CIRCUS ACT

She's already written a novel with her mother Lynn, but Britney Spears has led a tumultuous life that is surely stranger than fiction. The book world is abuzz with the news that the pop star has been offered as much as $14 million to write the story of her life.

There's so much to tell, in fact, that Brit's bewildering life story might be told in multiple volumes—at least three, sources say. Spears will begin writing once she returns from her world tour. Stay tuned.

SUPER SERIES

Charlaine Harris' popular Sookie Stackhouse mysteries got even bigger when Alan Ball used them as the basis for the hit HBO series "True Blood," which debuted last summer. The Arkansas novelist is still hard at work, with installments in two of her popular series due later this year.

First up is a treat for Sookie fans: May will bring the next Southern Vampire mystery, Dead and Gone (Ace).

October will bring the fourth book in Harris' Harper Connelly series, which stars a woman cursed with the ability to find dead bodies—and see how they died. On her website, Harris says she is "increasingly convinced" that Grave Secret (Berkley) will be the last adventure for Harper, but promises a satisfying conclusion.

THE GREAT KATE

Since the 2000 release her debut, Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo has been one of the biggest names in middle-grade fiction. Several bestsellers, one Newbery Medal and a feature film later, she's set to release a fifth children's chapter book, The Magician's Elephant (Candlewick), this September. Film rights have already been snapped up by the Fox 2000 producer who brought Charlotte's Web and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events to the big screen.

ANSWERED PRAYERS

Bruce Wilkinson wrote a string of best-selling inspirational books, including The Prayer of Jabez, which has sold 10 million copies since its publication. After a six-year break from writing, Wilkinson returns this fall with You Were Born for This! (Multnomah). Readers looking for encouragement are sure to flock to his new work.

A CERTAIN AGE

Much has been written about the male midlife crisis, but how do women deal with reaching that certain age? That's the question Kate Christensen answers in her fifth novel, Trouble, which Doubleday will publish in June. Though she hasn't hit the bestseller lists yet, Christensen is becoming known for her complicated characters. Her last novel, The Great Man, won the PEN/Faulkner award, and was notable for its witty, vibrant portrayal of the lives of three women over 70—despite the fact that Christensen is in her 40s.

SARAH PALIN

The political memoirs just keep coming. Now it's Alaska governor Sarah Palin's chance to write her memoirs for the right price. She's reputed to want $11 million to tell her life story, and is making the rounds with the same lawyer who helped secure book deals for the Clintons. Maybe that means Palin will receive a more Clinton-sized advance than former first lady Laura Bush did—despite rumors of major bucks, Bush reportedly ended up with less than $2 million for her memoirs.

UPDIKE REMEMBERED

The loss of novelist, short-story writer, poet, critic and essayist John Updike, 76, shocked and saddened the literary community in January. But according to Nicholas Latimer, Updike's publisher at Knopf, the prolific author had two more books ready for publication before his death. Fans can look forward to My Father's Tears and Other Stories (June) and The Maple Stories (August).

CORRECTIONS DEPT.

Despite what we said in January's Buzz Girl column, not all of Pat Conroy's novels have been made into movies—Beach Music remains unfilmed.

Inaugural Parthenon Prize winner is a comic tragedy

It's a little-known fact that one of the largest literary prizes out there comes from right here in Nashville. Book lover and businessman John Spence created the prize, which offers a $15,000 jackpot and the offer of a publishing contract with a local press, to one very lucky (and talented!) author with an "outstanding," unpublished work of fiction.

The prize was first awarded in 2007, with novelist Tony Earley (Jim the Boy) serving as the head judge. Now the winning novel, Scott Muskin's The Annunciations of Hank Meyerson, Mama's Boy and Scholar (Hooded Friar Press, $23.95, 354 pages, ISBN 9780981760926), has been released by Nashville-based Hooded Friar Press. The novel, which Earley described as "Part slacker comedy and part Cain-and-Abel tragedy," is a winning coming-of-age tale. Muskin, who works as a freelance advertising copywriter, has previously published a collection of short stories. He and his wife live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The 2008 Parthenon Prize went to author Geoffrey Becker for his novel Hot Springs, which will be published by Tin House books.

Due to economic conditions, the Parthenon Prize will not be awarded in 2009, but they expect to renew the contest in 2010.