Columbine.

Nearly 10 years after the shooting, the word still has the power to take my breath away. Which is exactly what happened, if only for a split second, when I picked up an advance copy of a nonfiction book coming out in April, the anniversary month of the tragedy.

On the book's jacket, the word Columbine is reversed in white. It appears against a vast sky that dwarfs a photo of the school itself. It's bleak - and terribly affecting.

Columbine is written by Dave Cullen, a local freelance reporter who filed articles for Salon.com and Slate.com in the days after the event. For his book, he has interviewed "hundreds" of people associated with Columbine, according to Cullen's publisher, Twelve.

"In whole, it is the most complete, accurate and fascinating account of Columbine yet published," the publisher states.

That's a claim Rocky reporter Jeff Kass would likely challenge. Kass' own account of the Columbine massacre, Columbine: A True Crime Story, is also slotted for April release, and Kass' publisher, Ghost Road Press, is calling its title "the first book of investigative journalism to tell the complete story of that day . . . "

While the truth of these claims remains to be seen, a bigger question would be: Will readers be inclined to revisit the tragedy? With such an emotionally loaded event, you have to wonder.

Kass, for one, is encouraged by reader response to excerpts of his book that appeared recently on the gaming Web site Kotaku and the media Web site Gawker. "The last I checked, there were 13,000 page views and over 100 comments" between the two, he notes, "probably even more at this point."

As for the possible gut-level aversion to revisiting the story among readers: "A lot of people may have that reaction, but I think they still might pick it up, and if they don't but start hearing about it, I really think I've got some stuff that connects the dots in there." Kass notes that his book looks at common denominators between school shooters.

In April, we'll see if readers respond. Meanwhile, I'm curious to hear your thoughts: Has time begun to heal this wound? Would you read a comprehensive nonfiction account on Columbine? Ship me an e-mail (thornp@RockyMountainNews.com).

This author can't leave the book business behind

You'd think Jerry B. Jenkins, the Colorado Springs author who penned the ginormous blockbuster Left Behind series with minister Tim LaHaye, might buy a few boats and cruise the rest of his life away, given the 65 million-plus books he's sold.

But apparently, he'd rather float a few new books instead.

Since the Left Behind series ended, Jenkins has written several of his own novels. He has also paired with LaHaye for their new Jesus Chronicles series, which features a modern retelling of the Gospels, including "flesh-and-blood characters, action-fueled plots and supernatural thrills." The first book focused on Mark, the second on John and this month brings Luke's Story: By Faith Alone.

As if penning more than 175 books in his life isn't enough for Jenkins, the bio on the book jacket offers a long list of his other activities, ending with "he's also a sought-after marriage and family speaker."

Somebody buy this man a hammock.

Mark your calendar

For those who missed Elizabeth Gilbert on her other trips through town, the engaging author of the best-selling Eat, Pray, Love appears at 3 p.m. Sunday at Mile Hi Church, 9079 W. Alameda Ave. Tickets are $45. Information: 303-232-4079 or milehichurch.org (go to "speakers").