Westwood Village Barnes & Noble says it’s the only author appearance they have each year – and it’s a biggie: Saturday afternoon brought the annual visit of multi-million-selling West Seattle-based author Terry Brooks, and another standing-room-only crowd, more than 50 fans. As has been the case with his past visits, Brooks touted his newest book – in this case, “Legends of Shannara: The Measure of the Magic” – and read from a work in progress. But this time, he revealed, he’s breaking with tradition. Instead of just releasing one book next year, as is his usual pace, he’s publishing three in the span of a year, in honor of his 35th anniversary as an author. Brooks says they will be released in August 2012, March 2012, and August 2013, and will deal with “the future of Shannara.” “If you don’t buy these books, I’ll never do it again,” joked Brooks, who is 67, but said later he hopes to write for another 35 years: “I always thought I’d live forever.”

Next year also might bring some other big news for Brooks fans: He says a “new (movie) studio has taken an option” on his Magic Kingdom series, and there should be word in about a year if that, unlike some past movie options on his work, will really result in a film. Meantime, there are more photos from Brooks’ hometown appearance in this update on his website.