The Leaky Cauldron - J.K. Rowling

JK Rowling Contributes to New Kids' Night In Three Book for Charity Due Out in October

Sat Jul 04 12:47:00 -0400 2009

Author J.K. Rowling has contributed a new piece to a book for charity that will be out in October of this year. As noted on the official website of author Jessica Adams, Jo has donated a piece that will be included in the new Kids' Night In Three. Jessica Adams writes:
<><>"Also on the charity book front we're really excited to have J.K.Rowling on board for Kids' Night In Three, which debuts in Oct...

Auction For One of Original Pencil Sketches Done for Harry Potter Time Magazine Cover

Wed Jul 01 17:06:00 -0400 2009

There is a new auction underway for a rare pencil sketch by Harry Potter artist Mary GrandPre for one of the three drawings she made to be used on the cover of Time Magazine in 1999. As seen here, Heritage Auction let us know this fabulous sketch is framed and signed by the artist on the lower left, and includes the following:

<>A handwritten note from Mary Grandpré attached to the back of this p...

PotterCast 198: Throw Down the Gnomes!

Wed Jul 01 00:25:00 -0400 2009

Recorded a few weeks ago shorty before the PotterCast 2009 Summer Tour, this episode of PotterCast, our Harry Potter podcast, features a heap of Harry Potter talk for your listening pleasure. Our 198th episode starts off discussion of our recent LeakyCon 2009 Harry Potter conference, including the ample supply of bacon, the fire alarms, LeakyCon videos from our Room 3248 friends, dancing on ...

JK Rowling and the Magic Flying Piggy Bank for Charity

Mon Jun 22 19:26:00 -0400 2009

J.K. Rowling contributed to a charity fundraiser auction that took place over the weekend in London that involved piggy banks. In writing that would no doubt make the Weasley Wheezes proud, Jo contributed a specially designed piggy bank, and The Daily Mail reports " etched a special message - 'Magic pigs can fly' - on the side of hers." This auction was in benefit of PiggyBankKids<>, a charit...

Suit Filed Against Bloomsbury Regarding "Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire;" Bloomsbury States Claim is "Without Merit"

Mon Jun 15 15:02:00 -0400 2009

Today the estate of late children's author Adrian Jacobs filed a suit against Bloomsbury Publishing citing copyright infringement involving Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. In a press release, the estate claims that <>"JK Rowling copied substantial parts of the work of the late Adrian Jacobs, The Adventures of Willy the Wizard-No 1 Livid Land, and that Bloomsbury in selling t...

JK Rowling Attends Raisa Gorbachev Fundraiser Gala Ball

Sat Jun 06 17:51:00 -0400 2009

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and her husband Dr. Neil Murray are attending the annual Raisa Gorbachev Gala Fundraiser Ball tonight in London, England. You can see photos of Jo wearing a gorgeous light blue evening gown via Getty here and here, and here via WENN
You can learn more about this charity event and the foundation here, as well as learn about the site of the ball, the historic Hampt...

Happy Birthday, Draco Malfoy

Fri Jun 05 14:00:00 -0400 2009

Today marks the birthday of one Draco Malfoy, as the calendar on Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling's website now indicates. Please join us in wishing this young man a happy birthday. Cheers to you, Draco.

J.K. Rowling and Emma Watson to Guest at Raisa Gorbachev Ball This Weekend?

Thu Jun 04 14:38:00 -0400 2009

Richard Kay's column in the Daily Mail today has word that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and actress Emma Watson are among the guests due to attend the annual Raisa Gorbachev gala fundraiser ball this weekend. The paper states that the fourth annual event will be "a fabulous Russian-themed midsummer ball at Hampton Court which will raise money for the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation. The charity ...

Scholastic Updates with New Harry Potter Through the Years Poster, Sorting Hat Quiz

Mon Jun 01 22:35:00 -0400 2009

Scholastic, the US publishers of the Harry Potter novels, have updated their website with a lovely new poster called "Celebrating Harry Through the Years." The poster, available for download via this link (PDF), features a montage of artwork by Mary GrandPre as well as photos of each of the seven books in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Also on the sit...

PotterCast 195: Edible to the Point of Delicious!

Sat May 16 11:00:00 -0400 2009

Today we have for you the 195th episode of PotterCast, our Harry Potter podcast, online for your listening pleasure. Sue's News kicks off this week with information about the July 7th release date for both the Half-Blood Prince Soundtrack and Deathly Hallows paperback, filming of Shell Cottage scenes in Wales, the LEGO J. K. Rowling, more casting rumors for the Deathly Hallows films, and a Po...

JK Rowling Continues Support for MS and other Charities

Mon May 11 09:15:00 -0400 2009

Scores of readers have emailed regarding new charity efforts from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

First Jo is lending her support to a young man from Glasgow, Scotland who is trying to raise awareness of the importance of Vitamin D in the battle against Multiple Sclerosis. Scottish TV let us know about video they have with this youngster who "has launched a campaign for pregnant women and ch...

Weasley Clock Ticks Closer to Becoming Reality

Sat May 09 21:03:00 -0400 2009

Those who desire a Muggle version of the Weasley family clock may not have much longer to wait for this type of technology to be available in their homes. The Times is reporting this evening that researchers at Microsoft have completed user trials for their Whereabouts Clock. As TLC reported back in 2007, the company had been testing this device which 'monitor[s] the movements of family memb...

Lego Mosaic J. K. Rowling Created at Legoland Windsor

Mon May 04 19:04:00 -0400 2009

The Telegraph is reporting tonight that author J. K. Rowling has been memorialized in a Lego mosaic at Legoland Windsor after a recent poll named the Harry Potter author as the "''ultimate hero" of the last ten years." The Lego-fied tribute to Ms Rowling contains 48,000 "white, yellow and grey bricks," and was constructed with the help of children this past bank holiday in the UK. General Man...

Leaky Lounge Book Club Reading Updates

Sun May 03 15:04:00 -0400 2009

Two of our Book Clubs hosted over on the Leaky Lounge forums have opened up readings of two new books starting today. First up, our Harry Potter Book Club has now started their reading of the forth novel in author J. K. Rowling's series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Secondly, Jo's Book Nook, home of our Non-Harry Potter book club, has chosen the Charles Dickens classic David Copperfie...

JK Rowling Writes Piece on U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown for Time Magazine

Fri May 01 16:14:00 -0400 2009

Time Magazine has released their annual list of the 100 Most Influential people in the world. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has written a piece about the number two man on the list, U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown. A long time friend of the Prime Minister, readers will recall J.K. Rowling was a recent guest at 10 Downing Street for a dinner held by Gordon and Sarah Brown for the spouses of ...