‘Pieces’ author releasing novel

James Frey is writing a new book, and this time he’s calling it fiction.

The author of the notorious “A Million Little Pieces” – the addiction memoir he acknowledged largely fabricating – will have a novel released next summer by HarperCollins.

“Bright Shiny Morning” is described by Jonathan Burnham, the publisher of HarperCollins, as a “kaleidoscopic” portrait of modern Los Angeles.

“It has great emotional power,” Burnham said.

A HarperCollins publicist said there would be no comment from Frey, whose career was seemingly finished a year ago after allegations emerged that he had embellished, or entirely invented, substantial portions of “A Million Little Pieces.”

Oprah Winfrey, who had picked the memoir for her book club, later angrily turned against the author, chewing him out on her television program.

Frey’s agent dropped him, as did Penguin Group USA, which had negotiated a seven-figure contract with him. The publisher of “A Million Little Pieces,” Doubleday, ended up offering refunds to customers who felt they had been duped.

But the book has continued to sell at least 1,000 copies a week, according to Nielsen BookScan, which tracks industry sales.

“Whatever view one might hold of what happened with that book, I was deeply struck by the writing,” Burnham said.

Frey, who turned 38 on Wednesday, has also written a second, highly disputed memoir, “My Friend Leonard.”

Renowned editor Nan Talese, who published Frey through her own imprint at Doubleday, said he deserved another chance.

“I’m very happy for James. It’s a fresh start,” she said.