buzzz worthy. . .
By Mona Austin
Harper Lee will publish a sequel to her Pulitzer prize winning tome, "To Kill A Mockingbird" 55 years after its release. Although she is well known as a classic American novelist, this will be Lee's second novel. She thought the manuscript of the first book she wrote was gone for years and it was finally found in her late sister's safe deposit box attached to the original manuscript of "Mockingbird."
"In the mid-1950s, I completed a novel called 'Go Set a Watchman,'" the 88-year-old Lee said in a statement issued by publisher Harper. "It features the character known as Scout as an adult woman, and I thought it a pretty decent effort. My editor, who was taken by the flashbacks to Scout's childhood, persuaded me to write a novel (what became 'To Kill a Mockingbird') from the point of view of the young Scout."
Lee took the editor's recommendation. The book she actually intended to publish as a sequel was published first, becoming a one hit wonder.
"I was a first-time writer, so I did as I was told. I hadn't realized it (the original book) had survived, so was surprised and delighted when my dear friend and lawyer Tonja Carter discovered it. After much thought and hesitation, I shared it with a handful of people I trust and was pleased to hear that they considered it worthy of publication."
The page-turner first came out in 1960, was made into a movie by '62, has been required reading in schools for decades and was banned in some areas for its racially offensive language, as use to address civil unrest in her hometown, Monroeville, AL where she currently resides in an assisted living center. Said Lee, " I am humbled and amazed that this will now be published after all these years."
Anticipation for the second novel is enormous. “Watchman” was in the top 10 on barnesandnoble.com, representing a flood of pre-orders within just a few hours of its announcement. The publisher plans a first printing of 2 million copies. "Go Set A Watchman" will be release this July 14.
By Mona Austin
"In the mid-1950s, I completed a novel called 'Go Set a Watchman,'" the 88-year-old Lee said in a statement issued by publisher Harper. "It features the character known as Scout as an adult woman, and I thought it a pretty decent effort. My editor, who was taken by the flashbacks to Scout's childhood, persuaded me to write a novel (what became 'To Kill a Mockingbird') from the point of view of the young Scout."
Lee took the editor's recommendation. The book she actually intended to publish as a sequel was published first, becoming a one hit wonder.
"I was a first-time writer, so I did as I was told. I hadn't realized it (the original book) had survived, so was surprised and delighted when my dear friend and lawyer Tonja Carter discovered it. After much thought and hesitation, I shared it with a handful of people I trust and was pleased to hear that they considered it worthy of publication."
The page-turner first came out in 1960, was made into a movie by '62, has been required reading in schools for decades and was banned in some areas for its racially offensive language, as use to address civil unrest in her hometown, Monroeville, AL where she currently resides in an assisted living center. Said Lee, " I am humbled and amazed that this will now be published after all these years."
Anticipation for the second novel is enormous. “Watchman” was in the top 10 on barnesandnoble.com, representing a flood of pre-orders within just a few hours of its announcement. The publisher plans a first printing of 2 million copies. "Go Set A Watchman" will be release this July 14.