For a writer who has twice been nominated for the Mann Booker Prize, called a “genius” by the New York Times, and reviewed on the cover of The New York Times Book Review by Dave Eggers, David Mitchell is surprisingly modest about his achievements. Listen in while David tells me about his reverence for Ursula Le Guin, how he conceived “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet,” what his advice to other writers is, and how he keeps his life in fine harmony.

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Justin Peacock a Yale Law graduate sets his legal suspense novel, “Blind Man’s Alley,” in the thrilling  world of contemporary New York Real Estate, complete with Simon Roth head of a real-estate dynasty, underworld figures, and an alluring femme fatale. Join Justin and me as I question Justin and his  romain a clef for all the allusive Trumps and Dursts which I believe are buried in the story, and get to know Justin in the process.

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If you have even dreamed of being a writer you would probably like to have penned Word of Honor, or The Charm School, The Gold Coast, Plum Island, The Lion’s Game, or The General’s daughter which was made into a film starring John Travolta. .. . because this would make you one of the best-selling-authors of our time with over thirty million copy of your books in print and most in development as either films or television mini-series. Actually the man who did write these books is a modest soul who saw combat in as a war hero and was decorated with the Air Medal, The Bronze Star, and The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Now my friend Nelson visits me on The Frumkes Show to discuss The Lion, his thrilling sequel to The Lion’s Game with an assassin so cool and frightening that I practically bit my nails to my elbows before finishing it. I invite you to meet the talented and funny Mr. Nelson DeMille. . . one of our best.

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Linda Fairstein is a best-selling author and former prosecutor who focused on crimes of violence against women and children. She served as head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office from 1976 until 2002 and is the author of a series of novels featuring Manhattan prosecutor Alexandra Cooper. Her latest effort HELLGATE has just been published by Dutton and is being snapped up by Fairstein fans. During her tenure as Assistant District Attorney Linda was involved in several highly publicized cases including “The Preppy Murder” case against Robert Chambers in 1986 and the “Central Park Jogger” case in 1989.

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It begins with a body. On a clear day in winter, the battered corpse of Crispin Salvador is pulled from the Hudson River. . . taken from the world is the controversial lion of Philipine literature. Gone, too, is the only manuscript of his final book. . . So begins “Illustrado,” a first novel by Miguel Syjuco winner of the prestigious Man Asian Literary Prize. Join us as I get to know this much praised young author of great talent.

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Graham Robb is arguably the best biographer of France writing today. His “Discovery of France” won so many awards it would be difficult to enumerate them here. Now Robb has come out with “Parisians,” an adventure history of Paris. But it is the Paris you never knew. From the Revolution to the present Robb has distilled a series of astonishing true narratives including an account of Napoleon’s first sexual encounter. For all those who love the city of light and love, you will be enchanted even further by Graham Robb and “Parisians.” Join us as I talk with this preeminent biographer on The Frumkes Show.

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Jane Smiley’s name says it all. She is smiley, as well as smart, sassy, saucy, and serious. She won the Pulitzer Prize for A Thousand Acres but has won and deserved many other awards for her numerous novels, non-fiction books, and even young-adult books. Jane is a fascinating woman. She loves horses, animals, and people and observes them in ways only she can do. She informs me provocatively that Missouri is not just a sleepy state, that it can be wildly explosive, that she grew up in a family that loved gossip, that the dark Nordic philosophy that there is no hope and it just goes down hill from there can sometimes make for interesting characters, and that the quirky scientist in Private Life was actually based on a distant relative from her past. Join Jane and me for some lively exchanges and peek into the wonderfully imaginative and complex mind of a gifted American writer.

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This has been a week of Mann awards. . .  first Yann Martel who won the Mann Booker Prize for Life of Pi in 2002, then Miguel Syjuco who won the 2008 Mann Asian Award. In Beatrice and Virgil Henry receives a letter from a taxidermist offering a puzzle he cannot resist. An epic journey results with a donkey and a howler monkey that allows Martel to explore profound issues of life, art, and truth.  Martel is no dunce, and has strong and well-developed views.

You will enjoy our exchanges.

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I’ve known Fernanda for many years and once arrived for a book party at her father’s house a week too late. She is a lovely elfin sort of woman with a fey affect that is both sincere and charming. Her essays and criticism have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times and many other journals of opinion. She is fascinated by gypsies, has lived in Europe for many years.  She is the author of Little Money Street, and The Furies and her latest novel Rat, is winning much praise in literary circles. Listen in as I reacquaint myself with Fernanda.

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