First Words

Many kids write stories, but only a few of them grow up to be successful authors. Before there was Carrie, there was " Johnathan and the Witchs." And before there was Rabbit Angstrom, Toyota dealer, there was Manuel Cirarro, famous detective. Could we have seen the seeds of success in Stephen King's and John Updike's juvenilia? These young writers are the same people who dominated the best seller lists and occupy the most celebrated spots on bookshelves in our stores, libraries, and homes. Here is a funny and surprisingly informative gathering of childhood creations by celebrated writers- authors who were amused by and happy to share their own early efforts.


• Kevin McCarthy reads Allan Gurganus

• Judith Ivey reads Margaret Atwood

• Andre Braugher reads Amiri Baraka

• Alfre Woodward reads Gloria Naylor

• Elliott Gould reads Pat Conroy

• Susan Anspach reads Joyce Carol Oates

• Roger Rees reads Gore Vidal

• Daphne Zuniga reads Susan Minot

• Nana Visitor reads Ursula K. Le Guin

• Kevin McCarthy reads John Hersey

• Melissa Manchester reads Rita Dove

• Elliott Gould reads Stephen King

• Amy Tan reads Amy Tan

• David Ackroyd reads Norman Mailer

• Joel Grey reads Paul Bowles

• Maxine Hong Kingston reads Maxine Hong Kingston

• Arte Johnson reads Roy Blount Jr.

• Andre Braugher reads Charles Johnson

• Roger Rees reads William Styron

• Harvey Fierstein reads Stanley Elkin

• Samantha Eggar reads Madeleine L' Engle

• David Ackroyd reads Louis Auchincloss

• Jeff Fahey reads Fred Chappell

• Harvey Fierstein reads Tobias Wolff

• Tim Matheson reads W.P. Kinsella

• Jean Smart reads Gail Godwin

• Jeff Fahey reads Stephen Dixon

• Andre Braugher reads Vance Bourjaily

• Elliott Gould reads John Updike


Kevin McCarthy reads Allan Gurganus


Judith Ivey reads Margaret Atwood


Andre Braugher reads Amiri Baraka


Alfre Woodward reads Gloria Naylor


Elliott Gould reads Pat Conroy


Susan Anspach reads Joyce Carol Oates


Roger Rees reads Gore Vidal


Daphne Zuniga reads Susan Minot


Nana Visitor reads Ursula K. Le Guin


Kevin McCarthy reads John Hersey


Melissa Manchester reads Rita Dove


Elliott Gould reads Stephen King


Amy Tan reads Amy Tan


David Ackroyd reads Norman Mailer


Joel Grey reads Paul Bowles


Maxine Hong Kingston reads Maxine Hong Kingston


Arte Johnson reads Roy Blount Jr.


Andre Braugher reads Charles Johnson


Roger Rees reads William Styron


Harvey Fierstein reads Stanley Elkin


Samantha Eggar reads Madeleine L' Engle


David Ackroyd reads Louis Auchincloss


Jeff Fahey reads Fred Chappell


Harvey Fierstein reads Tobias Wolff


Tim Matheson reads W.P. Kinsella


Jean Smart reads Gail Godwin


Jeff Fahey reads Stephen Dixon


Andre Braugher reads Vance Bourjaily


Elliott Gould reads John Updike