Writing

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the stylistic differences between writers on the political left and right.

He won a Pulitzer Prize for his novel Empire Falls which was also a national bestseller. His subject matter is working-class unpretentious people, but as one reviewer writes he transforms 'every day people and seemingly ordinary events - into the quintessential'. He's written five novels in all, including Mohawk, The Risk Pool, and Nobodys Fool (which was made into a film starring Paul Newman). His latest book is a collection of stories, The Whores Child and Other Stories.

Ken Wells is senior writer and features editor for The Wall Street Journals Page One. He is also the author of two novels: his latest Juniors Leg (Random House), and Meely LaBauve (published last year). Both novels are set in south Louisiana on the bayou where he grew up himself.

Author Allen Kurzweil's latest novel is the literary thriller The Grand Complication. His first novel, A Case of Curiosities, (Harcourt, 1992) received international critical acclaim. Kurzweil worked for many years as a freelance journalist in Europe before settling in the United States and turning his attention to fiction.

Novelist Nick Hornby's new book is How to Be Good a novel about a bitter and sarcastic man who becomes a –do-gooder.— He also the author of the bestseller High Fidelity (which was made into a film starring John Cusack), Fever Pitch, and About a Boy. Hornby is also the pop music critic for The New Yorker.

In 1999, Stephen King, the prolific and popular horror writer experienced something that could have come out of one of his books: he was struck by a car while walking along a rural road in Maine and nearly killed. Six operations and a long recovery followed. Five weeks after the accident King started writing again, and published the novella, The Plant over the internet. His latest book is Dreamcatchers.

Writer Michael Chabon (SHAY-bon). Chabon won a year 2001 Pulitzer prize for his novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (Random House). His other books include The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, and a collection of stories called Werewolves in Their Youth. Last year his book Wonder Boys was adapted into a film starring Michael Douglas. He has also written for many publications including The New Yorker, Harper's, and Esquire.

rime novelist Dennis Lehane. Hes written five novels featuring the working-class Boston private detective team of Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. They include A Drink Before the War, Darkness Take My Hand, Sacred, Gone, Baby, Gone, and Prayers for Rain. Lehane abandons the duo for his new book about the affect of an abduction on a group of boys. Its a thriller, Mystic River (William Morrow). A critic with The New York Times writes of the book, This one is terrific: soulful, atmospheric, suspenseful and propelled by deep, wrenching emotions.

Writer Dagoberto Gilb's first book of short stories The Magic of Blood was published in 1993. Since then he has written a novel, The Last Known Residence of Mickey Acuna. His new book is a collection of stories about women, Woodcuts of Women.

Novelist Stephen King. Last year, the prolific and popular horror writer experienced something that could have come out of one of his books: he was struck by a car while walking along a rural road in Maine and nearly killed. Six operations and a long recovery followed. Five weeks after the accident King started writing again, and published over the internet only, the novella, “The Plant.” His new book is “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” (Scribner).

Novelist David Leavitt. His new book is “Martin Bauman; or, A Sure Thing.” (Houghton Mifflin) It is a look at the Manhattan publishing scene as viewed through the eyes of 19-year-old Martin Bauman. Leavitt’s own first book, “Family Dancing,” was published when he was just 23. Leavitt’s other books include “The Lost Language of Cranes,” “Equal Affections,” and “While England Sleeps.”

Horror writer Peter Straub. He has 14 books to his credit, including “Mr. X,” “Ghost Story,” and “The Talisman” which he wrote in collaboration with Steven King. The two of them are currently working on a sequel. Straub’s newest work is a book of short fiction “Magic Terror.” (Random House)

We listen to rebroadcast of a 1995 interview with William Maxwell. Maxwell was fiction editor of the New Yorker from 1936-1976 and worked with such authors as J.D. Salinger, John Cheever, John Updike, Eudora Welty and scores of others. Maxwell was the author of a number of novels, including "Time Will Darken It," and "So Long, See You Tomorrow," as well as several short story collections.

Yugoslavian-born writer Aleksander Hemon. Hemon was born in Sarajevo in 1964. While in his early 20s, he came to the United States as a tourist. On the day he was supposed to return to Sarajevo, his home city came under siege. He was forced to stay in the US. Hemon then began working on his English and now writes in English, even though it is not his first language. His first book is a collection of stories called “The Question of Bruno” (Nan A. Talese/ Doubleday).

Jeffrey Eugenides (“u-GEN-eh-dees”) is the author of “The Virgin Suicides” (paperback, Warner books) a gothic flavored novel about five sisters who kill themselves. The book is set in suburbia in the 1970s and is told in the voice of boys – now men – who were obsessed by them. The book was critically acclaimed when it was first published in 1993. It’s now the subject of a new movie.

Writer Michael Ondaatje. His new novel is “Anil’s Ghost” (Knopf), set in Sri Lanka, where Ondaatje was born. The story is about a forensic anthropologist who is working in Sri Lanka during the ethnic wars of the late 1980s and early 90s. This is his first novel since “The English Patient,” which won the Booker Prize. Ondaatje is also a poet. His books of poetry include “The Cinnamon Peeler” and “Handwriting.” He lives in Canada.

Writer Philip Roth. His new book “Human Stain” (Houghton Mifflin) is the third of his trilogy which includes “American Pastoral” and “I Married a Communist”. The book takes on issues of ethnic identity, and political correctness. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW).

Novelist Francine Prose. Her new book “Blue Angel” (Harper Collins) echoes the title of the film classic about a German teacher who becomes infatuated with a show girl (played by Marlene Dietrich). In Prose’s novel, a creative writing teacher falls in love with his talented student. Recently Prose wrote an article in the New York Times Magazine (Feb 13, 2000) about the problems with cultural programing ‘for women, by women.’

Writer Ted Heller. His new book is “Slab Rat.” Heller was responsible for the famous “Separated at Birth” feature in Spy Magazine, a concept that has lived on long after the publication. His new book is a satire about a magazine staffer who will do just about anything to get ahead. Heller has also worked at a number of magazines, including Details, Premiere and Vanity Fair.