Haven't posted for a month because July was an interesting blur. This is literally the first day I've had to do activities of daily living as they say in the medical world. So, here's a summary if you're interested.

Had a fabulous ThrillerFest in NY where I got to do all sorts of book signings and hob-nobbing with publishers, agents, writers and fans. If there's a better-organized group on the planet than International Thriller Writers I haven't seen it. They put on an outstanding conference for writers and readers. I had the honor to be part of this year's debut author's group. To be up there on the dais with Steve Berry introducing and David Baldacci speaking was sublime.

July continued to be a hot month for book sales, particularly in Italy, where La Biblioteca dei Morti has been on the top-ten bestseller list for 3 months straight! Hats off to my small army of Italian fans who've been waving the flag. I really appreciate their efforts.

Book of Souls, my second book is weaving its path to the booksellers. It will have the same title everywhere which I appreciate. I've just seen the advanced reader copy for the UK and it looks terrific. Expect to see it February 2010 in the UK, April 2010 in the US/Canada, and then a roll-out in 25 languages to follow. Here's the UK cover. Like it? I do.

Yesterday was the pub date for Secret of the Seventh Son in the US! Finally. If you buy it and you like it, please post your comments on Amazon/ B&N etc. If you don't like it -- oh heck, post your comments anyway. Lots of launch activities but the one I'm most looking forward to is a reading and signing in my favorite bookstore in Massachusetts, the Harvard Coop 7PM Aug 19th.

And finally, I've pushed like hell and finished my 3rd book which Random House UK will call The Tenth Chamber. They didn't like the working title, The Perigord Manuscript, and because I love those guys to death, I offered up a new one. We'll see what other publishers/countries think. I'm in the just-finished and shell-shocked mode but I think it's original, really interesting and pretty damn exciting. The manuscript is with my totally brilliant agent, Simon Lipskar, but I expect he'll have me jumping through some hoops before it's declared publisher-ready. Novel-writing is a lot less collaborative than screenwriting, but the contributions of agents, editors and copy-editors and translators can often be the difference between a hit and a miss.

After 6 weeks La Biblioteca dei Morti is still on all the top-ten lists in Italy. I just received my publisher's copies from Nord and it looks terrific. I have to admit it's nice to hold a hardcover edition. Good heft to it.

Turns out the Danish edition is in hardcover as well and its design is strong.

Off the Thrillerfest in NYC next week for a stimulating few days of learning from the pantheon of thrillerwriters, meeting and greeting. I've got a slate of galley signings, interviews and a (by-definition) once in a lifetime participation in the Debut Author's Breakfast. You're only a virgin once!

If you're going to be at the Hyatt for the conference, please seek me out for a chat.

Focused on the US debut of Secret of the Seventh Son on July 28. I haven't seen a finished copy yet but HarperCollins folks tells me it looks boffo.