The Pottermore Insider is reporting that the second Pottermore House Cup will be given out sometime in November: We’re excited to announce that the next Pottermore House Cup will be awarded in November. The exact date will be confirmed nearer the time, and in the run up to the award, it’s time to unite and …read more!

USAToday has a new article up discussing the promotion and expectations for J. K. Rowling’s upcoming book The Casual Vacancy. Regarding the promotion, many book-sellers have commented on how “low-key” it is when compared to the promotion for Harry Potter: “I’ve been in the dark,” says bookseller Kathryn Fabiani, head buyer at R.J. Julia Booksellers …read more!

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that author J. K. Rowling will come stateside October 16th for a one-time-US event at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City to participate in a conversation about her new novel for adults, The Casual Vacancy. They report: J.K. Rowling will be making a rare public …read more!

The Pottermore Insider is reporting that e-books of “Quidditch Through the Ages” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” are now available at the Pottermore Shop: The Pottermore Shop has added two new and exciting texts to the Harry Potter eBook collection ’ Quidditch through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find …read more!

BBC News is reporting that J.K. Rowling will appear at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on October 6, 2012 to talk about her first adult novel, The Casual Vacancy, and sign copies of the book afterward. The talk with Ms. Rowling will be moderated by documentary film-maker James Runcie. She will sign copies of The Casual …read more!

Foreign publishers will not receive a copy of the manuscript for The Casual Vacancy until the book is published in English on September 27th. France and Germany have received advanced copies but countries viewed at a high risk for piracy, including Finland, Italy and Slovenia, have not, meaning they will have to rush the translation, …read more!

Scholastic today announced a Fan Q&A with J.K. Rowling that will take place on the 11th of October at 12 noon ET and 5pm GMT. You can find out more information here on the Scholastic website for the newly launched Harry Potter Book Club! Scholastic promises new commentary on the series from J.K. Rowling at …read more!

As previously reported, author J.K. Rowling played a special role during the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony. As part of a segment celebrating British children’s literature, Ms. Rowling read a selection from J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan.” A video of her appearance at the ceremony can be seen here, via BuzzFeed. The ceremony also included a …read more!

Yesterday, the Pottermore team added Badges as a new way for users to experience the site. The Pottermore Insider reports: Badges are a new, fun and rewarding addition, which we hope students will enjoy acquiring as they explore Pottermore. Currently, three Pottermore Badges are available ’ the Explorer, Discoverer and Scarlet Engine. More Badges will …read more!

The first four chapters of “Chamber of Secrets” are now open to all Pottermore users. Pottermore Insider reports: There’s plenty to discover and enjoy. Read more exclusive writing from J.K. Rowling; view The Burrow for the first time and de-gnome the garden. Collect your second-year shopping list, find more Galleons and visit Diagon Alley, where …read more!