America Online Announces Strategic Relationship with Best-Selling Author James Patterson; AOL Members Get Exclusive Insight and Access to America's #1 Suspense Writer.

Entertainment Editors

DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2004

America Online, the world's leading interactive services company, and James Patterson, the best-selling suspense author, today announced a new alliance that provides a platform for the author to offer original content, exclusive interviews and special giveaways to AOL members surrounding his new books and movies. The new relationship kicks off with the release of 3rd Degree, the highly anticipated next installment in Patterson's "Women's Murder Club" series in which one of his most beloved characters dies. Located at AOL Keyword: James Patterson and through the Books area on AOL, members will be able to explore a host of exclusive features including a sneak preview of several chapters of the book, the chance to win a San Francisco getaway and a special interview with the author on AOL.

AOL is embarking on this first-ever strategic alliance with an author to offer members a unique, innovative experience that provides expanded information and special access to James Patterson and his works. A master of many genres, Patterson will share his love of the craft with his fans on AOL. He will author an AOL Journal, a feature on the AOL service that allows members to instantly publish online their thoughts, photos and favorite online sites. In advance of the release of London Bridges, the next installment in the best-selling Alex Cross series, Patterson will create a journal written in the character's voice so members can interact with this popular hero. Fans will also be able to access sneak peeks at one of his upcoming novels in progress and insights into the life of a bestseller. In addition, members will be able to watch special interviews with Patterson, get the latest news on his upcoming books and movies and sound off with other Patterson fans in message boards and polls.

The relationship with James Patterson is one of a series of initiatives to create unique experiences around books on the AOL service. Located at AOL Keyword: Books, this area provides a forum where members can match their love of books with compelling content and community features.

"What better way to create a more engaging online reading environment than with an alliance with the #1 suspense writer in the country," said Jim Bankoff, Executive Vice President, Programming. "Our book-loving community is one of the more enthusiastic communities on AOL, and we are thrilled to deliver them this innovative and exciting experience where they can learn more about James Patterson and his works.

"The AOL books community is as enthusiastic and informed as it gets," said James Patterson. "This is a terrific chance to engage them and also to introduce new people to the excitement of this growing, interactive realm."

In anticipation of the release of 3rd Degree, the third installment in the best-selling Women's Murder Club Series, AOL members can access a host of exclusive programming and features. Members can read or hear an exclusive excerpt of several chapters from the soon-to-be released book before it is available in stores, and they can participate in an exclusive contest to win a weekend trip to San Francisco, the home of the Women's Murder Club. They can also submit questions for AOL's interview with James Patterson and get the latest news on upcoming books and movies.

About the Book and Author

The #1 best-selling new mystery series of the past decade comes roaring back with 3rd Degree, a shocking, suspenseful thriller featuring the Women's Murder Club. Club co-founder Detective Lindsay Boxer is jogging through a quiet San Francisco neighborhood when a nearby townhouse explodes in flames. A sinister note signed "August Spies" is found at the scene of the disaster, and the body of an infant who was asleep in the house at the time of the explosion cannot be found. Soon a wave of violent incidents, all with links to political terrorism, sweeps through the city. Even more terrifying, the killer has targeted one of the members of the Women's Murder Club ... and one of the four will die. Who will it be?

James Patterson is one of the top-selling novelists in the world today. He has written a string of national bestsellers that includes the nine books in the series featuring detective/psychologist Alex Cross - Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, Jack & Jill, Cat & Mouse, Pop Goes the Weasel, Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Four Blind Mice, and The Big Bad Wolf, as well as The Lake House, The Jester, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, Cradle and All, When the Wind Blows, and Hide & Seek. There are currently two books in the best-selling "Women's Murder Club" series, 1st To Die and 2nd Chance. Two of Patterson's books, Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider have been made into feature films.

About Time Warner Book Group

Warner Books, a unit of the Time Warner Book group, is a unit of Time Warner Inc., whose industry-wide leading businesses include interactive services, cable systems, publishing, music, cable networks, and filmed entertainment.

About America Online, Inc.

America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.