Just when you think there couldn’t be enough news about Stephenie Meyer’s leading men, Variety reports that casting is in progress to fill the leading male roles of “The Host.”

From Variety: Liam Hemsworth (“The Hunger Games”), Kit Harington (“Game of Thrones”), Jai Courtney (“One Shot”) and Max Irons (“Red Riding Hood”) will test for the role of Jared, Melanie’s boyfriend. Dane DeHaan (“In Treatment”), Thomas McDonnell (“Prom”), Augustus Prew (“The Borgias”) and Ronan’s “Lovely Bones” co-star Jake Abel will test for the role of Ian, a menacing young man who brutalizes Wanderer before falling in love with her.

So yesterday we gave away two copies of the paperback version of the Host. Well, when I got home last night, I discovered that our friends over at Little Brown sent another box. So, we now have more books to give away. Instead of Wolfpack Wednesday, we are doing another The Host giveaway. Judging by yesterday’s response, we didn’t think anyone would mind especially since we have it to give away a few days early from it’s April 23rd release. We’re going to mail everything out on Thursday morning. Remember that we will send things any place in the world. Last week’s Wolfpack Wednesday winner was from Latvia.

This latest version of The Host has a bonus chapter that “is something Stephenie wrote when she was working with the film producers – it was a scene that Stephenie always had in her head, but it couldn’t appear in the book because her narrator was unconscious at the time. The “omitted” chapter would, chronology-wise, fall in between Chapter 58 and 59 of The Host.”

According to the Little Brown press release:

With a 650,000 announced first print run, the paperback edition will feature a special Reading Group Guide that includes a new, never-before-published “bonus chapter,” an interview with Stephenie Meyer, discussion topics and questions, and the author’s annotated playlist.

THE HOST debuted at #1 on The New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list and remained there for more than a year. Meyer’s first adult novel was not only a huge commercial success, with more than 2 million copies sold, it also brought a whole new audience of readers to Stephenie Meyer. Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST, appeals to rabid Twilight Saga fans and readers of classic literary suspense alike.

Movie rights to THE HOST have been optioned by Nick Wechsler and Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz, the team that produced the film of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Andrew Niccol of Gattaca and The Truman Show will write the script and direct.

So if you would like a copy, just respond with the words “pick me” below, and we will send copies to two random people who reply. We will pick the winners at 11:59pm est tonight, April 14th.

We have a couple of copies of the paperback version of The Host to give away courtesy of Little Brown. This latest version has a bonus chapter that “is something Stephenie wrote when she was working with the film producers – it was a scene that Stephenie always had in her head, but it couldn’t appear in the book because her narrator was unconscious at the time.  The “omitted” chapter would, chronology-wise, fall in between Chapter 58 and 59 of The Host.”

What’s even better is that we have it to giveaway a few days early from it’s April 23rd release.

According to the Little Brown press release:

With a 650,000 announced first print run, the paperback edition will feature a special Reading Group Guide that includes a new, never-before-published “bonus chapter,” an interview with Stephenie Meyer, discussion topics and questions, and the author’s annotated playlist.

THE HOST debuted at #1 on The New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list and remained there for more than a year. Meyer’s first adult novel was not only a huge commercial success, with more than 2 million copies sold, it also brought a whole new audience of readers to Stephenie Meyer. Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST, appeals to rabid Twilight Saga fans and readers of classic literary suspense alike.

Movie rights to THE HOST have been optioned by Nick Wechsler and Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz, the team that produced the film of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Andrew Niccol of Gattaca and The Truman Show will write the script and direct.

So if you would like a copy, just respond with the words “pick me” below, and we will send copies to two random people who reply. We will pick the winners at 11:59pm est tonight, April 13th.

The Wall Street Journal has the  goods!

“On April 13, author Stephenie Meyer will publish the paperback edition of her best-selling sci-fi book “The Host.” Meyer, the author behind the “Twilight” series of books, will include in the coming version of “The Host” a never-before seen “bonus chapter.” “The Host,” Meyer’s first novel for adults, tells the story of body-snatching aliens who invade the earth. One of these extraterrestrials, who goes by the name Wanda, develops an unusual relationship with Melanie, the woman whose body she has taken over.

Click here for an exclusive excerpt from the paperback:”

Stephenie Meyer updated her website with this announcement:

“Good news: The Host paperback is now available for pre-order. I have just heard from the publishing company that the paperback release will have a Reading Group Guide that includes the following:

* New, never-before-published “bonus chapter”
* An interview with Stephenie
* Discussion topics and questions
* Stephenie’s annotated playlist”

EDITED: We asked about the bonus chapter and this is what we were told, “The bonus chapter is something Stephenie wrote when she was working with the film producers – it was a scene that Stephenie always had in her head, but it couldn’t appear in the book because her narrator was unconscious at the time.  The “omitted” chapter would, chronology-wise, fall in between Chapter 58 and 59 of The Host. “

The official press release from Hachette Publishers reads:

““Startling and addictive…. An epic story of love, family, and loyalty.” –USA Today

Now in paperback!

The #1 New York Times bestseller

by the author of the Twilight Saga

THE HOST

by Stephenie Meyer

Special Reading Group Guide includes

a New, Never-Before-Published “Bonus Chapter”

On April 13, 2010, Back Bay Books will release the paperback edition of Stephenie Meyer’s worldwide bestseller THE HOST. With a 650,000 announced first print run, the paperback edition will feature a special Reading Group Guide that includes a new, never-before-published “bonus chapter,” an interview with Stephenie Meyer, discussion topics and questions, and the author’s annotated playlist.

THE HOST debuted at #1 on The New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list and remained there for more than a year. Meyer’s first adult novel was not only a huge commercial success, with more than 2 million copies sold, it also brought a whole new audience of readers to Stephenie Meyer. Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST, appeals to rabid Twilight Saga fans and readers of classic literary suspense alike.

Movie rights to THE HOST have been optioned by Nick Wechsler and Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz, the team that produced the film of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Andrew Niccol of Gattaca and The Truman Show will write the script and direct.

In less than five years, Stephenie Meyer has become an international literary phenomenon. Her Twilight Saga has sold 100 million copies worldwide. If you missed the opportunity to review THE HOST in hardcover, now is the time to bring this unforgettable story to the attention of your readers”

Now what’s even better, is that the Lexicon will be giving away copies of the paperback edition to some of our lucky readers. We’ll give out details as soon as we get the books!

In order to celebrate Stephenie Meyer’s sci-fi novel, The Host, a bunch of sites are participating in a blog tour. For our day on “tour” we thought we’d celebrate with love letters written between the major characters in the love quadrangle. We’ll put up the best four letters on our tour day which is June 1st,  and you’ll receive a copy of The Host and some great merchandise from our CafePress store as your prize if your letter wins. Here’s how to enter:

1. Write a love letter from one The Host character to another.
2. You can write from either the male or female perspective in the following pairings:
-Jared and Melanie
-Ian and Wanda
3. There is no minimum length, but the maximum length is 200 words.
4. Each entry must be written letter style with a greeting and closing. The greeting (Dear Whoever) and the closing (Love Whoever) don’t count as part of the 200 words.
5. The love letter may take place in any time period past, present, or future.
6. The winner in each pairing (in other words 4 winners–giving prizes to one male and one female perspective letter in each pairing) will receive a copy of The Host and merchandise from the Lexicon Cafepress Shop (TBA).
7. Send your entries to twilightlexiconcontest@gmail.com
8. The subject of the email must have the pairing listed in the following way:
Jared to Mel
Mel to Jared
Ian to Wanda
Wanda to Ian
9. Any questions, post them on this entry because chances are someone else has the same question and the info could help them.
10. Entries are due by 11:59 pm EST May 25, 2009.

The Host is 1 year old and what a crazy year it has been!  It debuted at #1 and hasn’t left the list since. Current placing on the New York  Times #6, Publisher’s Weekly #6, and USA Today #21.   It doesn’t feel like it has been a  year since The Host took over the Lexicon and we were introduced to some truly amazing new characters.   Wanderer: the invader who you can’t help but like for her peaceful ideals, Melanie: the soul who refuses to give up and can often be violent, Jared: torn between the love he thought he lost and the body that remains, and of course, Ian: the one person who sees Wanderer for who she really is.

Check back later in the week as we bring you a Host Contest with a very cool prize.  Hint: It’s really about the love!