BOOKS

Stephen King has injected himself into the American debate over gun control with a new essay titled “Guns.” The 25-page essay includes possible solutions to the mass-shooting epidemic that has plagued the nation but also announces King’s decision to remove his first novel, "Rage," from bookshelves.

Australian author Bryce Courtenay, who took up writing relatively late in his life and had his first book acquired for $1 million, died Thursday of stomach cancer. He was 79.

Russian sci-fi writer Boris Strugatsky died on Monday at 79.

British housewife Marina Chapman said she was raised by monkeys in the jungle as a child before being sold to a brothel in a new book.

"Downton Abbey" star Dan Stevens was in London on Tuesday to help announce the winner of the 2012 Man Booker Prize. The award went to Hilary Mantel for "Bring up the Bodies."

The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2012 was awarded to Chinese author Mo Yan, who in his dozens of stories and novels uses magic realism to merge folk tales, China’s history and the contemporary, the Swedish Academy announced Thursday.

The new and improved Sarah Palin has a new hairstyle and is sporting some major weight loss. Could it be for her new fitness book?

Can a country as famously tolerant, integrated and prosperous as Norway feel safe again, now that Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the misfortune that hit Norway July 22 last year in the form of two sequential lone wolf terrorist attacks, is behind bars serving his 21-year sentence? Maybe not. “There is a real chance that 7/22 can happen again,” Kjetil Stormark the Norwegian author of the recently released book, “The Oslo Killer Files: Private emails of a mass murderer,” told the International Business Times in an email interview.

“Narcopolis,” the debut novel by Jeet Thayil which has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, is perceived to be a reflection of the life of the author since the experience of the protagonist, who is drawn to Mumbai’s underworld, is said to have some similarity with that of the novelist. But in an exclusive interview with the International Business Times, Thayil categorically denies that the novel is a reflection of his life.

Banned Books Week -- an annual observance sponsored by the American Library Association and other groups to fight censorship -- begins Sunday and ends Oct. 6. Banned Books Week events will be held across the nation and online in a celebration of literature. So, to fight censorship and celebrate the week yourself, why not learn more about the most challenged books of 2011?

J.K. Rowling, author of the very popular “Harry Potter” books, is finally ready to release her first novel set outside Hogwarts, “The Casual Vacancy.”

Stephen King announced the release date this week for his “Doctor Sleep,” the long-awaited sequel to “The Shining.” “Doctor Sleep” will be published Sept. 24, 2013, almost 40 years after horror fans first read about Jack Torrance and his family going crazy while stuck at the Overlook Hotel.

To be released Nov. 3, “Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody in a Cookbook,” penned under the pseudonym FL Fowler (a take on “Fifty Shades of Grey” author EL James,) is already ranked No. 1 on Amazon’s poultry cookbook list.

Almost 15 years after a sex scandal that not only jilted the White House but international policy during the Clinton administration, former White House intern Monica Lewinsky is reportedly planning to release a tell-all book documenting her alleged affair with former President Bill Clinton in a revenge attempt.

Monica Lewinsky is reportedly going to rake in nearly $12 million for a tell-all about her life and will probably contain information about her affair that she had with former President Bill Clinton.

The "Fifty Shades of Grey" phenomenon has taken the world by storm. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, President Barack Obama was asked to offer his take on the raunchy novel. Though the book was just bumped from the top spot of the bestseller list by "No Easy Day," the hype surrounding the book isn't expected to fade anytime soon. The highly anticipated film version of the E.L. James shocker continues to have many buzzing.

The book highlights the guard's intense focus on playing in the NBA.

When "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" ended its television run in 2003 after seven seasons, creator Joss Whedon moved the spunky blonde and her Scooby gang in a different direction...comic books! Now onto its ninth season in the graphic novel world, the "Buffy" comic series is breaking grounds by adding a gay male vampire slayer -- Billy!

"Fifty Shades of Grey" casting rumors are just that, rumors-- and E. L. James took to Twitter to make sure that everyone knows it whether it's concerning James Deen, Ryan Gosling or Ian Somerhalder.

Judy Blume, author of popular teen fiction books such as "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," announced on her blog that she was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer and has already undergone treatment.

Judy Blume announced on Wednesday that she is suffering from breast cancer. The 74-year-old author shared her ordeal via her blog. In a post titled "!@#$% Happens,"

The latest Green Lantern to take the oath of the Green Lantern Corp. also happens to be the first Muslim-American superhero. The power of the Green Lantern comes from a ring forged with the power of will. When a member of the Green Lantern Corp. dies, the ring seeks out a worthy replacement.

Who better to play "Fifty Shades of Grey's" kinky hunk than a porn star? According to novelist/screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis, porn star James Deen (real name Bryan Matthew Sevilla) is officially in the running to play Christian Grey.

Exciting news for fan of the “Fifty Shades of Grey” series, Christian Grey has a Twitter account. For those of you who have ever wanted to meet the characters of “Fifty Shades,” this is probably as close as you can get.

Candlestick marked a dramatic turning point in The Beatles' career and lives.

10 years after its initial publication, "Harry Potter" is still being banned in some communities for allegedly promoting unchristian-like values. Medowie Christian School, a co-ed K-10 school in New South Wales supported by the Medowie Baptist Community Church, is the latest school to take issue with the popular fantasy series; the Potter series has not only been banned from their school's library, but students participating in a recent parade for "Book Week" were also forbidden f...

Fox News revealed the name of a SEAL Team 6 member who had written a book about the killing of Osama bin Laden. "No Easy Day" was written under the pseudonym Mark Owen to protect the retired SEAL and his family.

Ian Somerhalder reportedly met with the "Fifty Shades of Grey" film team to discuss playing Christian Grey, the Examimer reported.

The recent spike in erotic romance book sales may never have happened if it wasn't for a determined college student and single mother named Tina Engler.