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In his new book Book Business , Epstein gives his insiders take on publishing today. He also talks about how publishing has changed since he entered the business in the early 1950s. Early in his career, Epstein created Anchor Books, which is said to have helped establish the trade paperback format. Epstein was also editorial director of Random House and has edited many well-known novelists including Norman Mailer, Vladimir Nabokov, Philip Roth, and Gore Vidal.

Church Leader and Gospel Singer Reverend Al Green. He's just published a new biography called Down by the River (Harper Entertainment) detailing the trip from R&B stardom to Reverend. Presiding over his own Pentacoastal church in Memphis for the last 20 years, Green recently returned to the recording studio to record a set of gospel songs. A popular culture icon, he's had cameo roles in movies and TV shows. He lives in Memphis, Tenn.

She's best known for her one-woman plays based on hundreds of interviews she did with diverse people who experienced a crisis in their community. They include Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 about the Rodney King verdict, and Fires in the Mirror about the Crown Heights disturbances. Her most recent show House Arrest took her to Washington D.C.to interview politicians and pundits, and it involves a community not in crisis. Deavere Smith has also written a new memoir, Talk to Me: Listening Between the Lines (Random House).

Singer JERRY BUTLER, aka The Iceman. His 1969 hit, Only the Strong Survive, is a rhythm and blues classic, and also the title of his new autobiography: Only the Strong Survive: Memoirs of a Soul Survivor Butler founded the vocal group The Impressions as well as having a successful solo career. His awareness of civil rights led him to politics, and he is serving his fourth term on the Cook County Board of Commissioners in Chicago. The book was written with Earl Smith, Butlers brother-in-law and a journalist.

This weekend she receives a Kennedy Center Honor. Shes spent over 50 years in the business on stage, and in film and television. When she was 17 she debuted in Gaslight, and was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Ingrid Bergmans Cockney maid. Lansbury also played opposite Judy Garland in The Harvey Girls,was Elvis Presleys mother in Blue Hawaii, and the manipulative mother in The Manchurian Candidate. On stage she starred in Mame and was the baker of the worst pies in London in Sweeney Todd. For twelve years she starred in the TV series, Murder, She Wrote.

She's currently starring in the film adaptation of "Chicago" as Mama, a no-nonsense prison warden. She also has a new CD, "She's a Queen: A Collection of Hits" (Motown). At the age of 19, Latifah was the first female solo rapper to have a major record deal. She also had breakthrough roles in TV's "Living Single" and in Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever" and had a leading role in the film "Living Out Loud." Latifah is the author of the memoir "Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman." (REBROADCAST from 3/15/99)

In her 40 years of public service she worked for civil rights, helped write the guidelines that are now established in the Sexual Harrassment Act, worked for reform in South Africa and has argued before the Supreme Court. She has been the Commissioner on Human Rights in New York, the first woman appointed to head the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a law professor. Holmes Norton is the subject of the new biography Fire in My Soul, written by a long-time friend, Joan Steinau Lester.

The writer behind five screenplays and several theater productions, his new play is called –Lobby Hero— and opens March 13 at Playwrights Horizons. He also wrote, directed and acted in the Oscar nominated –You can Count on Me,— which came out last year. The screenplay for that movie recently won Best Screenplay by the Writers Guild of America and is up for an Oscar in the same category. It is also an Oscar contender in the category of Best Actress in a Leading Role (played by Laura Linney). Other movies hes worked on include –The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle— and –Analyze This.—

Sherpa JAMLING TENSING NORGAY. Author of the new book Touching My Father's Soul, Norgay was Climbing Leader for the 1996 Everest IMAX Filming Expedition and summitted the Mountain that year. He's also the son of Tenzing Norgay, one of the first men in history to summit Mt. Everest. In his book, Jamling Norgay recounts his 1996 Mt. Everest ascent: the climb and its familial meaning. He now heads Tenzing Norgay Adventures which is based in India.

This year's edition of A Jazz Piano Christmas features Eric Reed, Gerald Clayton and Patrice Rushen.