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King freezes 'The Plant'

Author Stephen King is putting his latest e-book experiment "The Plant" in "hibernation," angering some who've dutifully paid for each of the story's online-only installments since it began in July. Part 6 - arriving in December - will be the last for now, Mr. King writes on his self-titled Web site, saying he needs to concentrate on other novels. The hiatus, which King implies could last a year or two, will also allow time for translations and international versions to catch up. King originally told fans he would keep writing the story as long as at least 75 percent of them paid $1 for each installment they downloaded. He says on his site that 75 to 80 percent have dutifully paid, but a King assistant has suggested that only 46 percent of the people who downloaded the fourth installment paid for it.

Competition for Oprah's 'O'

Magazines with celebrity names are multiplying -following in the footsteps of Oprah and Martha Stewart. This month, talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell announced that she's teaming up with struggling women's magazine McCall's (and may leave her show). For the younger crowd, twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, former moppets from the long-running sitcom "Full House," plan to launch a publication aimed at "tweens" (think 12-year-olds).

Book deals precede winner

CNN's Jeff Greenfield, one of many in the media to prematurely call George W. Bush the next president, is taking his embarrassment all the way to the bank. Putnam announced this week that Mr. Greenfield will write, " 'Oh, Waiter! One Order of Crow!': Inside the Strangest Presidential Election Finish in American History." It's due out in May. Greenfield is the second TV analyst in recent days to get such a deal. Last week, Random House announced plans to publish a book next fall by ABC analyst and New Yorker correspondent Jeffrey Toobin.

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