In The News
Preview of PotterCast with J.K. Rowling
PotterCastAs we have previously posted, early tomorrow we will post the first-ever podcast interview with J.K. Rowling on PotterCast, our Harry Potter podcast. It’s a rare, informal, discussion which slides between detailed canon, larger statements about the series and writing, and casual banter.
The interview occurred just after the sale of her handwritten book, “The Tale of Beedle the Bard,” for $3.98 million (it was not yet known that the buyer was Amazon.com). We speak of Beedle and the morals in those tales, and Jo reveals that she originally thought there would be thirty or so, but revised that estimate when she conceived the idea of writing them all out by hand.
”’Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump,’ is the stupidest title ever written by man or beast,” she says, laughing. “When I wrote it I had not, at the point when I gave Ron that title, I didn’t imagine for a second that I was actually going to write the story….I really liked the idea of keeping those titles and then finding out what the stories were.”
She also addresses long-held fan questions about pieces of minute canon, such as the “missing 24 hours” in her timeline, certain characters’ lineage, and the workings of Horcruxes and how they are made. Of course, we also talk about larger issues, such as the recent announcement that popular Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore was gay.
“In the wizarding world…I think you could be gay, pureblood, and totally without any kind of criticism from the Lucius Malfoys of the world. I don’t think that’s something that would interest him at all. But I can’t speak for all witches and wizards,” she said. “To me it was only relevant in as much as Dumbledore, who was a great defender of love and who sincerely believed that love was the greatest, most powerful force in the universe, was himself made a fool of by love.”
We also learn more about wands, which parts of the backstory made her editor want to vomit, the main trio of characters’ post-book-seven plans, and her intentions to “absolutely” write and publish an Harry Potter encyclopedia (jokingly referred to as “The Scottish Book”), but not until she can make sure it’s “done right” and “gives everything.” She also speaks to what she terms her heavy involvement in the the creation of the new Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida, assuring it will have quite a lot of “the Jo touch,” as suggested by John.
It’s a very relaxed and fun talk, more so than would be a “formal” interview, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Stay tuned to this page or pottercast.com/jkrowling for more. To make sure you get the file as soon as it’s released, subscribe via iTunes:
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The fact that other sites are ignoring this just proves why Jo prefers TLC.
Dear CBM -
You live here too? Awesome! Anyway my system with any PotterCast release is just add a day to the day they say. We may be only 17 hours ahead, but then we must factor in that people must sleep, so we add a few more hours.
Since it’s 8:10 pm yesterday there now. So I would say it would come out about 11am their time tommorow? Which is in 15 hours, which would be 4 am tomorrow morning our time.
So we should have a wonderful surprise when we get up tomorrow morning (wednesday – see? Just add a day) :D!
not shouting John, begging! Not joking about the joys of dial up…and where I live there isn’t a viable alternative!
And, as roon and mr muggle note, transcripts are far easier to refer to
That’s awesome! Consider me excited for tomorrow! :D
Everyone chill. We hold no ill will to any site for posting whatever they do or do not post. We can only speak for how we’d act, and I can promise you what we always do, that the very first whiff we get of a confirmed JKR interview means it goes on Leaky as fast as our fingers can type. We’re not concerned at all that fans aren’t finding out about this, or won’t. We know you guys, you’ll find it wherever it is. And hey: http://popwatch.ew.com – Entertainment Weekly just posted about it, too. :)
The popWatch piece is extremely complimentary of Melissa, right on! http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/12/pottercasts-exc.html
I think it’s an excuse like lol said. But who cares! Leaky gets all this news to themselves? FINE BY ME! LOL!
Love you leaky! Be as awesome as you are!!!
Thank you so much Mellisa, John, Sue and the Leaky Team.
Leakynews is our Cornocopia of Luuurve!!!
Hi CBM and KatieBeth!
I too live in New Zealand (woo!) and I also simply add a day to any date that I hear to do with Harry Potter – and if what I’m waiting for comes early, all the better!
squeals The Lost 24 Hours!! Leaky, I love you!!
Melissa: Thank-you! And that is why Jo chose to talk to Leaky.
Lol, Angela and and CBM, we are taking over!!
I am also soo excited about the lost 24 hours after soo many years of speculation, I was beginng to write it off as a math error.
P,S – Where’s our summer gone to?
Seriously, this is awesome. I CAN’T WAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT
Can I has Pottercast now!!!!
Seriously, I’ve been a loyal listener. You can send it to me. I won’t tell anyone, honest. ;)
And as for no other news prior to the release. I’m glad. Cuz the servers hosting the file are gonna be smokin’ something fierce come tomorrow morning. Any more traffic and we’ll likely see a bunch of blowed up servers and no Pottercast for anyone.
Now. I just hope they actually post about it ONCE it’s released.
See, I already caused a double post. That’s just a sign that things are gonna be crazy here tomorrow.
lol, the news was posted just before 8.30 pm yesterday on leaky, almost exactly 24 hours ago…. we’re all used to cyber time, and forget that sometimes, things move slower
i’m simply saying there is at this time no evidence of any problem, so why look for one?
the real acievement of Leaky, Mugglenet, AccioQuote etc etc has been the cooepration….I don’t recall anything like this ever existing before, especially when you throw in contact with the author, publishers, major news media, the actors, and even WB. The closest parallel would have been the Trekkies, and only in recent years have they been as sophisticated, and the influence that the key figures involved in bringing us the HP fan sites have asserted has been interesting and important as well
Melissa, you do need to spend more time writing you know!
I want to add my name to the list of people who want an exact time for when you’re posting it. Or at least tell us - do you mean tomorrow, like when we wake up and it gets light (it’s night now, Dudley, that’s what they call it when it gets all dark like this) or do you mean tomorrow as in when it turns Tuesday’s date at midnight in NY where Melissa lives? Should we stay awake waiting or go to bed early and get our sleep so we’re ready in the morning? :)
It must be thrilling to you guys to be involved in creating something everyone’s so looking forward to that we’re willing to stay up all night waiting . . .
I have to say, I’m 45, I don’t really listen to Mugglecast anymore, but I think those kids have done a very professional job on both their website and their podcast. They have a great future ahead of them, they’re all very talented. I don’t prefer their show because they’re kids and I am not. I don’t know why Jo chose Pottercast but I think it’s part relationship and part real professionalism. I mean, the Mugglecast kids are not professional journalists, no matter what other great credentials they may have. Pottercast (and Leaky) are the best, it’s just really a fact, so if she only had to choose one podcast, it’s really a no brainer. I’m sure if she chose a 2nd one, it would be Mugglecast. Just my opinion, speaking from the point of view of someone who is a lot closer to Jo’s age than any of the Mugglecast listeners.
that’s strange, I don’t know what I did to make several sentences in my post be all crossed out like that.
I have a confession, I do not live in NZ, I was trying to point out that I was anxious for this pottercast by the fact that is was already afternoon in NZ.
But I love NZ!!! The south island is incredible! The north Island was also great. I spent a month there a few years ago. I wish I was there now as it is summer.
OMG! Cant wait!!! please, tlc, can you say a time aproximation? i’m from portugal and my morning time isn’t the same of yours. thanks!!!
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Leaky Poll
Moving the HBP film to July 2009 is:
- Completely unforgivable15 (46%)
- Annoying, but I'll get over it11 (34%)
- Not something I care about.1 (3%)
- Cool; who wants to go to the movies in the winter anyway?1 (3%)
- Awesome! I get to save $10 until next year.0 (0%)
- Awesome! I get to save $10 because now I'm skipping this movie!3 (9%)
- I've made a Facebook group, started a protest, called my local councilman, staged a sit-in, started a boycott, and organized a million-fan march because we won't stand for the - wait, what was this about again?1 (3%)
OMG OMG OMG OMGGGOMG OMG OMGOMGOMG OMGGGG//.//
i’m sorry i can’t seem to manage anything sensible atm :( OMGGG!