Dear Burning Questions, When is the second part of the American Revolution book, Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara, to be released? We are anxiously awaiting it. Thanks.

Cherlyn Bruns
Kansas City, Missouri

No need to get up in arms, Shaara fans! Due to popular demand, the scheduled release date for the sequel to Rise to Rebellion is now November 2002.

Clyde is close-mouthed

Dear Burning Questions, I have read all of Clyde Edgerton's books and have enjoyed them all, especially Walking Across Egypt. Do you know if he will have a new book published soon?

Joan Gross
Morton Grove, Illinois

We recently spoke to Edgerton's editor at Algonquin Books who told us . . . well, not much. Only that he is indeed working on a new book as we speak and that maybe, just maybe, it will be ready for publication in about a year or so. Apparently Clyde is very excited about his upcoming book, but he's the sort that doesn't like to give out details until it's done. Even we at BQ can live with a little mystery, as long as we know there's more to come from the wonderful Mr. Edgerton.

After the Falls

Dear Burning Questions, I loved Empire Falls (I recently discovered it at my local library) and was curious to know if Richard Russo has anything else in the works.

Brenda Hayes
Charlotte, North Carolina

Richard Russo is a favorite in the BQ household, so we're pleased to announce that in July, Knopf will publish Russo's first short story collection, The Whore's Child. Russo lives in coastal Maine with his wife and their two daughters.

French kissing (and telling)

Dear Burning Questions, I read about what sounds like a pretty racy book by Kathryn someone, can't remember the name, who is French. It was a hit in Europe and is about her sexual exploits but it's supposed to be really well written, not just trash. Can you help me recall the title and/or author?

Cathy Smith
Benton, Arkansas

Oh, yeah, we've heard of it. Hey, we read Cosmo, too, you know. But are we Puritans ready for this French import? Only time will tell. The name is Catherine Millet, and the book is The Sexual Life of Catherine M. Grove will publish the book stateside in June. It's pretty risquè stuff. (Hey, it's got to be if it even stirs up the French.) In this racy memoir, which as you note was a bestseller throughout Europe, the editor of France's Art Press details her, ahem, steamy sex life and in the process raises some interesting questions about gender.

Elvis the mystery man

Dear Burning Questions, I'm a Robert Crais fan and want to know when I can expect a new book from him. He's one of my favorite authors.

William Crane
Richmond, Virginia

That's right, Elvis still has not left the building. Doubleday will publish Crais' latest, The Last Detective, in August. Elvis, the detective, not the King, is alive and well, and this time Crais turns the spotlight on the man who has teamed up with Jack Pike in eight of Crais' 10 works. Cole has his own share of troubles, when his girlfriend's son disappears, dark secrets surface.

Reading Rainbow

Dear Burning Questions, I'm a huge Fannie Flagg fan, love all her books, and am hoping, please, please, please, that she is working on another wonderful novel. Can you give me hope?

Justine Bench
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

We'd love to help a nice Southern gal like yourself, especially when you say please so pleadingly. We're happy to say that this August, just in the nick of time for beach reading, Random House will publish Flagg's new novel. In Standing in the Rainbow, Flagg takes readers back to 1940s Elmwood, Missouri, and tells, in Flagg fashion, what happens when a family of white gospel singers bursts into town. One thing we know about Rainbow: it's sure to be filled with colorful characters.

Go West, young woman

Dear Burning Questions, A friend got me hooked on Dorothy Garlock books last summer with The Edge of Town. I've read several others, but like her most recent work best. Is this her most current book? Does she have any others on the way soon?

Jennifer Nielsen
Kearns, Utah

Garlock's most recent release, out this month, is the mass market paperback edition of Wild Sweet Wilderness (Warner). It's the story of a fresh-mouthed kid facing an unforgiving frontier, heading West to seek her fame and fortune, but failing miserably and retreating home to live in her parents' basement and wait tables. Oh, wait, that was us after college. This is the story of a fresh-mouthed kid who, at 18, claims a piece of the frontier for herself, grabs herself a cute trader and finds land and love in the Wild West. In July, Warner will publish Garlock's hardcover, High on a Hill. We're in Missouri again, with another young woman trying to squeeze out from under her father's thumb and find her destiny.

Yes, we have some Banana

Dear Burning Questions, What happened to Banana Yoshimoto after she wrote Asleep? Haven't heard from her in a couple of years and really enjoy her offbeat books.

Aaron Camp
Jacksonville, Florida

There's no rest for this international sensation. Since Asleep, Yoshimoto has been working on her latest novel, Goodbye Tsugami, scheduled for release in August (Grove). Here the celebrated Japanese novelist tells the tale of two young cousins, one an invalid, the other an illegitimate daughter, and the difficult summer they say goodbye.