New 'Shades' book
June 2, 2015
With over 125 million copies sold since coming out in 2011, it was only a matter of time before erotic author E.L. James released another link in the "Fifty Shades of Grey" series.
With the film version released in February, James' tales of love, sex and pain drew an audience beyond the books' readers. Actors Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan portrayed the main protagonists, Anastasia Steele and billionaire Christian Grey, who begin an explicit romance and explore sadomasochism. The film reaped more than $500 million at the box office.
James said she wrote "Grey" from Christian's perspective in response to fans who had begged her for a novel narrated by the enigmatic business tycoon.
"Christian is a complex character and readers have always been fascinated by his desires and motivations and his troubled past," said the author. "And, as anyone who has ever been in a relationship knows, there are two sides to every story."
Publisher Vintage Books announced Monday (01.06.2015) that "Grey" would be released on June 18 as an e-book and paperback. June 18 also happens to be Christian Grey's fictional birthday.
In addition to the novel, two follow-up films are also in the works, scheduled to come out on Valentine's Day in 2017 and 2018.
kbm/ (Reuters, AP)