Dear Burning Questions,
Where in the world is Gail Tsukiyama? I'm holding my breath waiting for another wonderful book by this talented writer. When can I breathe again? Please say it's soon.

Gail Crone
Grass Valley, California

Gail Tsukiyama's sensitive novels detailing life in Asia have delighted readers since 1991's Women of the Silk. Tsukiyama's editor at St. Martin's informs us that the author is hard at work on another novel. Set in Japan, it's a sweeping saga that takes readers from 1939 to the modern day. No publication date has been set, but we'll be sure to keep you up to date on developments.

THEY'RE BACK

Dear Burning Questions,
Since reading David and Aimée Thurlo's excellent thriller Second Sunrise last year, I've become a huge fan of their new character, Lee Nez. I'd like to see more of him. When will there be a sequel?

Nick Ziino
Ridge, New York

The prolific husband and wife team tells BQ that New Mexico state police officer Lee Nez will return this November in Blood Retribution (Forge). Lee and FBI agent Diane Lopez are on the trail of jewel smugglers who happen to be werewolves. The two must kill the shapeshifters without revealing Lee's vampire status (which might be hard to do, as he's fending off a pair of vampire assassins).

David and Aimée Thurlo have also been concentrating on their other mystery series. Wind Spirit (Forge), the latest novel featuring Navaho policewoman Ella Clah, was released in April and Thief in Retreat

THE GREAT BRITAIN

Dear Burning Questions,
Kristen Britain is a master. Her last book, First Rider's Call, was a wonderful adventure/romance story. I have not heard anything about a sequel to this book and was wondering when or if a sequel will be coming out soon.

Rebecca Scherrer
Dayton, Ohio

Kristen Britain's Green Rider books chronicle the adventures of king's messenger Karigan G'ladheon. Karigan joined the ranks of the respected Green Riders when she literally stumbled upon an injured Rider in the forest one day. Agreeing to deliver the fallen Rider's message, she embarked on both his horse and a dangerous career.

According to Britain's website, she hopes to have the third book in the series—so far referred to only as "Green Rider 3"—out in 2005.

FULL CIRCLE

Dear Burning Questions,
I'm a big fan of The Circle of Magic quartet by Tamora Pierce. I was wondering when the final book, The Circle Reforged, will be coming out. Could you please find out?

Rabia Sadiq
Woodland, California

The Circle Reforged will be a stand-alone novel, since the Circle of Magic quartet concluded with Briar's Book (Scholastic). We asked one of the editors at Scholastic for more information on the new book, and she sent this reply straight from Tamora Pierce: "It is planned for fall 2005. It's going to reunite the original four kids as they visit Sandry's cousin, the empress of Namorn. They're at odds after two to three years apart, and need a little help in remembering why they were friends in the first place. Fortunately, there are some greedy Namornese noblemen who are perfectly willing to help. Apparently they need to learn some heiresses don't want to be kidnapped and forced into marriage." If you're looking for something to read in the meantime, consider the books of Pierce's Circle Opens quartet.

HONEST, ABE'S COMING

Dear Burning Questions,
I'm hoping you can help me. It was my understanding that Doris Kearns Goodwin's biography of Abraham Lincoln was due out in 2003. I've neither seen nor heard anything about it. Is she still writing it? Is it still going to be issued in two volumes? When will the first volume come out? I'm anxiously awaiting it!

Molly Cormaney
Cedar Falls, Iowa

Aha, it seems our 16th president is as popular with readers as he is with authors. According to Simon & Schuster, Doris Kearns Goodwin's as-yet-untitled single volume biography of Abraham Lincoln is set for a spring 2005 release. Goodwin is no stranger to presidential portraits, having won the Pulitzer Prize for 1994's No Ordinary Time, a book about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during the World War II years.

SOONER OR LATER

Dear Burning Questions,
I have enjoyed Where the Heart Is and The Honk and Holler Opening Soon and am anxious to know whether there will be any more books by Billie Letts any time soon. I look forward to BookPage each month and read it cover to cover.

Bonnie Markiewicz
Champaign, Illinois

Billie Letts had great success with her first novel, 1996's Where the Heart Is, which was picked as an Oprah's Book Club selection and made into a feature film. The story of a pregnant teenager making a home in a Wal-Mart store captured the attention of both readers and moviegoers.

Letts continues her focus on small-town life with her third novel, Shoot the Moon (Warner), coming in July. Set in an Oklahoma town much like the one where the author grew up, the book involves the 1972 disappearance of young Nicky Jack Harjo following the brutal murder of his mother. When he returns nearly 30 years later to learn what really happened, the whole town of DeClare is caught up in his search for answers.

Author photo by Dewey Douglas, SR.