Dear Burning Questions:
I am a huge fan of Rosamunde Pilcher. I heard last year that she might have a new book out in 2000. Any word on a date yet?

Karen Thomas

You won't even have to wait for cold weather to cozy up to Pilcher's latest, Winter Solstice. Coming in August, the story focuses on the lives of five people brought together in a small Scottish fishing town.

After you've devoured that, you can look for Christmas with Rosamunde Pilcher, which will be released in paperback later this year. This holiday gift book includes two of Pilcher's Christmas stories, her holiday recipes, and collected bits of Christmas lore.

The final chapter

Dear Burning Questions:
I have recently read two of Philip Pullman's books, The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife, in the His Dark Materials trilogy. I am now looking for the third book. I don't know its name or even if it has been published yet. If you have any information on this particular book, I would appreciate it very much.

Hayley A. Humpert

The cliffhanger ending of The Subtle Knife had us anxiously awaiting the final installment in this juvenile fantasy series chronicling Lyra Silvertongue's quest to find the origins of Dust -- the very stuff of the universe. But good news: Book three, The Amber Spyglass (Random House), hits stores in September.

Four months is still a long time to wait, so we suggest you check out Pullman's highly acclaimed trilogy of Victorian thrillers: The Ruby in the Smoke, Shadow in the North, and The Tiger in the Well.

Squeeze play

Dear Burning Questions:
I am interested in finding out if William Heffernan has written any books other than The Dinosaur Club. It's a really good book about older employees in a company about to be "squeezed out" by younger management. The story is enjoyable as the targeted employees come together as a group and work their own "squeeze" on management. Anyone who has worked in a company with younger management will enjoy this book.

Joyce Baker
Auburn, Alabama

Well, it turns out that Heffernan has written several other books, including Winter's Gold, Scarred, and his latest, Red Angel (William Morrow), coming out in October. Until this hits the shelves, check out his 1999 release, Cityside, a novel set against the backdrop of mid-1970s New York. Bringing a big-city newsroom to life in all its eccentricities, the story follows a journalist who must choose between writing a potential Pulitzer Prize-winning feature or pulling the plug on his paper's greed.

On the hunt

Dear Burning Questions:
I read Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter about three months ago. It was awesome. Since then, I have read the rest of his work, and although I loved his last, Time to Hunt, I was disappointed to finish. Do you know if he has anything coming out or if he is working on another book?

Richard McGlade
Fort Myers, Florida

The master of the thriller is back with more, delivering Hot Springs (Simon & Schuster) this summer. "Tough as hell" Earl Swagger faces his toughest challenge yet as he tries to bring down the mob in Hot Springs, Arkansas. This one is packed with page-turning action, sex, sin, and crime.

Murder, she didn't write

Dear Burning Questions:
I've noticed in the mystery section that the author of the Murder, She Wrote books is Jessica Fletcher. Has Angela Lansbury actually written those books with Jessica Fletcher as her pen name?

Marco Jr.

Excellent question! In fact, we've wondered the same thing. But, talented as she is, Lansbury, who portrayed Jessica Fletcher on the popular television series, hasn't authored the 20-some Murder, She Wrote novels. All the credit goes to prolific writer Donald Bain. So why is her name and picture on the cover? New American Library licenses the rights for the series from Universal Studios and therefore has to put her name and likeness on the cover. But they "are very happy to do it," the editors say. "She's highly recognizable." There you have it; another case solved!

Win a free gift for Mom

If you're searching for that perfect gift for Mother's Day, have we got a deal for you! Kensington Books is offering signed and gift-wrapped copies of Listen to Your Heart by Fern Michaels to 25 lucky BookPage readers. Michaels, who is interviewed on page 29 of this issue, is a best-selling author whose heartwarming novels have sold more than 60 million copies. As a bonus, winners will also receive a CD with Corinda Carford's recording of "The Pantyhose Song," which is mentioned in Michael's book. To enter, simply e-mail contest@bookpage.com. If you're one of the first 25 respondents, you're a winner -- and so is Mom!