Terry Gross

Frazier is the author of "Family," a book which traces his ancestors back to the 1600s. His inspiration for the book came from old letters he found after the death of his parents in 1987 and 1988. Their death gave him the desire to find "a meaning that would defeat death" in the letters. Frazier is also the author of "Dating Your Mom," "Nobody Better, Better Than Nobody," and "Great Plains." He is a regular contributor to the "New Yorker."

Colonel Margarethe Cammeryer was named Nurse of the Year by the Veterans Administration and was Chief Nurse of the Washington State National Guard. She was discharged from the service in 1992 because she revealed that she is a lesbian, becoming the highest-ranking officer to be discharged solely for homosexuality. She challenged the ruling, and was reinstated in July. "Serving in Silence" is her new book about her experiences.

From the new movie documentary "Hoop Dreams," young basketball player Arthur Agee and film director Steve James. The movie traces the lives of Agee and his friend William Gates for five years as they try to follow their dreams of rising from inner city Chicago to play in the NBA. James is the director, producer and co-editor of the film.

Carpenter is best known for the film "Halloween," one of the most successful independent films ever. His other credits include "The Thing," "Christine," "Starman," and "Memoirs of an Invisible Man," starring Chevy Chase. His upcoming movie is "Into the Mouth of Madness." Terry spoke to him in 1988. (Rebroadcast).

Professor and writer Raymond McNally has studied the many portrayals of vampires in folklore and film. He has traced the origins of the Dracula story in Transylvania. His book about what he's found is called "In Search of Dracula," written with Radu Florescu. McNally is a professor of Rumanian and Eastern European culture at Boston College. (Rebroadcast)

McGrath has been described as "a Poe for the 80s," a postmodern-gothic storyteller. Horror writing comes easily to McGrath, who grew up on the grounds of an English asylum for the criminally insane. He's written a collection of short stories and several novels. In this 1990 interview, he reads from his book, "Spider." His latest is called "Doctor Haggard's Disease." (Rebroadcast)

Gilb was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for his collection of short stories, "The Magic of Blood." In his new novel, "The Last Known Residence of Mickey Acuna," he tells us more about life in the poor Chicano community of the Southwest.

Harvey Kravits and Jack Treatman are coffee experts. Kravitz is a coffee consultant. Treatman is the co-proprietor of Old City Coffee in Philadelphia. They talk about coffee beans, coffee history and the coffee culture.

Anne Maguire and her son Patrick were part of the Maguire Seven, the family who was wrongfully arrested in 1974 on suspicion of manufacturing bombs for the Irish Republican Army. The family was tortured, tried, convicted, and jailed, and was not reunited for eleven years. Anne spent eight years in prison; Patrick spent four after being convicted at the age of 13. Anne has written a book about their experience, called "Miscarriage of Justice."

Benben is co-starring in the new movie, "Radioland Murders," as a radio scriptwriter trying to save his marriage. He also stars in "Dream On," the HBO comedy series. "The New York Times" has called his "Dream On" character "an adult Charlie Brown," with "offbeat charm."