Dear Burning Questions,
Can you tell us about Joanna Trollope? We have been reading The Rector's Wife and want to know more about the author. Thank you.

Catharine Lair
via e-mail

Joanna Trollope, a descendant of 19th century British author Anthony Trollope, lives in Gloucestershire, England. Already popular in her native land, Joanna is quickly winning fans on this side of the pond with works like Other People's Children, The Best of Friends and A Spanish Lover. You might also have caught adaptations of The Choir or The Rector's Wife on public television's Masterpiece Theater. Her new novel, Next of Kin, will be published by Viking in July. In her latest, the death of Caro Meredith, who was born in California but lived in England as a farmer's wife for 20 years, creates a terrible void for husband, stepdaughter and in-laws alike.

Les mots from Lamott

Dear Burning Questions,
Any new book from Anne Lamott on the horizon? If yes, fiction or nonfiction?

Linda Lewis
Gainesville, FL

Be it fiction or nonfiction, Anne Lamott is one of our favorite writers, hands down. (Her hilarious book Operating Instructions should be required reading for any new parent.) Lamott's editor at Riverhead Books tells us she has a new novel in the works, but that we can't expect it until fall 2002. Until then, for those who like a little humor with their wisdom, may we recommend sitting down with Bird by Bird or Traveling Mercies again.

Hello Tahoe

Dear Burning Questions,
I have read all the books that Perri O'Shaughnessy has written (actually the two sisters who combined their name to make a pen name). They are excellent legal thrillers based in Lake Tahoe. I would like to read books similar to this and am wondering what you would recommend. Thank you.

Katey Whitesel
Seneca, SC

In our informal poll of Perri O'Shaughnessy fans (we asked a few startled people at the local bookstore), we learned they also like the following authors: Barbara Parker, Lisa Scottoline, Kate Wilhelm, William Bernhardt, Tami Hoag and Faye Kellerman. You can give these guys a try, or pick up a copy of O'Shaughnessy's latest, Writ of Execution, due from Dell in July, just in time for beach reading. In Nina Reilly's latest adventure, she's fighting for the underdog again, this time maneuvering through the glittering casinos of Tahoe, a combustible courtroom, and a woman's dark past. As you noted, Perri O'Shaughnessy is the pen name for two sisters, Pamela and Mary O'Shaughnessy, who live in Hawaii and California, respectively. Pamela graduated from Harvard Law School and was a trial lawyer for 16 years. Mary is a former editor and writer for multimedia projects. They've written six previous Nina Reilly novels and are currently working on an eighth.

Raising the Bahr for fiction

Dear Burning Questions,
In 1997 I discovered a most wonderful writer, Howard Bahr, through his powerful and eloquent novel, The Black Flower. Last year, he published another remarkable novel of the Civil War, The Year of Jubilo. Is he currently at work on another book? If so, what will it be, and when will it be available? And one more question: Why does he not already have two Pulitzer Prizes?

Parker J. Remington
Town Creek, Alabama

Bahr is at work on another historical novel, but this one isn't set during the Civil War period. No publication date is set, but we do know that it will be published by Henry Holt some time after 2001. That last question you'll have to take up with the Pulitzer committee, but we'll back you up -- Bahr's novels are certainly prize-worthy.

Life after an auspicious debut

Dear Burning Questions,
I have become a huge fan of the ever wonderful Peter Moore Smith, since I read his book Raveling. I loved his beautiful writing so much that I bought some of his short stories like "Oblivion, Nebraska," etc. Sadly, he does not have a Web site, so I was wondering if you know when his next novel will be out?

Steven
via e-mail

Moore's publicist at Little, Brown tells us he is working on a new novel, but that it will not be published in 2001. Sorry we can't tell you Moore, but we'll keep you posted.