his new novel, "A Lesson Before Dying," which brings together two black men -- one a teacher, the other a death row inmate.

Price wrote and produced the new movie "Mad Dog and Glory," which stars Robert Deniro, Bill Murray and Uma Thurman. His most recent novel is the best seller, "Clockers." Christopher Lehmann-Haupt of The New York Times wrote "the signal achievement of "Clockers' is to make us feel the enormous power of these giants that are drugs, alcoholism, poverty." Price also wrote the screenplays for "The Color of Money," "Sea of Love," and Martin Scorcese's section of "New York Stories."

Elkin has been called "one of the most entertaining stylists in contemporary American fiction." His novels include, "The MacGuffin," "The Magic Kingdom," and others. His latest collection of of novellas is "Van Gogh's Room at Arles." Elkin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis twenty years ago. He'll talk about his writing and his life and how it's changed since the disease has progressed.

Ng's first novel, "Bone," is about three sisters brought up in San Francisco's Chinatown. One reviewer writes, "I learned a lot from "Bone" about the high cost of living in two worlds;" another writes that the story is "beautifully conceived, full of feeling and the sound of the streets."