According to Variety, Universal has bought the next memoir from "Running With Scissors" author Augusten Burroughs for Red Wagon's Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick to produce. Tome, which Burroughs has yet to write, is part of a multimillion-dollar three-book deal the author inked with St. Martin's Press.

A film adaptation of "Running With Scissors," with Annette Bening starring as Burroughs' dysfunctional mother, recently wrapped. Plan B's Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Grey produced the pic for the relaunched TriStar label.

"Running" helmer Ryan Murphy adapted Burroughs' previous book. Burroughs plans to tackle the screenplay adaptation of the next book himself.

Burroughs said the book will concern his father and follow both his childhood and the relationship he developed with his dad as an adult in Amherst, Mass.

"It's a story that I've wanted to write for years and years," Burroughs said, "but it could not be written until my father passed away.

"It has two narratives. One of the narratives are stories from when I was young with my dad and he displayed emotionally distant and very curious and very sadistic behavior."

He added, "It's a completely different book," but said it would be told in a similar humorous and heartbreaking tone as "Running." Book is currently untitled.

Deal follows Red Wagon's recent pattern of making movies from literary properties: This year it is producing "Jarhead'' and "Memoirs of a Geisha.''

Fisher said she snapped up the rights to Burroughs' next memoir sight unseen after meeting with the author.

"Usually the books we buy have theatrical elements. In the case of all three of these (books), they all have a very unique voice and transport you to another world," she said.

Burroughs said he doesn't expect his next memoir to be published until 2007 or 2008.