As 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:
There still COULD BE 30 tales. She just has the write the rest of them and then publish them in something typeset, not handwritten, but mass-produced like the rest of her books so we can ALL read them, not just 7 lucky people.
I can’t wait to hear more about the missing 24 hours.
The encyclopedia will “give everything”? I hope that means it answers all of our un-answered questions, and doesn’t just rehash all of what we already know. This is what I see as such a difference between what I imagine an encyclopedia written by Jo would look like, and what the Lexicon book would likely look like. Steve’s would organize all of Jo’s current information so you could look it up in a reference format. Jo’s would be less obssessively organized, but much more interesting to read, having tidbits of new information and backstory on every page.
:::sigh:::: I would have thought that Melissa would be the right person to try and patch things up between Jo and Steve. Not like, live on a podcast, for the rest of us to hear, but to just talk to her, get a message to her from Steve maybe, take a message from Jo back to Steve. I am just heartbroken that this might come to a battle in court and I with someone would tie all the lawyers up in a room somewhere and make Jo and Steve work it out. :-(
The Truth, what an ironic name. Jo, as Snape, has her prefferences and she doesn’t treat each website in the same way. Look Mugglenet. Why only Pottercast and not mugglecast? it is not very jkrish.
The Truth, that is stretching it way to far. honestly, I can see why jo would pick pottercast. mugglecast is like the other big podcast and honestly, its immature and unprofessonal. Sure John Noe can get a little crazy at times, but he plays wonderfully off sue and melissa which keep to some extint of courrse him in line.
pottercast gets indepth every episode and I cant remeber a case where they were going deep and waxing lyrical about something jo had anwsered years before in a very well known and public way. I cant get through a mugglecast because they tend to focus on things that jo has already said arent happening and just run with it for 20-30 minutes. mugglecasters I am sure are nice people in real life, but honestly, if you want proper discussions and disections, there are better harry potter podcast and pottercast is not the only good one, they are just the best known.
plus, I think jo might not want a repeat of the emerson spartz event from HBP when he called a portion of her fan base delusional repeatedly.
JKR is allowed preferences. MuggleNet posted spoilers, printed that godawful book, and is in general not as respectful at ALL as Leaky. Of course JKR should choose leaky if given the opportunity. More like Albus than Snape, to recognize true merit and not try to falsely laud those who don’t deserve it.
Hmm.. gee… reasons for Jo to prefer Leaky of Mugglenet….
Wouldnt have anything to do with them insulting every bit of good will she ever gave them by cashing in on whatever ‘insider’ status they advertised having when they sold their ‘what will happen in book 7’ nonsense.
That, I’d im sure she didn’t look too kindly on them when they blatently posted DH spoilers on the front page news… something like the entire first paragraph wasn’t it?
Compare that behavior to the professionalism and respectfulness Leaky has always showed Jo and her fans… seems to be enough reason for me!
"...they won fair and square... even Wood admits it."[br]"Where is Wood?" said Harry, suddenly realizing he wasn't there.[br]"Still in the showers," said Fred. "We think he's trying to drown himself."
There still COULD BE 30 tales. She just has the write the rest of them and then publish them in something typeset, not handwritten, but mass-produced like the rest of her books so we can ALL read them, not just 7 lucky people.
I can’t wait to hear more about the missing 24 hours.
The encyclopedia will “give everything”? I hope that means it answers all of our un-answered questions, and doesn’t just rehash all of what we already know. This is what I see as such a difference between what I imagine an encyclopedia written by Jo would look like, and what the Lexicon book would likely look like. Steve’s would organize all of Jo’s current information so you could look it up in a reference format. Jo’s would be less obssessively organized, but much more interesting to read, having tidbits of new information and backstory on every page.
:::sigh:::: I would have thought that Melissa would be the right person to try and patch things up between Jo and Steve. Not like, live on a podcast, for the rest of us to hear, but to just talk to her, get a message to her from Steve maybe, take a message from Jo back to Steve. I am just heartbroken that this might come to a battle in court and I with someone would tie all the lawyers up in a room somewhere and make Jo and Steve work it out. :-(
I can’t wait to hear this podcast!
How’s the book going, Melissa?