More than skipping Christmas, John Grisham is skipping his usual February laydown, leaving a wide opening for rising suspense writers. Expect some fierce jockeying in January and February, where John Lescroart and James Patterson are the only big names, until Jeffrey Archer returns on March 6.

Overall, there are plenty of brand names, but few long-awaited returns, with the exception of Taylor Branch and James McManus in nonfiction and Michael Chabon in fiction. However, historical novels are still a bright spot, with new titles from Sarah Dunant, Kevin Baker and Sarah Waters.

Watch for a steady political drumbeat entering the midterm election year, as L. Paul Bremer, Michael Lerner, Kevin Phillips and Joe Klein aim for national bestseller lists.

In children's, there are several notable followups: Louis Sachar delivers a sequel to his bestselling Holes; Caldecott winner Kevin Henkes brings Lilly back as an aspiring flower girl, in Lilly's Big Day; and there are new fantasy novels from Michelle Paver, Angie Sage, William Nicholson and G.P. Taylor.

As always, keep track of all of the upcoming titles with PW's online On-Sale Calendar.


January

January 1
The Zone Life Plan: 30 Days to Complete Life Change by Barry Sears (ReganBooks, $26.50). 250,000 first printing.
If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern (Hyperion, $22.95). 125,000 first printing.
Shine: A Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Guide to Finding Love by Star Reynolds Jones (Collins, $24.95). 100,000 first printing.
The RealAge Workout: Maximum Health, Minimum Work by Dr. Michael Roizen (Collins, $24.95). 100,000 first printing.

January 2
The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster (Holt, $24). 100,000 first printing.

January 3
For Laci by Sharon Rocha (Crown, $25.95). 500,000 first printing.
Bad Childhood—Good Life: How to Blossom and Thrive in Spite of an Unhappy Childhood by Dr. Laura Schlessinger (HarperCollins, $24.95). 400,000 first printing.
Great Physician's Prescription for Health and Wellness: Seven Keys to Unlock Your Health Potential by Jordan Rubin (Nelson Books, $24.99). 300,000 first printing.
The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell (HarperCollins, $25.95). 150,000 first printing.
Take It Back: Our Party, Our Country, Our Future by James Carville and Paul Begala (S&S, $23). 150,000 first printing.
Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot by Max Lucado (W Publishing Group, $22.99). 100,000 first printing.
Dog Days by Ana Marie Cox (New American Library, $23.95). 75,000 first printing.

January 9
The World to Come by Dara Horn (Norton, $24.95). 50,000 first printing.

January 10
The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization by John Maxwell (Nelson Business, $24.99). 200,000 first printing.
My Year in Iraq: The Struggle to Build a Future of Hope by Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III with Malcolm McConnell (S&S, $27). 150,000 first printing.
Physical: An American Checkup by James McManus (FSG, $23). 100,000 first printing.

January 13
At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years, 1965—68 by Taylor Branch (S&S, $35). 150,000 first printing.

January 17
Dave Barry's Money Secrets: Like: Why Is There a Giant Eyeball on the Dollar? by Dave Barry (Crown, $24.95). 150,000 first printing.
Death Dance by Linda Fairstein (Scribner, $26).
Lead Like Jesus: Lessons for the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time by Ken Blanchard (W Publishing Group, $24.99).

January 24
Lovers and Players by Jackie Collins (St. Martin's, $24.95). 350,000 first printing.
Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex (Doubleday, $24.95). 100,000 first printing.
Arthur & George by Julian Barnes (Knopf, $24.95). 100,000 first printing.
Changing Faces by Kimberla Lawson Roby (Morrow, $23.95). 100,000 first printing.
More Than Friends by Barbara Delinsky (Morrow, $18.95). 100,000 first printing.
The Hunt Club by John Lescroart (Dutton, $26.95).
Memory in Death by Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb (Putnam, $24.95).
You're Wearing That?: Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation by Deborah Tannen (Random House, $25.95).

January 31
The Good Life by Jay McInerney (Knopf, $25). 75,000 first printing.
I'm Not Wonder Woman, But God Made Me Wonderful: Discovering the Woman God Created You to Be by Sheila Walsh (Nelson Books, $19.99).

February

February 1
In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant (Random House, $23.95).
Hot Italian Dish by Victoria Gotti (ReganBooks, $24.95).

February 6
The 5th Princess by James Patterson with Maxine Paetro (Little, Brown, $27.95). 1.25 million first printing.

February 7
Last Dance: Behind the Scenes at the Final Four by John Feinstein (Little, Brown, $25.95). 200,000 first printing.
Striver's Row by Kevin Baker (HarperCollins, $26.95). 100,000 first printing.
Morning Has Broken: ACouple's JourneyThrough Depression by Emme and Phil Aronson (New American Library).

February 13
Entertaining with the Sopranos: A Guide to Special Occasions by Allen Rucker and Michele Scicolone (Warner, $29.95). 250,000 first printing.

February 21
The Old Wine Shades: A Richard Jury Mystery by Martha Grimes (Viking, $25.95). 150,000 first printing.
Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Waldman (Doubleday, $23.95). 75,000 first printing.
February 28
Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich (HarperCollins, $26.95). One million first printing.
The House by Danielle Steel (Delacorte, $27). 800,000 first printing.
The Rebels of Ireland: The Dublin Saga by Edward Rutherfurd (Doubleday, $27.95). 200,000 first printing.
A Secret Splendor by Sandra Brown (Harlequin/Mira, $19.95). 100,000 first printing.
F.U.B.A.R.: America's Right-Wing Nightmare—And How You Can Wake Up from It by Sam Seder and Stephen Sherrill (HarperCollins, $23.95). 100,000 first printing.
Sour Puss by Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown (Bantam, $25). 75,000 first printing.
Intuition by Allegra Goodman (Dial, $25). 60,000 first printing.
Bob Knight: Unauthorized by Steve Delsohn and Mark Heisler (S&S, $25.95).

March

March 1
The Book that Changed My Life by Jack Canfield and Gay Hendricks (Collins, $24.95). 100,000 first printing.
Who's Afraid to Be a Millionaire by Kelvin Boston (Hyperion, $22.95). 100,000 first printing.

March 6
L'America by Martha McPhee (Harcourt, $25). 75,000 first printing.

March 7
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult (Atria, $27). 350,000 first printing.
The Automatic Millionaire Homeowner: A Powerful Plan to Finish Rich in Real Estate by David Bach (Broadway, $19.95). 350,000 first printing.
False Impression by Jeffrey Archer (St. Martin's, $27.95). 350,000 first printing.
Man in the Shadows: Inside the Middle East Crisis with the Man Who Led the Mossad by Efraim Halevy (St. Martin's, $25). 125,000 first printing.
Living a Dog's Life by Cindy Adams (St. Martin's, $19.95). 100,000 first printing.
Sea Change (Jesse Stone) by Robert B. Parker (Putnam, $24.95).

March 14
Cobra 2: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq by Michael Gordon and General Bernard E. Trainor (Pantheon, $27.95). 200,000 first printing.
A Whole New Ball Game: How America's Pastime Lost Its Way and How It Can Head Home Again by Mike Schmidt and Glen Waggoner (HarperCollins, $24.95). 100,000 first printing.
What Price Love? by Stephanie Laurens (Morrow, $22.95). 100,000 first printing.
Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout (Random House, $24.95).

March 20
Phantom by Terry Goodkind (Tor, $29.95). 500,000 first printing.
Seeing by Jose Saramago (Harcourt, $25). 75,000 first printing.

March 21
American Theocracy: The Perils and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century by Kevin Phillips (Viking, $25.95). 225,000 first printing.
Home with God: In a Life That Never Ends by Neale Donald Walsch (Atria, $24). 100,000 first printing.

March 28
Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag (Bantam, $26). 325,000 first printing.
Barbra: The Way She Is by Christopher Andersen (Morrow, $25.95). 200,000 first printing.
The Two-Minute Rule by Robert Crais (S&S, $24.95). 200,000 first printing.
Tomb of the Golden Bird by Elizabeth Peters (Morrow, $25.95). 175,000 first printing.
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore (Morrow, $24.95). 150,000 first printing.
Sea Gypsy by Fern Michaels (Harlequin, $16.95). 100,000 first printing.
Sweet Memories by Lavyrle Spencer (Harlequin, $21.95). 100,000 first printing.
The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions by Karen Armstrong (Knopf, $24.95). 100,000 first printing.
Circle of Quilters: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel by Jennifer Chiaverini (S&S, $23). 100,000 first printing.
Foxes in the Henhouse: How the Republicans Screwed the South and the Heartland and What the Democrats Should Do to Run 'Em Out by Steve Jarding and Dave "Mudcat" Saunders (Touchstone, $24). 100,000 first printing.
Gone: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman (Ballantine, $26.95).

April

April 4
Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark (S&S, $25.95). One million first printing.
The Shape of Your Life by Martina Navratilova (Rodale, $27.95). 200,000 first printing.
Bon Appetit: My Life in France with Paul by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme (Knopf, $24.95). 150,000 first printing.
Hey Good Looking by Fern Michaels (Pocket, $25). 150,000 first printing.
Naomi's Guide to Aging Gratefully: Being Your Best for the Rest of Your Life by Naomi Judd (S&S, $23). 150,000 first printing.
Notorious C.O.P.: The True Story of the NYPD "Hip-Hop Cop" Who Cracked the Case of Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, and Jam Master Jay by Derrick Parker with Matt Diehl (St. Martin's, $24.95). 150,000 first printing.
The Hot Buns Diet: A Doctor's Plan for a Fabulous Physique and Optimum Health by Christine Lydon, M.D. (Broadway, $22.95). 100,000 first printing.
Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews (HarperCollins, $24.95). 100,000 first printing.
Untitled on Baseball by Fay Vincent (S&S, $26). 100,000 first printing.
We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg (Random House, $22.95).
The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything by Brian McLaren (W Publishing Group, $19.99).

April 6
Parenting Young Baseball Players, The Ripken Way: Ensuring the Best Experience for Your Kid in Any Sport by Cal Ripken Jr. with Rick Wolff (Gotham, $25).
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters (Riverhead, $24).

April 11
The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon (HarperCollins, $26.95). 250,000 first printing.
The Joys of Much Too Much: Go for the Big Life; The Great Career, The Perfect Guy, and Everything Else You've Ever Wanted by Bonnie Fuller (Fireside, $24). 100,000 first printing.
Dark Harbor by Stuart Woods (Putnam, $25.95).

April 17
Let Every Nation Know by Robert Dallek and Terry Golway (Sourcebooks/MediaFusion, $29.95). 100,000 first printing.

April 18
Blue Shoes and Happiness: The New Novel in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith (Pantheon, $21.95). 250,000 first printing.
Turnip Day: The Lost Music of American Politics by Joe Klein (Doubleday, $23.95). 100,000 first printing.

April 25
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero by David Maraniss (S&S, $26). 250,000 first printing.
The Right Words at the Right Time, Book 2 by Marlo Thomas (Atria, $25). 175,000 first printing.
Vanished by Karen Robards (Putnam, $24.95).

Children's

January 1
Click, Clack, Splish Splash: A Counting Adventure by Doreen Cronin, illus. by Betsy Lewin (Atheneum, $12.95). 100,000 first printing.

January 10
Small Steps by Louis Sachar (Delacorte, $16.95). 500,000 first printing.

January 20
ttfn by Lauren Myracle (Abrams/Amulet, $16.95). 150,000 first printing.

January 24
Bad Kitty by Michelle Jaffe (HarperCollins, $16.99). 100,000 first printing.

February 21
The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #2: Spirit Walker by Michelle Paver (HarperCollins/Tegen, $16.99). 150,000 first printing.
The Adventures of Vin Fiz by Clive Cussler, illus. by William Farnsworth (Philomel, $ 15.99). 125,000 first printing.

March 14
Magic Tree House #35: Night of the New Magicians by Mary Pope Osborne, illus. by Sal Murdocca (Random House, $11.95). 300,000 first printing.

March 28
Lilly's Big Day by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow, $15.99). 500,000 first printing.
Septimus Heap, Book Two: Flyte by Angie Sage (HarperCollins/Tegen, $17.99). 200,000 first printing.
The Princess Diaries, Vol. VII: Party Princess by Meg Cabot (HarperCollins, $16.99). 200,000 first printing.
The Princess Diaries, Vol. VI: Princess in Training (pb) by Meg Cabot (HarperCollins, $6.99). 150,000 first printing.
Sweet Sixteen Princess by Meg Cabot (HarperCollins, $8.99). 100,000 first printing.

April 1
John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith (Hyperion, $16.99). 175,000 first printing.
The Warrior Heir by Cinda W. Chima (Hyperion, $16.99). 100,000 first printing.

April 4
Emeril's There's a Chef in My World! by Emeril Lagasse (HarperCollins, $22.99). 150,000 first printing.

April 11
Happy Birthday, Little One by Billy Crystal, illus. by Guy Porfirio (HarperCollins, $16.99). 250,000 first printing.
Heat by Mike Lupica (Philomel, $16.99). 200,000 first printing.

April 17
Seeker by William Nicholson (Harcourt, $17.00). 100,000 first printing.

April 20
Terias the Oracle by G.P. Taylor (Putnam, $17.99). 100,000 first printing.
Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz (Philomel, $17.99). 100,000 first printing.

May 1
Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems (Hyperion, $12.99). 150,000 first printing.

June 1
Abadazad Book #1: Queen Ija's Question by J.M. DeMatteis, illus. by Mike Ploog (Hyperion, $9.99). 100,000 first printing.