Big News! JKR Writes New Harry Potter Prequel for Charity Auction

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Big News! JKR Writes New Harry Potter Prequel for Charity Auction

Books

Posted by: Sue

May 28, 2008, 11:48 PM

Hang on everyone, as there is some rather big news tonight regarding that notecard that J.K. Rowling has written for a charity auction in June. MSNBC is reporting tonight that the note card is actually “an 800-word Harry Potter prequel.” The only other information on this new material regarding the beloved Harry Potter series is that “Rowling used both sides of her card to hand-write a prequel to her seven-book Harry Potter saga.”

The report goes on to say “Organizers refused to comment on the content of Rowling’s Harry Potter prequel, but Hogwarts fans hoping for another book to add to their collection may be disappointed by her signoff.

“From the prequel I am not working on — but that was fun!’’ Rowling wrote.

Rowling has previously said she had no plans to write another Potter novel, but in December she sold a handwritten, leather-bound book of fairy tales she described as drawing on the series’ themes, for nearly $4 million at auction. The money went to The Children’s Voice, a charity Rowling co-founded in 2005.”

As a reminder, this card is part of a charity auction to be held at Waterstone’s Book seller in London, England June 10, proceeds to benefit English PEN and Dyslexia Action. As we reported previously, the card, along with ones from the 12 other authors who contributed to the charity auction, will be published in a book due on sale in August, with the cards also to be posted online JUNE 11, including this new Harry Potter prequel from J.K. Rowling. The Telegraph cites Gerry Johnson, the managing director of Waterstone’s as saying: “We never dreamed that JK Rowling would donate something so precious, and we’re incredibly grateful.” Fans unable to meet the bidding price for the prequel need not fret, however. The day after the auction, a facsimile of the story will be displayed in Waterstone’s branches and on its website. “

Update: Be sure to post your thoughts in this new poll here in our forum regarding what you hope for in this new prequel.

Note: Due to some unfortunate technical glitches, part of this article and none of the comments were showing when this was first posted. While this editor suspects Nargles, we do apologize for the inconvenience.

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166 Comments

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Never mind….apparently…from the comments…it will be available later. Still, I wish it was a bit bigger…may in encyclopeadic format… :)

Posted by Hedwig on May 29, 2008, 01:18 AM report to moderator

Wow that is so cool! Maybe whoever buys it at the auction will give us a summary of whats on the notecard like Amazon did with “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”. I hope so.

Posted by snitchseeker101 on May 29, 2008, 01:21 AM report to moderator

This actually makes me mad. Those of us who aren’t rich have no hope of reading it. Couldn’t she have it printed or posted online let all of us who want to read it pay 20 dollars and donate that to charity. That way we would all have a chance and money could still be raised. Then maybe those who are less fortunate can also read about the series they love? Don’t get me wrong this is a good thing she is doing but I know all of us who aren’t rich would love to read it to. Or maybe sell chances to raffle and draw a winner.

Posted by Jessica on May 29, 2008, 01:23 AM report to moderator

First comments! Woot!

By the way, Melissa, please photocopy this for us when you get to read it.

Posted by ChrisDotsonTLC on May 29, 2008, 01:24 AM report to moderator

o crap the last 2 paragraphs didn’t show up til i posted a comment. hmmm…

Posted by snitchseeker101 on May 29, 2008, 01:24 AM report to moderator

I love reading the comments from the people who are like “Rowling is sooooo greedy, why can’t she make it available to all of us, it’s NOT FAIR!11” - when Sue has written above that not only will all of the index cards (including Jo’s) be collected in a book that you CAN buy for charity, but on June 11 all of the cards will evidently be posted - FOR FREE—on Waterstone’s web site!

Oh, and PPPBBBTT!! to all of you posting “FIRST POST!!!” like a total n00b. You’re about 100 posts too late, but no one would care at all even if you were the first.

Posted by Cranky!Bandersnatch on May 29, 2008, 01:28 AM report to moderator

To echo several people we know: SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by rotfang07 on May 29, 2008, 01:31 AM report to moderator

Jessica, I agree. What about us normal folk who don’t have the million$? JKR, please make another little book and it will raise more when millions of people buy it!

Posted by Felipe on May 29, 2008, 01:33 AM report to moderator

And wow, aren’t people who post inadvertent strike-outs so freakin’ lame? Like that guy above me… er, wait a minute…

::hangs head::

Posted by Cranky!Bandersnatch on May 29, 2008, 01:33 AM report to moderator

omg. GAH i wanna read it sooo bad!!

Posted by Kristina on May 29, 2008, 01:34 AM report to moderator

Wow, that’s awesome! I hope we get to read it at some point but of course it’s great that it goes to charity first. :) Jo’s so awesome with the things she does to help out.

Posted by gw4 on May 29, 2008, 01:36 AM report to moderator

OMGOSH. First to comment! Omgosh. I’m excited. AHH!! sdklfjsdklfjsdklfjskldfsdfsdf

WOOH! I love you Jo Rowling :D

Posted by JUSTINN on May 29, 2008, 01:39 AM report to moderator

HEADS UP: When you go to the comments link for this piece of news it’s all screwed up… It says 0 comments and the news article is different.

So now I read it will be available to the public, so I am relieved, but I still ask that Jo writes another companion book NOT NOVEL, for charity, that we can all buy and treasure, while we enjoy HP and contribute to a charitable cause. Pretty pretty PLEEEEASE? :)

Posted by Felipe on May 29, 2008, 01:40 AM report to moderator

Oh.. my.. God. That’d be so cool to read.

Posted by Crystal on May 29, 2008, 01:41 AM report to moderator

(And sorry, Felipe, by “that guy above me,” I meant me, not you.)

Posted by Cranky!Bandersnatch on May 29, 2008, 01:42 AM report to moderator