Little, Brown and Company announced in a press release today that it will be publishing J.K. Rowling's first novel for adults. ---

No information was released about the publication date, title or genre, though it was reported in 2007 that Rowling was working on a crime novel.

In the release, Rowling said: "Although I've enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world. The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry's success has brought me."

The Blair Partnership, which represents Rowling, also announced the news on their Website today, saying that more information would be announced "later in the year." (How much later??) They also posted a photo of a generic book with the title "THE NEW BOOK by J.K. Rowling," which could probably remain as the real title through publication -- people would still buy it.