New novella coming from ‘Twilight’ author Stephenie Meyer
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Tired of hanging out in the darkness waiting for a midnight sun to rise? Stephenie Meyer fans will get a treat June 5 in the form of ‘The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner,’ a novella that’s the author’s first release since ‘Breaking Dawn’ in 2008.
On her website Tuesday, Meyer talked about the story, which she says ‘explains a lot of the things that Bella never knew.’ It’s written in the voice of newborn teen vampire Bree, who appeared briefly in book No. 3, ‘Eclipse,’ and according to director David Slade will be seen in the movie as well.
Here’s the cool part: From June 7 (yes, two days after the hardcover hits) to July 5, ‘Bree Tanner’ be available free as an e-book at www.breetanner.com. Meyer says the story had always been an extra for her, intended to be part of ‘The Twilight Saga: The Official Guide.’ Problem was, it got too long and wouldn’t fit.
‘You all have bought a ton of my books, and I wanted to give you this story as a gift,’ she said. ‘My publisher was awesome and embraced this idea.’
Hardcover fans should know that $1 per book from the first printing will go to American Red Cross efforts in Haiti and Chile.
‘I started writing this a long time ago,’ Meyer told USA Today in an exclusive interview Tuesday. ‘It was when I was editing ‘Eclipse.’ It was more of just an exercise so I could be clear about what was going on in the story.’
‘The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner’ is Bree’s take on ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ events leading up to what Meyer shorthands as ‘the big fight in the meadow.’ For those joining Meyer Mania in progress, the ‘Twilight’ books are told from character Bella Swan’s point of view; ‘Midnight Sun,’ if it ever happens, would be through character Edward Cullen’s eyes.
Incidentally, for those hoping it’ll be ‘Midnight’ soon, don’t hold your breath. ‘I’m not writing about vampires right now,’ Meyer told USA Today. Work on that book came to a crashing halt in August 2008 after a draft was leaked online.
Some people are of a mind (OK, me, I’m talking about me) that some the best movies based on Stephen King stories have come not from his novels but from his shorter, tighter works -- think ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘Stand by Me.’ (And don’t think about ‘The Shining,’ OK, because that blows my theory.)
I’d love to hear what ‘Twilight’ experts -- you know who you are, fans -- have to say about the possibilities ‘Bree Tanner’ might hold. Would you be interested in a film from that point of view? And can Bree Tanner step into Bella Swan’s storytelling shoes?
Of course, we’ll all find out June 5.
-- Christie D’Zurilla
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