The Leaky Cauldron - J.K. Rowling

Edinburgh Evening News Begins "Beedle the Bard" Contest

Thu Nov 06 16:40:00 -0500 2008

Previously we told you that there were to be several contests held to win the chance to attend the special tea party held by J.K. Rowling for the release of The Tales of Beedle the Bard next month. One such contest is from The Edinburgh Evening News, which launched this event last night. Their contest will give the opportunity for ten schools in the Edinburgh area to receive invitations to atte...

USA Today Features "Harry, A History" by Melissa Anelli

Tue Nov 04 22:57:00 -0500 2008

Today, Harry, A History, the new book about the Harry Potter phenomenon written by TLC webmistress Melissa Anelli, has officially been released. As such, the USA Today newspaper takes a closer look at the book, with an article that also contains new comments from Melissa who says that the world of Harry Potter "is so pleasant to spend time in," and the world of the online fandom such as we h...

PotterCast 171: This is Halloween

Fri Oct 31 01:02:00 -0400 2008

<>First, have you checked out and subscribed to PotterCast's new daily vlogs? Second:: As Halloween is now upon us, we have a treat for you in the form of a brand new episode of PotterCast, our Harry Potter podcast. Our 171st episode kicks off with Sue's News, which includes Scholastic's interviews with a few key people behind the Harry Potter novels, more theme park rumors, a marketing professo...

Harry Potter, a Top USA Today Best Seller Over Last 15 Years

Thu Oct 30 17:16:00 -0400 2008

USA Today is marking 15 years of their Best Selling Books List, and the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling hold seven of the top nine spots. With Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone coming in at number one, two other books (Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, and The Da Vinci Code) outsold the remaining novels in the series. The fourth spot on the USA Today list seen here is held by <>Harry Potte...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Nominated for Independent Bookseller Award

Wed Oct 29 14:19:00 -0400 2008

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has been nominated for the Independent Bookseller Book Prize in the Children's book category. The Times reports the winner of this award, "given to the writer of the book most enjoyed by customers of specialist bookshops across the UK," will be announced on Friday.

Along with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, other books nominated include...

Court Refuses to Hear Appeal on J.K. Rowling Photo Privacy Case

Tue Oct 28 10:14:00 -0400 2008

A court in the UK has refused to hear an appeal filed by Big Pictures LTD in regards to a case involving a photo of the young child of author J.K. Rowling. The Harry Potter author and her husband Dr. Neil Murray had won an appeal in May of the case they brought seeking to protect the privacy of their children, in specific photos of their young son that were published in a UK paper several years...

JKRowling.com Updated with News on "Beedle the Bard" Launch

Tue Oct 28 08:26:00 -0400 2008

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has updated her website this morning with a news entry on the launch of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Jo writes of the special tea party which will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland December 4, reminding us of the various contests being held to attend the event, as well as noting one of the original handwritten books she gave as gifts after the completion of "Death...

Sorting for "Prisoner of Azkaban" Reading Groups Now Open

Wed Oct 22 15:56:00 -0400 2008

The doors of our very own Lily and Stag Inn are now open once again for sorting into our latest Reading Group discussions. The third book, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," has been chosen to be read in our small, family-like reading groups. Our Lily and Stag Inn features a unique atmosphere for reading the Harry Potter novels, with focus dissecting the book chapter by chapter and l...

"The Tales of Beedle the Bard" to be Published in Braille, 23 Foreign Language editions

Wed Oct 22 13:05:00 -0400 2008

A quick update today regarding the upcoming publication of the new book from J.K. Rowling. As noted by the Bookseller and now seen on the Children's High Level website, a press release indicates that The Tales of Beedle the Bard will be published in Braille "produced in partnership with RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) in the UK and the National Braille Press in the USA." In addi...

Marketing Professor: Only Hufflepuffs Totally Loyal to Harry

Mon Oct 20 16:33:00 -0400 2008

The Telegraph is reporting tonight that a professor in the UK has done a study on readers of the Harry Potter novels, with the findings apparently revealing there are four distinct type of readers. According to the report, Professor Stephen Brown of the Ulster Business School says the groups closely mirror the Houses of Hogwarts, and indicates the breakdown of the groups as follows:
<> <>'Huf...

Original "Beedle the Bard" On Display Here in New York City in December

Mon Oct 20 10:24:00 -0400 2008

With the news of a special party in Scotland for the release of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and the contests to win a trip to this event, comes word now that one of the seven original handwritten copies of the book will be on display to the public here in New York City in December. Scholastic has announced that Arthur Levine, editor of the US editions of the Harry Potter novels, was one of t...

Scholastic Announces Children's Essay Contest to Win Trip to "Beedle the Bard" Release Party

Mon Oct 20 10:12:00 -0400 2008

As a follow to what we first reported below, Scholastic, the US publishers of the Harry Potter novels, have now formally announced a Children's Essay Contest to win a trip to Scotland for the release of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. This contest, open to children ages 8-17 and begins today, requires the entrant to write a "an essay of 200 words or less describing how they have helped others. B...

J.K. Rowling to Host Party in Scotland for Release of "Beedle the Bard"

Mon Oct 20 07:43:00 -0400 2008

The Scotsman is reporting today that Harry Potter author will be holding a tea party at the National Library of Scotland for the release of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. This special book, proceeds to benefit the Children's High Level Group charity, will be released on December 4, and "ten local schools will be asked to bring 20 pupils, aged between eight and 11, to the party." The paper repor...

"Half-Blood Prince," "Deathly Hallows" Amazon UK Top Sellers of All Time

Tue Oct 07 11:16:00 -0400 2008

<>Amazon is celebrating ten years of online retailing this year, and as such, Amazon.co.uk has released a list of the top-selling books over this period. The Bookseller reports that the two top spots for the UK branch of the retailer are held by books from author J.K. Rowling: Number one goes to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, followed at number two by <>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows...

UK Harry Potter Audio Book Ad Campaigns and Photos Now Online

Fri Oct 03 02:56:00 -0400 2008

Hoop Associates, a company based in the UK, has posted online a host of behind the scenes marketing and photo shoots used in the marketing of the Harry Potter audio books. At this link, you can see many new rare behind the scenes photos of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, along with narrator Stephen Fry as the prepare the imagery used in the marketing of the audio books. UPDATE These are now a...