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Rumor Alert: J.K.Rowling, Crime Writer?

J.K. Rowling
Posted by: Sue
August 19, 2007, 02:33 AM

In a rumor that is spreading like wildfire tonight, many readers have owled about a report in the Sunday Times newspaper claiming that author J.K. Rowling is at work writing a crime novel. This report (similar to previous claims that Jo might someday write a mystery novel) stems from an excerpt from a new profile of Scottish writer Ian Rankin, who lives in the same neighborhood area in Edinburgh as J.K. Rowling, and is quoted in the Times article with the following:

Rankin’s wife spotted JKR the other day “scribbling away in a cafe”, he said last week, speculating whether she was “writing her Edinburgh detective novel”.

The Associated Press is also running with this, and this report has a slightly more definitive quote from Ian Rankin, saying:

“My wife spotted her writing her Edinburgh criminal detective novel,” the newspaper, which was available late Saturday, quoted Rankin as saying.

Rankin, famous for his own police novels set in the historic Scottish city, said he had not discussed the project with Rowling personally, and declined to reveal how he had learned about her plans.It is great that she has not abandoned writing or Edinburgh cafes,” Rankin said.

...

The office of Rowling’s literary agent Christopher Little was not immediately available to comment late Saturday.

Again, while Jo has stated in interviews since the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that she was at work on two things (“one for children, one not for children”), please keep this very much in the rumor category for now. Thanks to all who emailed!

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70 Comments

Pam

I’m leaving for London and Edinburgh on Tuesday!! If I see JKR sitting in a cafe, no worries about a weirdo looking over her shouder, I’d be the weirdo passing out at the sight!! :)

Posted by Pam on August 19, 2007, 06:45 PM report to moderator
Sammy

A lot of people are saying they want another book similar to Harry Potter, I love the hp series to death, but wouldn’t want something similar. The hogwarts a history is gonna be awesome but other than that I think that we have a seven book series that kicks ass, we don’t need more, and if she did more i would be disappointed because it would kinda ruin the perfect ending Jo has given us. So I’m glad that shes done with the wizarding world. But when it comes to the crime book, I’m sure I’d love probably not nearly as much as Harry Potter, but something like hp only comes once in a lifetime. I think that Jo’s mystery book would be a good read, but most likely not another classic. I’m sure all the true fans would settle for an enjoyable read. But i think the critics and some greedy fans would judge her and they would expect something like hp, but to that I can only say we must remember a line in HBP “We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on.” :)

Posted by Sammy on August 19, 2007, 06:59 PM report to moderator
Naria

Didn’t she say months ago that if she were to write anymore, it would be a mystery/crime novel? But in that interview, I’m pretty sure she said she’d write under another name.

Posted by Naria on August 19, 2007, 07:15 PM report to moderator
hermione

i agree with the prince and markc abouut the genres, but these book rnt really 4 kids, imagine a 10 yyear old reading the end of GOF its scary, intense, especially in OFTP and deathly hallows is not something i would want my kids to read till there a little older

Posted by hermione on August 19, 2007, 08:40 PM report to moderator
mare_car

i am very happy that she is finally doing something else then harry…seven books is perfectly long (maybe toooooo long).i am looking forward reading something other than HP

Posted by mare_car on August 19, 2007, 09:12 PM report to moderator
Anthony

It would be very awkward reading a Jo novel with no Harry, Hermione, or Ron! (Let alone any of the other amazing characters!) I just hope I would be able to read the novel without expectations of it having to live up to Potter’s legacy. In a way, I would almost feel as if I’m ditching Harry…I’m not ready to let go yet :(

Posted by Anthony on August 19, 2007, 09:25 PM report to moderator
kamion

Part of me still can’t believe that Harry Potter really is over…

Becky, Harry Potter is only over when you stop reading it and dump the books in a big crate at the nd hand bookshop.

and about the Rankin rumor…. a rumour is just a rumour till something solid is shown.

I think it’s highly unlikely that JKR can even sit undisturbed in a cafe, let alone write.

Posted by kamion on August 19, 2007, 10:11 PM report to moderator
kaylyn

i think that jo is an amazing writer and what ever she decides to write is ok with me lol. it would be cool too see a crime novel of her credibility of making a plot have a surprising twist or make everyone guessing .. just like snape.. i loved the ending with snape i balled after.. nice writting jo.

keep up writting,, ihope to see more of your work and i would like to know when the encylcopedia is comming out too

Posted by kaylyn on August 19, 2007, 10:39 PM report to moderator
Rose

Okay, did I totally miss something? This guy’s wife sees her writing in a cafe and that apparently means that she’s writing a crime novel? How on earth would his wife know what she’s writing? She could be writing a letter to her sister for all we know. Plus I think it’s pretty soon after DH to be writing. She said that she wanted a break. Not that I wouldn’t love for her to be writing a book already, but I don’t believe it until she says it herself.

Posted by Rose on August 19, 2007, 10:45 PM report to moderator
Libby

Well, as much as I think this rumor feels a little off, I have faith that Jo could create any kind of fantastic world she wanted with a brain like hers! :) I hope she has the amount of success she wants from whatever future book she gets published next!

Posted by Libby on August 19, 2007, 11:17 PM report to moderator
DXTiger

Well, first it’s not so “soon” after DH for her as it is for us. Remember she finished writing the book months and months ago.

Second- she can write whatever she wants. Lord knows she doesn’t need more money. I’m sure she will begin writing whenever she feels the urge again. Its what she does, after all- I don’t think we could expect her to stay away too long. So if she is writing again- it is because she is ready and it feel right to her. Childrens, adults, crime, whatever- I’m sure it will be great on its own merit.

That being said, I would not be surprised if she maybe initially published something under a different name so that it wasn’t constantly compared to HP and that it stands on its own merit and not the fame from HP. But we shall see.

Posted by DXTiger on August 19, 2007, 11:36 PM report to moderator
Maria

omg…omg…omg…omg…omg…omg!!!!!!!!!! _ More of Jo’s writing!!!!! I really want to see her adult novel because i’m really interested in what else she can write!!!!! I mean it doesn’t have to be crime novel I’ll read any of Jo’s books!!! I’m soooooo excited for her knew books to come out!!!! and for the encyclopedia!!!!! OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Maria on August 20, 2007, 12:11 AM report to moderator
amanda

I think that Joe will do great with whatever she decides to write lets face it she just knows how to do it…and I also would like to say to “corey” who was saying that Joe did a good job at plot-twist until deathly hallows I just feel like she just had to many “plot-twist” created from all the books to put an end to, to create any new ones…thats just my opinion….anyway way to go Joe …..I hope this rumor is true….......

Posted by amanda on August 20, 2007, 01:34 AM report to moderator
Carebie

I love brittish mysteries! I am completely addicted to Midsomer Murdres! I hope its true! if not oh well!

Posted by Carebie on August 20, 2007, 02:06 AM report to moderator
Carebie

*Murders…but you get the picture

Posted by Carebie on August 20, 2007, 02:06 AM report to moderator
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