J.K. Rowling and the New Children’s Book

In an interview with BBC Radio 2 to discuss Robert Galbraith’s Career of Evil, Rowling said, “I have written part of a children’s book that I really love so there will be another children’s book and I have ideas for other adult books…”  when asked if she would ever write as J.K. Rowling again.  Several sources, including Time and USA Today, have latched onto this statement.  However, this is not the first time that Rowling has mentioned the book.

Scholastic did an interview with J.K. Rowling for the Harry Potter Reading Club in 2012.  In that discussion, Rowling said, “I think that the next thing that I publish is likely to be a book for children.”  Rowling then said that she knew “someone would seize on it and say, “She is definitely doing it!””

Here it is, three years later, and that is exactly what has happened.  Rowling also said in 2012, “So I try not to commit myself too much with my plans.”

Since that time, Rowling has been writing the Robert Galbraith books, a Harry Potter play, and the screenplays for the Fantastic Beasts films.  It is no wonder then that she says in the BBC Radio 2 interview, “I’m not going to give you an absolute date [for a new book], because things are busy enough.”

Is this the “political fairytale” she talked about right after finishing Potter? Or have things changed in the last few years, as they most commonly do (an encyclopedia became Pottermore, and the story line of Cursed Child became the 8th Harry Potter). We are all anxious for another children’s book by J.K. Rowling, but we also know that just like the Cursed Child play, it will come when the moment is right.

To listen to the entire BBC Radio 2 interview, see here; to watch the Scholastic interview, see here.