Stephen King's fans are definitely e-xcited about his idea to offer an unfinished novel in e-installments.

In the last four days, more than 7,000 King fans voted on the author's website after King asked his readers whether they'd be willing to pay $1 per installment to download the remainder of The Plant, an epistolary novel he begain in the 1980s.

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The first installment will be available for download in mid-July. An update specifying the exact date will be posted on July 8.

Last week, King surprised fans and the publishing industry when he posted an open letter on his site to his readers.

"Dear Constant Reader," the letter began, going on to describe the novel King gave up when other projects intervened.

King proposed fans pay $1 per installment and suggested everyone be on the honor system. He also warned he would cease publication if too many people stole the story.

And then he asked his fans to vote on two questions: "Do you think I should offer this book?", and "Can I trust people to pay?"

Thousands of fans offered their opinions during the voting. One woman even promised to send in an extra dollar to make up for someone who didn't.

Adam Rothberg, spokesman for Simon & Schuster -- King's publishing house -- said his company is not involved in The Plant and is not concerned about what King is doing.

"This effort reflects Stephen King's endless capacity to be an innovator and experiment," Rothberg said.

But other industry analysts question whether or not King is beginning a trend to cut publishers out of the book-selling process.

DeFilippo stated that Stephen King does not intend to become his own publisher. Rather, the author sees this as simply something new to try.

"He is very curious about where it will lead and how people will respond," she said.

The Plant is not finished, and might never be finished, King warns in his letter.