The Leaky Cauldron - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Happy First Birthday Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray!

Mon Jan 23 11:57:30 -0500 2006

Everyone, please join us as we send joyous Happy First Birthday wishes to Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray. The third child of our favorite author was born one year ago today, and readers will remember that Jo dedicated Half-Blood Prince to her newest little one, writing "To Mackenzie, my beautiful daughter, I dedicate her ink-and-paper twin. " Happy Birthday Mackenzie!

J.K. Rowling Romanian Visit and Interview to be Broadcast on TV, Internet

Mon Jan 23 10:56:09 -0500 2006

<>Previously, we told you that author J.K. Rowling would be visiting Romania to take part in a charity dinner as part of an effort to help raise funds and awareness of the plight of orphans in Eastern Europe. This visit is to take place this week, on January 25th and the 26th. HarryPotter.as.ro reports that there will be an interview conducted with our favorite author, and this interview will be ...

Spanish HBP Cover Published Online

Fri Jan 20 16:09:09 -0500 2006

The cover of the Spanish translation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince may now be viewed at HarryLatino.com. As we have reported, the book will be released on February 23, 2006.
Thanks, Pablo!

HBP Book Thief Sentenced to Prison Term

Thu Jan 19 09:10:17 -0500 2006

<>In June of last year, we reported on the case of two men, who stole early copies of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and then tried to sell them to the tabloids. These men were later caught and arrested. Today, one of the men involved was sentenced to four - and -a half years in jail for his involvement in the scheme. The BBC reports that" Aaron Lambert, 20, of Kettering, admits threaten...

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to be Released in Paperback July 25 in US, Canada

Wed Jan 18 11:04:15 -0500 2006

<>Scholastic, the American publishers of Harry Potter, announced this morning, in a release sent to TLC, that the American edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will come out in paperback on July 25, 2006. This 2 million-book print run will bring the total number of all six Harry Potter books in print in the U.S. to over 120 million. HP books are now available in 63 countries; there a...

Jim Dale Named Children's Audiobook Narrator of the Year

Wed Jan 11 21:14:20 -0500 2006

<>Publisher's Weekly has named Jim Dale, narrator of the US Harry Potter audiobooks, Children's Audiobook Narrator of the Year. In a short question and answer article in that publication's January 2 issue, Mr. Dale discusses winning a GRAMMY award, what he most enjoys about recording audiobooks, and several of his upcoming projects, including his return to Broadway in the New York Roundabout's pr...

Signed Copy of HBP Goes for £4500 on eBay

Sun Jan 08 20:13:19 -0500 2006

We told you about the autographed copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that J.K. Rowling donated to be auctioned for the charity Peace Hospice. The auction closed today, and the winning bid was £4500 -- that's $7,965.45 according to today's exchange rate. Congratulations to the winner, and thanks to Neil for the tip!

Happy Birthday, Severus Snape

Sun Jan 08 19:03:27 -0500 2006

Well, after the events of Half-Blood Prince, it surely is hard to write this, but the calendar on JKRowling.com has been updated to wish a Happy Birthday to Severus Snape. Hiss! ;)

HBP Tops Best-Seller List for 2005

Fri Jan 06 21:01:04 -0500 2006

Reuters is reporting that, according to industry sales tracker Nielsen BookScan, more copies of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince were sold the first day it was out than any other book sold in the country in all of 2005. According to sales figures released on Friday, 4.1 million copies of HBP were sold in the United States on day one; 7.02 million copies were sold for the full year.

A Sneak at Italian Harry Book Cover

Thu Jan 05 13:44:43 -0500 2006

Reader Mariano has sent us what appears to be the Italian cover art for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; you can see the whole thing here He has also given us a loose translation of the back text, which is this quote from HBP (which is from the English editions, not a translated Italian one):

<>""Oh, come on, Harry," said Hermione, suddenly impatient. "It's not Quidditch that's popular, it'...

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" Wins Oppenheim Award

Wed Jan 04 12:45:51 -0500 2006

We know this news is slow in coming but The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2006 Platinum Awards were announced and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was named as one of the best books for children in the" Early School Years" category. The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio is an independent revue of children's toys, books, music and dvds.

Followup: JKR Signed HBP Book on Ebay for Charity

Wed Jan 04 10:22:47 -0500 2006

<>A few days ago we told you that author J.K. Rowling had donated a specially signed copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to be auctioned off for the charity Peace Hospice in the UK. The bidding has now started on Ebay, which you can see via this link. This is an autographed first edition of the UK version of Half Blood Prince, and all proceeds from this sale will go toward the charity....

Ask Arthur Levine Your Questions

Tue Jan 03 08:25:15 -0500 2006

<>As mentioned on a previous PotterCast, on Jan. 12 TLC will interview Arthur Levine, co-editor of the Harry Potter books and publisher of the Scholastic (American) edition, and we just can't wait. Part of the interview will consist of fan questions, so if you have one, call (in the U.S.) 1.702.42.LEAKY (1.702.425.3259) or (in the U.K.) +020.7193.2872 and leave us a voice mail. You can also Skype...

Buona Festa! The Italian Edition of HBP arrives Jan. 6

Mon Jan 02 14:25:29 -0500 2006

<>The Italian edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince goes on sale at midnight on January 5. January 6 is the La Befana holiday in Italy where legend has it that the "Befana" or an old woman with a broom, goes and delivers presents to children. The Italian publishers of the Potter books, Salani, are hoping the children will be wanting the new HBP book as a gift, as they have reportedly ...

One New Year's Eve in an Orphanage in London...

Sat Dec 31 14:17:03 -0500 2005

<>...some 79 years ago, a boy named Tom Marvolo Riddle was born.
This year we learned in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince more about the cirmcumstances of the birth of the boy who would become known as Lord Voldemort. While we at Leaky do not wish him particular happiness this day, for he has wrought nothing but death, destruction, and unhappiness in his time here amoung us, we do mark this ...