Cold Mountain Author Turns In Manuscript For Next Book

Four years after agreeing to sell his second novel to Random House for an advance of more than $8 million, Charles Frazier, the author of the best-selling "Cold Mountain," has handed in the first half of his final manuscript, and is expected to turn in the remaining half next week.

The publishing industry is likely to watch the progress of Mr. Frazier's new book closely because at the time he signed the deal four years ago, his advance was considered extraordinary for a literary writer who had only written one previous book, although it was a huge best seller. With just a one-page outline of the planned work, he sold the second novel in an auction, and in so doing left behind the editor, Elisabeth Schmitz of Grove/Atlantic, who had discovered and nurtured him to success.

At the time of the deal, Mr. Frazier was expected to deliver in time for a 2005 publication date. Kate Medina, executive editorial director at Random House and Mr. Frazier's current editor, said he had turned in an earlier manuscript and has been working on revisions until now. The new novel, like "Cold Mountain," takes place in the 19th-century American South and is the story of a young white man raised by Cherokee Indians who ends up representing them in Washington in their fight to preserve their land. According to Random House's fall catalog, which goes out to booksellers this week, the new novel, "Thirteen Moons," is also, like "Cold Mountain," an epic love story.

Random House is betting that the readers who made "Cold Mountain" such a hit will do it again for "Thirteen Moons." The first novel was a critical darling and a surprise reader favorite, selling 1.6 million copies in hardcover. There are 2.5 million paperback copies in print in the United States. "Cold Mountain," which was also made into a movie starring Nicole Kidman and Jude Law, spent 61 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list in hardcover, and a total of 33 weeks on the paperback list. It also won the National Book Award for fiction. Carol Schneider, a Random House spokeswoman, said the initial print run for "Thirteen Moons," scheduled to go on sale Oct. 3, will be 750,000 copies. Just to cover the cost of the advance, the publisher — which will receive about half the $25.95 cover price of each book sold — will have to sell at least 625,000 copies. To cover marketing, printing and other overhead costs, it would have to sell even more.