NEW HAMPSHIRE: Best-selling author Dan Brown has made a rare public appearance in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, sharing stories about writing, movie-making, science, religion, and more.   

''The Da Vinci Code'' author, who grew up in New Hampshire, spoke at a benefit Friday night for The Music Hall's ''Writers on a New England Stage'' series.

Brown is working on a new book that again features Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon as protagonist. In addition to ''The Da Vinci Code,'' Langdon appeared in ''Angels and Demons'' and ''The Lost Symbol.''

He said little about his next novel, saying only he is well into the writing process and that ''it'll be done when it's done.''