‘Marley’ author working on prequel

“Marley & Me” author John Grogan is working on a prequel to the million-selling memoir about his dog.

“The Longest Trip Home” will be released in October by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins.

“It is the powerful, often hilarious story of a son in the making, and of growing up in a loving, but comically old-school Catholic family,” said a statement issued by Morrow.

“From his troublemaking childhood to his courtship of a fiery blonde named Jenny, Grogan writes about how he came to terms with who he is and what he believes.”

“Even before ‘Marley & Me’ was published, I knew this was the story I wanted to tell next,” Grogan, 51, said in a statement. ” ‘The Longest Trip Home’ is a story very close to my heart.”

A film version of “Marley & Me,” starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, is slated for release in December.

Colvin memoir coming

Shawn Colvin, the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, also is working on a memoir.

“A Few Small Repairs,” named for her best-known album, is and tentatively scheduled to come out in the fall 2009.

“In concert Shawn is known for engaging the audience and interweaving dialogue ranging from the very personal to the truly hilarious, so the book will be a natural extension for her,” the publisher HarperCollins said in a statement.

“A Few Small Repairs,” which featured the hit single “Sunny Came Home,” won Grammys for song and album of the year.