In The News
J. K. Rowling Talks Marriage, Writing and More at Open Book Tour Stop in New York City
J.K. RowlingMore news has come from author J. K. Rowling’s Open Book Tour stop this morning in New York City as we have received a few reports from this morning’s event. The first comes from Bloomberg which reports of a senior from Concord High School on Staten Island, Kristian Cuzco, question to Jo regarding marriage. She asks, “If you could marry anyone from the Harry Potter series, who would it be?” Jo’s reply:
“I actually married Harry Potter. My husband’s here, and if you have seen a photo of my husband, I think Harry Potter will look like that once he hits a certain age,”...
I married a really good person. Harry is a really good person. And he’s a gutsy person.”
This article features more on this morning’s event and notes Jo’s comments on two other male characters in her series, Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy. She references the popularity of Draco, especially among girls, and playfully cautions readers by saying: “But as I’ve said before: No! No! Please don’t pass for Draco. I’ve given you an array of pleasant characters.” She also talks of creating Ron, a character she admits she has dated “more than once,” and that, “Ron is funny, very funny; he’s insensitive. There’s a lot of immaturity about Ron, and that’s where a lot of the humor comes from. He’s not much fun to date, but he’s great as a friend.’‘
Further news comes from TLC Reader GraceAnne, who was also lucky enough to see Jo’s reading this morning. She writes of an event she felt privileged to attend and describes Jo as ”...the perfect author.”
She writes:
She read the chapter where Harry departs from Privet Drive and the Dursleys. It was terrific to hear her words in her own voice.Then she answered questions. About ten children, from 9-17, from all over the city, introduced themselves, their grades, ages, and schools, and asked their questions.
To an aspiring writer, her advice was read, write, and “stories are better if they are rooted in your feelings.” She said with heartfelt intensity that she loved writing the Harry Potter books – just loved it.
“The desire for magic is a deep-rooted desire” in humankind, she said, and that “Human nature remains the same whether or not you have a wand.”
In response to some questions about the couples, Jo allowed as how “in my younger days, I dated Ron more than once.” She said Hermione and Ron were meant to be together from the first. Ginny and Harry are soulmates, with a passionate connection. And, “Girls! Don’t fancy Draco!”
She said she did marry Harry Potter, and that her husband was in the audience (!)
Rowling suggested that Dudley and Harry had a Christmas card sort of keeping in touch, and that Harry’s kids and Dudley’s probably didn’t like each other very much but now and then would all get together while the adults sat in awkward silence. She said that the lightning scar was chosen for its “elemental power … and it’s cool shape,” answered a question about how complicated it is for the wealthy Harry to give money to the poorer Weasleys, and stressed that Dumbledore loved Harry like a son.
Then the adults left and she sat down to sign 1600 books, one for each child. As I left, the first set of children were leaving too, and one little boy just kept chanting, “I touched her! I touched her!”
Fashion alert: a midnight navy or black (the lights made it hard to tell) silk shantung suit: pencil slim short skirt, open jacket, scoop- neck blouse. Black stockings, high heels. Red nail polish, elegant white gold lariat necklace. Her manner was warm, polished, open, and perfectly delightful. The noise level when the audience cheered was louder than it was when I saw Bruce Springsteen the other week.
What an amazing experience.
Finally, we have a few new pictures from the event. Reader Tina sent us in some pictures she snapped during the book signing this morning. You can see these pictures in our Image Galleries right here.
In a matter of hours Jo will be reading before an audience of contest winners at Carnegie Hall. More info when we get it!
Many thanks to GraceAnne and Tina!
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Good on you, Jo! I always thought your husband was a grown up Harry Potter.
Aah! I am so jealous of all who had the chance to attend! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your stories and pictures!
Omigosh! Hermione did marry Harry! rofl! she always did say hermione was based on herself or something like that, and well, who did she marry! Take that, those people who say Hr marrying or kissing harry was like kissing your brother!! haha!
“Dumbledore loved Harry like a son.”
[sniffs and wibbles in the corner] :’)
radcakesfan – apart from the bit where she sais Hermione and Ron were always meant to be together, and that Harry and Ginny are soul mates. ;) Besides, she always said Hermione isn’t entirely based on herself – just some aspects of her personality as a teenager.
Oh, and by the way – “I love her like a sister”. Ha! ;) :D
I love how Jo said Harry and Dudley had a ‘Christmas card sort of keeping in touch” and that they would get together now and then and sit in awkward silence. LOVE IT!!! :)
“Girls! Don’t fancy Draco!” Oh Jo, we can’t help it!
Soulmates with a passionate connection!!!! Jo, you are the greatest!
hee hee.
there are some photos of jkr in new york on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/search/?s=rec&w=all&q=jk+rowling+new+york&m=text
It’s GREAT to hear from those who got to be there today.
Knowing that I couldn’t see JKR in person and the foul weather here in NYC made for a very depressing day. That is until I read the accounts of the lucky people who were there!!
THANK YOU!
Althrough I did not want to do it I Googled for pictures of mr.Murray….. and damnnn…... You should lay those pictures next to the picture of Harry Potter on Jo’s site and the two on the cover of HBP and DH ( UK version).
And then you know why Jo once said that she was very pleased with Daniel Radcliffe but he differed from how she thought Harry Potter looked like. And it isn’t just the glasses and the dark hair.
That was an painful to read…
- “Hermione” dated Ron, married Harry.
- Ron’s immature (that was supposed to be fixed by Deathly Hallows, he’s been through WAR).
- The stupid kid that didn’t even read Deathly Hallows got to ask her something and is SELLING his book.
Ummmm, Danielle….....I was under the impression (having actually READ DH) that “Herminone” married Ron, and Ginny married Harry…..did I miss something? Oh, well…thanks,everyone, for sharing your stories and pictures. Living in South Carolina, we NEVER get these things. *( It’s great to hear and see JKR and her fans!
LoL – don’t read things when you’re tired folks! Its 1am here in the UK and i read the headline on this story as:
“J. K. Rowling Talks Open Marriage, Writing and More…”
I thought blimey – wasn’t this a kids event??! before re-reading and deciding immediately to take myself to bed, do not pass go, do not read HP news when you’re supposed to be asleep!!
Night night!
L!
Thank you, everyone, for your stories and pictures! In South Carolina, we can pretty well be assured, that we won’t get your wonderful luck! I just know everyone had a great time!
You guys, Jo Rowling is not Hermione Granger. She only sees parts of herself in her. They’re two very different people. Jo also said there are part of her in Harry. So did Harry marry himself? Think about what you’re writing.
That’s great info. I for my part, think she thinks rather highly of Ron. she talks about him in an endearing way.
She also says of Ron, who she admits has “dated Ron more than once,”
Lolz. Ron has dated Ron? =P
I belive she ment she dated someone “like’ Ron more then once when she was young. Question is anyone haveing trouble downloading the pictures on leaky or is it just me?
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To an aspiring writer, her advice was read, write, and “stories are better if they are rooted in your feelings.”
Why. Just WHY would you waste an opportunity like that?! To get the chance to talk to Jo is a real, burning dream of so many, to have someone ask a question that’s been asked SO many times before is so frustrating!
But apart from that- yay more pictures _ And haha I love the fact that she thinks Neil is grown-up Harry =)