The two finalists in Amazon.com’s Beedle the Bard Ballad Writing Contest have been chosen after a week long voting period we told you about earlier where the public picked a top entry in the 13-17 age group and 18 and over categories. As we reported previously, the winner of this contest will receive a weekend with the handwritten tale by Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling in London, England. In the 13-17 year old category, 16-year-old Rhiannon D. from Australia was chosen along with Laura H. of Fresno, Calif., who was named the finalist in the 18 and older category. In the press release, Rhiannon said this of being picked as one of the two finalists:
“I’m so excited to have made it this far in the contest. I never imagined I’d be chosen as a finalist. Thank you, Amazon customers!”
Laura H. of the 18 and older group shared the enthusiasm and is quoted as saying:
“It’s a dream come true to be a finalist in this contest. I want to thank all the Amazon customers who voted for me. I couldn’t have made it this far without you.”
The final round of voting is open now and will run through May 19th. You can vote for the winner on Amazon.com at this link. Amazon.com will announce the winner on May 22nd.
As readers will remember, Amazon.com purchased this handwritten copy of “Tales of Beedle the Bard,” stories which were mentioned in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” at a charity auction earlier in the year. One of only seven in existence, until now only photos and short summaries have been revealed to the public. Amazon.com features further information and photos at this link.
Well I’m surprised at the finalists. I had others as my favorites, but I have now made my vote and best of luck to both contestants!. What an amazing experience this will be for the winner. I hope whoever wins will come on PotterCast to tell us all what it was like!
Posted by Ravenclaw from Glenn on May 14, 2008, 02:27 PM
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Hey, guys, I’m ‘Laura H.’ – the finalist in the 18+ category! I’m so incredibly excited, I can hardly sleep, or think about anything else, or get anything done throughout the day! Thank you so much to anyone who might have voted for me, in either round of voting. This was the first thing I’ve written that anyone other than a teacher or family member has read, so it really means a lot to me that people actually liked it! :-) I can’t believe I could actually get to read that book! If by some miracle I should win, I would love to come on PotterCast and share the experience with everyone. Thanks again, and best of luck to Rhiannon as well!
I’ve voted, but I’m not saying for who I voted! I liked both poems and I think you should choose the one you like best, don’t only vote for someone because they’re from Leaky!
Congrats to Laura! I voted for you even before I read these comments, so my vote was unbiased. The other submission was a little too cutesy for my taste. Good luck!
I have to admit I love both but I am a little biassed because the younger finalist is an Aussie, and we never get to win anything good :) But I haven’t voted yet. I’m going to sleep on it.
Hey Laura/Laurie, I live in Sacramento about 3 hours away from Fresno on Highway 99 (depending on how fast you drive). I can believe that someone from this close might get to go to London, read Beedle, and possibly be on Pottercast! Just cast my vote for you.
I participated in this competition. The thing is, I didn’t know that it was poetry they wanted. I just wrote my heart out. But who cares, the people who won deserve it. :]
What I wouldnt give to be in there shoes…