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More than 200 authors and about 40,000 book fans will descend on the Texas Capitol October 26-27 for the 2013 Texas Book Festival. Throughout the year KUT News speaks with authors about their lives and their work. To celebrate the upcoming festival, we have collected some of those interviews here. From 9-11 to Scientology to the Kennedy assassination, it's a diverse set of works from a fascinating group of authors.

Listen: Austin Author Lawrence Wright on 'Going Clear,' His Controversial Book on Scientology

Kenny Braun
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright believes religion is a more powerful influence in people's lives than politics.

 
Audio File

KUT's Jennifer Stayton talks with Austin author Lawrence Wright about his latest book "Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief."
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What do Gloria Swanson and Tom Cruise have in common?

Scientology. Swanson is said to have "flirted" with it. Cruise is an active and long-time member of the church.

What attracts celebrities to the Church of Scientology? And why do they stay? Austin author Lawrence Wright has turned his investigative attention to the Church. What started as a profile of director, screenwriter, and former Scientologist Paul Haggis has turned into an over 400-page book.

KUT's Jennifer Stayton talked with Wright about his new book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, the controversies about the Church, and what its membership shows us about religious beliefs.  

Jennifer Stayton is the local host for NPR's "Morning Edition" on KUT. Got a tip? Email her at jstayton@kut.org. Follow her on X @jenstayton.
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