Some of you know I've been working lately on a book I've gone so far as to call "the secret project." This is because I have an honest-to-Pete signed non-disclosure agreement on the thing. Well, this morning's Publisher's Lunch carries this just-made-deal announcement:


Two untitled supernatural suspense novels co-written by Edgar Award-winner S.J. Rozan and Rome-based university professor Carlos Dews to David Rosenthal at Blue Rider Press, with Vanessa Kehren editing, by Steven Axelrod at The Axelrod Agency (world English), the first scheduled for 2013.


So if you've been wondering, that's what's up. We -- Rome-based Prof. Dews and I -- are super psyched. I'll report more on this (including the process) as we go along -- we're about halfway done with the first one -- but I can tell you now, I haven't had so much fun writing a book in years! I never thought I was the co-writing type, but now I'm addicted. At least, to MY co-writer. (You can't have him.) I never thought I was the supernatural type, either, but this idea, which originated with my writing partner, is such a doozy -- a Dewsy? sorry, Carlos, couldn't resist -- that writing it, as hard as writing always is, is also a blast. I want here to give a tip of the hat, also, to Charlaine Harris and Toni Kelner, who asked me for a supernatural story for HOME IMPROVEMENT, whereby I found out what a kick it was to write 'em. I think what's happened is, I've unleashed my long-buried DC/Marvel reader, my Tolkien addict. Which this book -- this series -- is nothing like. But the impulse is the same.

Yes, all right, fine, you say, glad you guys are enjoying yourselves (thank you) but what's it ABOUT?

Can't tell you. Publisher wants to make Big Surprise. Though the fact that Prof. Dews is based in Rome might be a hint...