BY  Richard Price; Sally Ann Stewart

        LOS ANGELES - In countless law offices and newsrooms, people refer to it simply as "The Book" - a 244-page lightning bolt that's become one of the most sensational surprises yet in the O.J. Simpson double-murder case.
        Nicole Brown Simpson: A Private Diary of a Life Interrupted delayed the trial two days, prompted the judge to concede that matters were out of control and touched off a closed-door scramble that wound up changing jury selection procedures Wednesday.
        The book also is shaping up as a megaseller. "Every 10th call we're getting is about that book," marvels Raymond Shobe at Super Crown Book Store here. The store sold its first 30 copies on Tuesday - before the book was even scheduled for release - and had reserves on every copy of the second shipment by Wednesday afternoon.
        Author Faye Resnick has rocketed up the list of most-sought personalities. The close friend of slaying victim Nicole Simpson was on the front of the New York Post Wednesday quoting the charge from her book that O.J. Simpson committed the murders.
        "Nicole knew O.J. would kill her one day," Resnick said. "She told me so to my face. Nicole also said straight out, `But he'll get away with it.' " Resnick's explanation: "He uses charm. Big smile. He'll just O.J. his way out."
        Simpson has pleaded innocent, and one of his key supporters lashed out at Resnick Wednesday. As Robert Kardashian walked into court, he called Resnick an admitted cocaine-user (she discusses that in her book) and says her story is full of "half-truths and, I believe, fabrications."
        Kardashian says Resnick wrote the book for money, although terms have not been made public. Resnick, an affluent socialite who claims she often acted as an intermediary between O.J. and Nicole, says she's seeking justice for her slain friend.
        One thing seems clear: Resnick has bolted from a Simpson crowd that included Kardashian. The book features pictures of Resnick lunching with Kardashian's children on vacation in Mexico.
        R.W. "Pete" Peterson, a private investigator hired by Nicole Simpson's family and friends, says some of the book is true but says Resnick embellished some parts. As far as Nicole "fooling around with lots of guys, that's exaggerated," he says.
        TV coverage has struggled with the book. Generally, newscasts have gone along with Judge Lance Ito's request to temper discussion of the book's details - in part because the judge has scheduled a Nov. 7 hearing on whether to kick cameras out of court.
        After receiving a written request from Ito, CNN agreed to hold off tonight's planned Larry King Live talk with book co-author Mike Walker of the National Enquirer.
        A CNN spokesman characterized the decision as exercising the network's "First Amendment rights." Added King: "It serves no useful purpose to prejudice the jury."
        CBS and The Maury Povich Show politely declined Ito's request that they delay broadcasts of interviews with Resnick.
        CBS's Eye to Eye with Connie Chung airs tonight; Maury Povich on Friday. In deciding to move forward with the broadcast, Povich made a point that Resnick might take as a warning of things to come.
        "Unlike any of the other interviews, she did this before a live audience, and many audience members were very skeptical," Povich said. "There was a feeling that she exploited the situation."