E. L. James to release new “Fifty Shades of Grey” novel

PanARMENIAN.Net - Author E. L. James will be releasing a new “Fifty Shades of Grey” novel written from character Christian Grey’s point of view. The book, titled “Grey,” will be published on June 18 — Grey’s birthday, Variety reports.

James has dedicated the book “to those readers who asked… and asked… and asked… and asked for this.”

“Christian is a complex character and readers have always been fascinated by his desires and motivations, and his troubled past,” James said in a press release. “Also, as anyone who has ever been in a relationship knows, there are two sides to every story. It’s been a great pleasure to return to my happy place-writing, being with Christian and Ana in their universe, and working with the fantastic team at Vintage.”

“Grey” will be published in paperback and as an eBook by Vintage Books, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group — a division of Penguin Random House.

“Fifty Shades of Grey is a love story that has enthralled readers in a way that few books have,” said Vintage Books publisher and James’ editor, Anne Messitte. “When Erika mentioned to me that she wanted to explore Christian’s viewpoint and re-open the story, I was incredibly excited for her and for her readers. This book has all the compelling attributes of its predecessors, and I can’t wait for Fifty Shades fans to experience the work again from a perspective they have long desired.”

One of the most successful publications in history, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy — “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed” — has sold 125 million copies worldwide. The stories are told from protagonist Anastasia Steele’s point of view.

“Fifty Shades of Grey,” which was released in 2011, was adapted into a film earlier this year. The erotic drama starring Jamie Dornan and and Dakota Johnson was a box office smash, opening to a record $85.2 million in February. It’s since hauled $166.2 million in the U.S. and $569.7 million worldwide.

Dornan and Johnson will reprise their roles in the film’s sequel, which hits theaters on Feb. 10, 2017. Universal is currently searching for a director after Sam Taylor-Johnson announced in March that she would not be returning for the second installment.

Niall Leonard, James’ husband, will write the screenplay for “Fifty Shades Darker.”