The wait of the world's on 'Da Vinci Code' author Dan Brown

Dan Brown's 2003 novel "The Da Vinci Code" was the biggestpublishing event in decades, a global best-seller that spawneddozens of literary knockoffs, a cottage industry of explanatorynonfiction titles, and a vast European tourism business focused onsites mentioned in the book.

Now that Harry Potter - the only bigger publishing phenomenon ofthe age - is retired, no book has been as eagerly awaited as Brown'snext novel, purported to be about freemasonry and the FoundingFathers. The problem is, it is still awaited ... and awaited ... andawaited.

The whole industry is impatient. Book sales are generallysluggish, and one explosive, high-profile title can jump-start salesacross the board as customers pour into the stores and walk out witha bagful of titles. When Bertelsmann AG reports 2007 results inMarch, it will be the first time since 2002 that it didn't get aboost from "The Da Vinci Code."

Meanwhile, the nation's biggest retailers can barely restrainthemselves. "We're constantly asking," says Bob Wietrak, vicepresident of merchandising at Barnes & Noble Inc.

So where is the new novel? It's a mystery worthy of the deepestsecrets of the Knights Templar. Brown, holed up in New Hampshire,isn't saying. His agent, Heide Lange, isn't, either.

"When a major author doesn't deliver, you get down on your kneesand pray," says Laurence Kirshbaum, a book agent who heads up LJKLiterary Management in New York. "You can't threaten, you can'tcajole, you wait."

Back in November 2004, a spokeswoman for Doubleday said thetarget publishing date for Brown's next book was 2005, although shenoted that "there are no guarantees."

Now, the publisher is hinting that a manuscript is close. "DanBrown has a very specific release date for the publication of hisnew book, and when the book is published, his readers will see why,"says Stephen Rubin, president of Bertelsmann's Doubleday BroadwayPublishing Group, whose Doubleday imprint publishes Brown. Rubindeclined further comment.

What date could that be? Since some of the leaders of theAmerican Revolution were masons, including George Washington, anobvious reference point would be July Fourth. In addition to itbeing Independence Day, the cornerstone of the Washington Monumentwas laid on July 4, 1848 in a ceremony hosted by the Freemasons.

There are other more obscure dates that could be significant,however: On Sept. 18, 1793, President Washington led a Masonicparade down Pennsylvania Avenue to lay the cornerstone of the U.S.Capitol. It is considered one of the most important events inMasonic history. A third choice? The cornerstone of the White Housewas laid on Oct. 13, 1792, during a Masonic celebration. (On thatdate in 1307, the King of France ordered the arrest of KnightsTemplar. There has been speculation connecting the Knights and theorigins of the Masons, although the matter is in question.)

Brown's publisher said several years ago that the next book istentatively titled "The Solomon Key." In an undated post on his Website, Brown writes that it is "set deep within the oldest fraternityin history ... the enigmatic brotherhood of the Masons." Elsewhereon the site, he notes that Robert Langdon, a fictional Harvardsymbologist who first appeared in Brown's second book "Angels &Demons" and was played by Tom Hanks in the movie version of "The DaVinci Code," will "find himself embroiled in a mystery on U.S. soil.This new novel explores the hidden history of our nation's capital."

Up until now, Brown wrote his books in quick succession: thefirst, "Digital Fortress," was published in 1998; followed by"Angels & Demons" in 2000, "Deception Point" in 2001, and "The DaVinci Code" in 2003.

The first three books sold modestly when first released, but thefourth - about the search for the real meaning of the Holy Grail andthe bloodline of Jesus - was one of the most remarkable stories inpublishing history.

There are more than 80 million copies in print world-wide,according to Lange. It served as the basis of a blockbuster movie ofthe same name, released in 2006. Brown's earlier titles subsequentlybecame wildly popular, too, each of them selling millions. "Angels &Demons" has 39 million in print.

Brown's income from all four books, including "The Da Vinci Code"and revenue from the film, has made him a rich man. Forbes magazineestimated Brown earned $88 million between June 2005 and June 2006,minus management, agent and attorney fees. Dan Burstein, editor ofthe best-seller "Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to theMysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code," thinks Brown may have earned asmuch as $250 million to $300 million from all related properties.

Many writers have struggled. Charles Frazier, whose debut CivilWar novel, "Cold Mountain," was published in 1997 and won theNational Book Award, needed nearly a decade to deliver "ThirteenMoons," published in 2006. Although "Thirteen Moons" generated somegood reviews, the book never caught fire with readers. It'sestimated that there are 4 million copies of "Cold Mountain" inprint in the U.S.

"It's a classic case of an author who has written a phenomenonbeing reluctant to commit," says David Steinberger, CEO of thePerseus Books Group, a unit of Washington private-equity firmPerseus LLC.

"The next book almost always underperforms, because the author isalready at his zenith. There is only one way to go."

Brown's timetable was affected by a plagiarism suit brought inthe United Kingdom by two of the three authors of "The Holy Bloodand the Holy Grail." That book, a work of nonfiction published in1982, explored the possibility that Jesus had not died on the crossbut married and fathered a child - a theme central to "The Da VinciCode."

Although Brown was exonerated in early 2006, the matter was time-consuming. At one point, Brown filed a lengthy personal statementwhich said of his work habits: "For me, writing is a discipline,much like playing a musical instrument; it requires constantpractice and honing of skills. For this reason, I write seven days aweek. So, my routine begins at around 4:00 AM every morning, whenthere are no distractions."

"The Da Vinci Code" was also criticized for factual miscues; thistime, he may be taking particular care. "He has toured a number ofMasonic temples to get the historical facts correct," says AkramElias, grand master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masonsof the District of Columbia.

The Masons are a fraternal society dedicated to self-improvementand charitable works. Membership is open to all religions andpolitical parties. Although Brown portrayed the secretive RomanCatholic group Opus Dei in a negative light in "The Da Vinci Code,"Elias says he isn't worried.

"Freemasonry will survive Dan Brown," he says.

Meanwhile, some publishing veterans say the wait isunderstandable. "When you have that level of success, you feel anobligation," says Kirshbaum.

"He's climbing Everest times 10. He probably wants to make thenext book perfect."

The wait of the world's on 'Da Vinci Code' author Dan Brown

Dan Brown's 2003 novel "The Da Vinci Code" was the biggestpublishing event in decades, a global best-seller that spawneddozens of literary knockoffs, a cottage industry of explanatorynonfiction titles, and a vast European tourism business focused onsites mentioned in the book.

Now that Harry Potter - the only bigger publishing phenomenon ofthe age - is retired, no book has been as eagerly awaited as Brown'snext novel, purported to be about freemasonry and the FoundingFathers. The problem is, it is still awaited ... and awaited ... andawaited.

The whole industry is impatient. Book sales are generallysluggish, and one explosive, high-profile title can jump-start salesacross the board as customers pour into the stores and walk out witha bagful of titles. When Bertelsmann AG reports 2007 results inMarch, it will be the first time since 2002 that it didn't get aboost from "The Da Vinci Code."

Meanwhile, the nation's biggest retailers can barely restrainthemselves. "We're constantly asking," says Bob Wietrak, vicepresident of merchandising at Barnes & Noble Inc.

So where is the new novel? It's a mystery worthy of the deepestsecrets of the Knights Templar. Brown, holed up in New Hampshire,isn't saying. His agent, Heide Lange, isn't, either.

"When a major author doesn't deliver, you get down on your kneesand pray," says Laurence Kirshbaum, a book agent who heads up LJKLiterary Management in New York. "You can't threaten, you can'tcajole, you wait."

Back in November 2004, a spokeswoman for Doubleday said thetarget publishing date for Brown's next book was 2005, although shenoted that "there are no guarantees."

Now, the publisher is hinting that a manuscript is close. "DanBrown has a very specific release date for the publication of hisnew book, and when the book is published, his readers will see why,"says Stephen Rubin, president of Bertelsmann's Doubleday BroadwayPublishing Group, whose Doubleday imprint publishes Brown. Rubindeclined further comment.

What date could that be? Since some of the leaders of theAmerican Revolution were masons, including George Washington, anobvious reference point would be July Fourth. In addition to itbeing Independence Day, the cornerstone of the Washington Monumentwas laid on July 4, 1848 in a ceremony hosted by the Freemasons.

There are other more obscure dates that could be significant,however: On Sept. 18, 1793, President Washington led a Masonicparade down Pennsylvania Avenue to lay the cornerstone of the U.S.Capitol. It is considered one of the most important events inMasonic history. A third choice? The cornerstone of the White Housewas laid on Oct. 13, 1792, during a Masonic celebration. (On thatdate in 1307, the King of France ordered the arrest of KnightsTemplar. There has been speculation connecting the Knights and theorigins of the Masons, although the matter is in question.)

Brown's publisher said several years ago that the next book istentatively titled "The Solomon Key." In an undated post on his Website, Brown writes that it is "set deep within the oldest fraternityin history ... the enigmatic brotherhood of the Masons." Elsewhereon the site, he notes that Robert Langdon, a fictional Harvardsymbologist who first appeared in Brown's second book "Angels &Demons" and was played by Tom Hanks in the movie version of "The DaVinci Code," will "find himself embroiled in a mystery on U.S. soil.This new novel explores the hidden history of our nation's capital."

Up until now, Brown wrote his books in quick succession: thefirst, "Digital Fortress," was published in 1998; followed by"Angels & Demons" in 2000, "Deception Point" in 2001, and "The DaVinci Code" in 2003.

The first three books sold modestly when first released, but thefourth - about the search for the real meaning of the Holy Grail andthe bloodline of Jesus - was one of the most remarkable stories inpublishing history.

There are more than 80 million copies in print world-wide,according to Lange. It served as the basis of a blockbuster movie ofthe same name, released in 2006. Brown's earlier titles subsequentlybecame wildly popular, too, each of them selling millions. "Angels &Demons" has 39 million in print.

Brown's income from all four books, including "The Da Vinci Code"and revenue from the film, has made him a rich man. Forbes magazineestimated Brown earned $88 million between June 2005 and June 2006,minus management, agent and attorney fees. Dan Burstein, editor ofthe best-seller "Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to theMysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code," thinks Brown may have earned asmuch as $250 million to $300 million from all related properties.

Many writers have struggled. Charles Frazier, whose debut CivilWar novel, "Cold Mountain," was published in 1997 and won theNational Book Award, needed nearly a decade to deliver "ThirteenMoons," published in 2006. Although "Thirteen Moons" generated somegood reviews, the book never caught fire with readers. It'sestimated that there are 4 million copies of "Cold Mountain" inprint in the U.S.

"It's a classic case of an author who has written a phenomenonbeing reluctant to commit," says David Steinberger, CEO of thePerseus Books Group, a unit of Washington private-equity firmPerseus LLC.

"The next book almost always underperforms, because the author isalready at his zenith. There is only one way to go."

Brown's timetable was affected by a plagiarism suit brought inthe United Kingdom by two of the three authors of "The Holy Bloodand the Holy Grail." That book, a work of nonfiction published in1982, explored the possibility that Jesus had not died on the crossbut married and fathered a child - a theme central to "The Da VinciCode."

Although Brown was exonerated in early 2006, the matter was time-consuming. At one point, Brown filed a lengthy personal statementwhich said of his work habits: "For me, writing is a discipline,much like playing a musical instrument; it requires constantpractice and honing of skills. For this reason, I write seven days aweek. So, my routine begins at around 4:00 AM every morning, whenthere are no distractions."

"The Da Vinci Code" was also criticized for factual miscues; thistime, he may be taking particular care. "He has toured a number ofMasonic temples to get the historical facts correct," says AkramElias, grand master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masonsof the District of Columbia.

The Masons are a fraternal society dedicated to self-improvementand charitable works. Membership is open to all religions andpolitical parties. Although Brown portrayed the secretive RomanCatholic group Opus Dei in a negative light in "The Da Vinci Code,"Elias says he isn't worried.

"Freemasonry will survive Dan Brown," he says.

Meanwhile, some publishing veterans say the wait isunderstandable. "When you have that level of success, you feel anobligation," says Kirshbaum.

"He's climbing Everest times 10. He probably wants to make thenext book perfect."