At 29, Brown decided to become an author, and taught himself fiction writing. He wrote five novels before one was finally published -- his debut, Dirty Work. He has a new collection of short stories, called Big Bad Love.
Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the adaptation of Mario Vargas Llosa's novel Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. The film was directed by Jon Amiel, and is set in New Orleans. Schiff says it's lost all the charm and complexity of its source material.
Writer and editor Victor Navasky has been with The Nation since 1978. Now the magazine -- a "journal of commentary and dissent" -- is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a new anthology. Navasky talks about the Nation's editorial stand on the Gulf crisis and how the peace movement is responding to events.
Arias advocates for writers who dissent against repressive governments. He lives in the United States, but occasionally returns to his home country. His newest novel, After the Bombs, about a young boy growing up in a politically unstable Guatemala City, has just been published in English.
Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Family Style by the late blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and his brother Jimmie. Tucker says the irony is that, on his last recording before his untimely death, Stevie Ray Vaughan was finally coming into his own as a songwriter and performer.
Ed Ward concludes his two-part history of the politically-minded singer and songwriter. Mayfield was recruited by Columbia Records so that label could compete with Motown. After a few career missteps with other labels, Mayfield scored two hits from his soundtrack the film Superfly.
Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews The Runaway Bride, Elizabeth Kendall's book about women's portrayals and roles in the early era of film. The author says these women were allowed to be smarter, funnier and more self-respecting in ways that are uncommon today.
Pakistan-born, British journalist Dilip Hiro covers Middle East affairs. His forthcoming book on the Iran-Iraq war is called The Longest War. He says Iraq and its leader Saddam Hussein gained power by receiving intelligence and material support from Western states, including the U.S. He says any conflict between the U.S. and Iraq could destabilize the region.
The African American film director made a number of documentary films; his first widely distributed, commercial film, To Sleep with Anger, stars Danny Glover. Burnett comes from the American South; he's inspired by a lot of the folklore that comes from that region.
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the last two releases by jazz drummer Art Blakey, who died last week. Blakey is credited with discovering and nurturing young talent, but Whitehead says not to overlook the drummer's own skill and dedication -- both of which are never absent from any of his albums.
Rhodes is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and journalist who wrote The Making of the Atomic Bomb. His new book is called A Hole in the World, about the abuse he and his brother endured at the hands of his stepmother. Rhodes eventually became a ward of the state, and grew up in a boys' home.
Raney began playing when he was 17. He was one of the first jazz guitarists to incorporate modern bop into his music. He suffers from Meniere's disease, which causes hearing problems -- he can perform solo, but has difficulty with other musicians. He collaborated with Stan Getz in the 1950s. Some of those early sessions have recently been re-issued on CD.
Book critic John Leonard reviews "Two States - One Nation" by Gunther Grass, which collects the author's writings over the decades against German reunification.
Television critic David Bianculli previews the CBS comedy-drama, about a local TV news station. He says the well-cast pilot has a purposeful feel reminiscent of Hill Street Blues.
Kindcaid's new novel, Lucy, is based on her own experience of leaving her home country for New York City. She says much of her work has been informed by her difficult but loving relationship with her mother, whom she sees infrequently.
Savini creates the macabre effects for George Romero's zombie films. Now he's directed his own movie, a remake of Romero's classic, Night of the Living Dead. He shares some of the secrets behind how he simulates gore on set.
The white South African writer's latest book is called My Son's Story, about a mixed-race family. She joins Fresh Air to talk about why she stays in in her home country, despite political unrest. A long-time anti-apartheid activist, she's recently become a member of the African National Congress.
Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Neil Young's new record with Crazy Horse, called "Ragged Glory." Tucker says that, after several genre exercises throughout the '80s, Young finally returns to form.
The singer performs for Fresh Air audiences with pianist Huw Warren. Tabor was a mainstay of the British folk scene, and has more recently branched out into other forms of music. Despite her accomplishments, she admits to not practicing and never learning to read music. Her latest album is called Freedom and Rain.
