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Excerpt from New J.K. Rowling Foreword to "Harry, A History" Now Online

J.K. Rowling
Posted by: Sue
August 26, 2008, 05:56 PM

Today, the Telegraph has a preview piece featuring an excerpt from the foreword that J.K. Rowling wrote for the upcoming book, Harry, A History by TLC's own Melissa Anelli. The piece focuses on how J.K. Rowling "finally cracked," she said, in 2002, and "Googled Harry Potter."

"I had already heard of 'The Leaky Cauldron'; it was one of the biggest and most popular Harry Potter sites on the net, and I had been told about a couple of great things they had done....But I had never seen it for myself, never realised exactly what went on there. I sat and read editorials, predictions, theories that ranged from strange to wild to perfectly accurate. I was, frankly, stunned - and I remain stunned."
The article also points out how J.K. Rowling says in the foreword that the book has filled in "an enormous number of blanks," and that:
"At long last I understand what was going on while I was holed up writing, trying to filter my exposure to Potter-hysteria...a great chunk of my own life has been explained to me. Melissa has filled in an enormous number of blanks. Reading the book you now have in your hands has been an astonishing experience for me. It is as though I have, at last, achieved the ambition I held for years: To go along to a bookshop at midnight on Harry Potter publication night, in disguise, and simply watch and listen."
Harry, A History, due out November 4, 2008, also features an extensive interview with J.K. Rowling and her editors, publishers, agents and more, as well as interviews with fans, booksellers and a lot more. The official Web site for the book is here; extra bits of canon from the extensive Jo interview are being posted on it intermittently (read about Hedwig's potential other fate), along with pictures of and thoughts about the Harry Potter phenomenon, and an entry with more information about the foreword, and how it came about may be found here. Amazon.com also features a download of an excerpt of the foreword on the page listing. If you would like, you can also become a fan of the book on Facebook, here.

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91 Comments

sanya

yes! at last someyhing to look forward to! good going. FIRST COMMENT

Posted by sanya on August 26, 2008, 06:06 PM report to moderator
Alexis

COOL!!! First to comment! Sorry, I’ll post again in a moment. Hehe!

Posted by Alexis on August 26, 2008, 06:06 PM report to moderator
SANYA

SORRY MISPELLED”SOMETHING”

Posted by SANYA on August 26, 2008, 06:08 PM report to moderator
Alexis

Dangit! How did you beat me?

Posted by Alexis on August 26, 2008, 06:08 PM report to moderator
liv

wow! i cant wait for the book! congrats again melissa!

Posted by liv on August 26, 2008, 06:08 PM report to moderator
Alexis

Cool! I’ll look forward to that.

Posted by Alexis on August 26, 2008, 06:09 PM report to moderator
SANYA

I AM A BIT TOO QUICK

Posted by SANYA on August 26, 2008, 06:11 PM report to moderator
Carol Carvalho

Wow! I can not imagine how Melissa feels about all that! It must be beyond words to explain! Congratulations Melissa, once again!

I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! :P

Posted by Carol Carvalho on August 26, 2008, 06:15 PM report to moderator
SANYA

LET’S HOPE THIS DATE DOES’NT CHANGE AS IT HAPPENED WITH HBP

Posted by SANYA on August 26, 2008, 06:18 PM report to moderator
Jordan

I can only speak for myself but as each day goes by, I get more and more excited for “Harry, A History”. It really brings this whole fandom experience full circle for me.

It started with a book by an author we fans have come to love and now we have a book by a fan that our author has come to love.

Congrats, Melissa!

Posted by Jordan on August 26, 2008, 06:19 PM report to moderator
Carebie

Congrats to Melissa, I can’t imagine how you feel to have a forward by miss JKR herself. That is just so awesome!

Posted by Carebie on August 26, 2008, 06:21 PM report to moderator
Cara

Congratulations Melissa on the great Press exposure, you must be so pleased!

Posted by Cara on August 26, 2008, 06:22 PM report to moderator
beckett

Melissa Anelli. Did I ever tell you you’re my hero?

I’m so excited for this book. This is what I love about HP. While the movie got pushed (which okay yeah was a bummer I’m over it, because they’ll go back to work on it and make it even better and fine tune it even more) we still have novels to look forward to. Beetle the Bard, the Scottish book and of course, Harry A History.

I love that.

Posted by beckett on August 26, 2008, 06:25 PM report to moderator
Carly

Melissa,

I’m really looking forward to your book! I’m very excited to read your thoughts, and I’ve always been fascinated to learn more about the Harry Potter fan phenomenon.

Posted by Carly on August 26, 2008, 06:30 PM report to moderator
margoooo

Wow, Melissa! That’s so fantastic! I can’t imagine a better person to tell the fans’ story than you.

Posted by margoooo on August 26, 2008, 06:33 PM report to moderator
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