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DECEMBER 27, 2005 at 2:35 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
Editor's Note: This was a commentary (opinion piece) published in 2005. The official release date for book 7 has now been announced (and I was only two weeks off!). You can pre-order it now as well.
Harry Potter 7 will be released July 7, 2007.
At least, it should be. While this date has no doubt already crossed the minds of many fans, JK Rowling's recent revelation that "2006 will be the year" she writes the final book lends itself entirely to this theory.
That, and it is the biggest stroke of magical marketing luck so far this century. The book simply can't not be released on 07/07/07. It's too perfect.
It just so happens that July 7, 2007 is a Saturday. It just so happens that every Potter book since Goblet of Fire has been released on a Saturday (presumably to allow kids and their parents to attend those midnight release parties without undue hardship). It just so happens that July 7 falls right in the traditional June-July release window during which the other books were released. (Finally, while less relevant but still interesting, 12:00 a.m. on Saturday will be 7 p.m. Friday in the U.S., where the most Potter books have been sold to date. Fans on the east coast, already lined up to buy their copies, will see book 7 released across the pond at 7 p.m. local time - what a coincidence.)
Rowling has hinted at the significance of the number 7
, most recently in August when her official site's Wizard of the Month was an arithmancer who discovered the number's magical properties. In Half-Blood Prince, it was revealed that Lord Voldemort had made seven horcruxes (himself included). Quidditch teams have seven players each. Gryffindor Tower's entrance is on the seventh floor at Hogwarts. The list goes on and on.
I can see it now: the biggest marketing campaign in the history of publishing, with one very short, very simple, very effective message: Book 7. 07/07/07. Woe betide the marketing departments at Bloomsbury and Scholastic if they don't clinch what's obviously the most perfect storm of circumstance, desire, product and marketing the world may ever know.
Not that the book needs to be released on any specific date, though. As one of the planet's most successful authors, Rowling probably has the luxury of turning in a manuscript no sooner than when she sees fit. Fans will line up when told to. And it's up to her editors and publishers to polish, prepare and print it. One last consideration, from a business standpoint, is to ask if it makes sense to bump up against the next movie's release (and Order of the Phoenix will be in theatres July 13, 2007). Unfortunately, July 7 will also be the two-year anniversary of the London terrorist bombings (thanks to a reader for pointing that out).
No true fan would begrudge Jo for taking her time. But I must wonder if she also feels this coincidental "aligning of the fates" is something special, something magical, something to take advantage of. As a fan, I can only hope she does.
I also hope Jo doesn't find this speculation absurdly presumptuous. I hope she realizes it's our duty to poke and prod and ask and beg and whine and plead. How would that be any different from the last five years?
We certainly wouldn't want to disappoint her.
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Head Girl
Points: 463
houses_unite says:
I think it would be absolutly awesome if Jk released the book on 07/07/07. I think that it would finish the whole series off cleanly somehow. anyways i think this is a really good theory.
Posted Feb 20, 2006 at 11:02 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 418
shimmeraei says:
yeah...there's nothing you can say otherwise. It's fate, it's...it's something.
Posted Feb 22, 2006 at 10:22 AM EST
Witch
Points: 680
Quidditch_Chaser_USA says:
That would be freaking awesome. But I'll be living in England by that date...and won't get the American copy 'till later...I'll be super bummed. Who knows I may fly back to be with my HP driven freaks so we can all celebrate together...yay!? Peace.
Posted Feb 22, 2006 at 12:04 PM EST
Squib
Points: 161
Moriarty says:
There are no such things as coincidences. It's just too perfect for her not to.
Posted Feb 22, 2006 at 2:31 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 10
Mrs.All_That says:
Harry Potter is so hot i got his E-mail so i can e-mail him every day!
Posted Feb 22, 2006 at 3:48 PM EST
Witch
Points: 739
Morgan Evans says:
That would be so freaking amazing!! I mean the books have been my favourite birthday present every year (being that my b-day is in the middle of july) and if she does confirm the date, I will be totally ecstatic!!
I mean this is soooo cool cause my birthday is on 07/17/07!! I won't be 17, I'll be 18, but it's still really cool!!
I hope she says it's true!!
Posted Feb 22, 2006 at 4:27 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 11
the guy says:
Wow all I have to say is: 7 I can´t wait that much.
7 7
Posted Feb 22, 2006 at 9:06 PM EST
Student
Points: 247
Tabby Kat says:
I really do not want to wait that long, but that would be a great way to release the book.
Posted Feb 24, 2006 at 10:22 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 447
RinnyluvsNeville says:
oh my god i cant wait oh my god oh my god oh my god i could hyperventilate at any moment i cant wait until july 7 th 2007 why not 2006 please jk put us out of our misery please. we love ya we love ya
Rinny
Posted Feb 24, 2006 at 11:36 PM EST
Squib
Points: 171
toms_lilangel says:
J.K. Rowling is done with boook seven, but her contract with her publishers wont allow the books to be sold untill about a year between every book, but dang, i want to read it now!!!
Posted Feb 25, 2006 at 2:23 AM EST
Head
Points: 401
bristish_sunshine=creepy says:
Ha! that is funny, but six has always been my lucy number.
Posted Feb 26, 2006 at 4:23 AM EST
Son of Harry & Ginny
Points: 8979
Albus S. Potter says:
Well, I think it would be really cool to have the Seventh book released on 07/07/07, but I hope it comes out a lot sooner.
Posted Feb 26, 2006 at 7:35 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 358
Dave1988 says:
Sweet Cant wait for this Book To Come out Im So Excited I Don't really want to wait that Long But its all part of the Suspense Cant wait to Buy it
Posted Feb 27, 2006 at 1:30 PM EST
Harry's Lost Brother
Points: 10058
American Harry Potter says:
Book seven, released on the seventh day of the seventh month, in the year '07. . . sounds like a plan to me!!!! I think that would work out great!!!
Posted Feb 27, 2006 at 2:03 PM EST
Squib
Points: 116
pand0ra_pr0ductions says:
waiting until next year would be worth it just to read it so I guess i can wait. it would be really cool though if it was released on 7/7/07. i wonder what the significance of it really is. oh well, can't wait!
Posted Feb 27, 2006 at 6:55 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1229
sapphire260 says:
Boo Hoo I don't know if I can wait that long, OVER A YEAR, what are they thinking?? I can't believe their making me wait.....
Posted Mar 1, 2006 at 7:32 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 40
HP_AnGeL_HP says:
I would love it if book 7 came out 7/7/07 that would be such a good way to go out for JK! It's perfect! But that's a problem: I CAN'T WAIT so LONG!!!
Posted Mar 4, 2006 at 7:40 AM EST
Squib
Points: 133
kalablack14 says:
however this has not been confirmed but we can look at this nice bit of information: it has not been denied either. And anyway Mrs. J. K. Rowling absoutly has to go out with a bang I mean after all this is THE LAST BOOK wether we want it to be or not it deserves to go down in history as one of the most thought about seris ever if Mrs. J. K. Rowling does read this site and just happens to stumbble upon the musings of a 14 year old girl Could you please consider this release date you have no idea what this would mean to all your fans. so sorry for boring you with my long peice I am after all only 14 and a hard core fan
Posted Mar 4, 2006 at 9:08 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1229
sapphire260 says:
That's not to good. I was hoping it would come out very late this year or very early next year!! Maybe she'll write a little faster, who knows!!
Posted Mar 5, 2006 at 9:30 AM EST
Harry's Lost Brother
Points: 10058
American Harry Potter says:
I'm starting to think that this book really will be release on July 7, 2007, but it's too perfect!
Posted Mar 5, 2006 at 10:09 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 37
Blank The Difter says:
Hey this is kind of creepy 07/07/07 because 7 being the most power number in the wizarding world.
Posted Mar 5, 2006 at 3:24 PM EST
Wino Forever
Points: 8174
true half-blood prince says:
I hope it comes out earlier than that. That's a good year and a half away from now. I find that when I'm waiting for something it takes longer and longer for that time to come.
Posted Mar 5, 2006 at 6:24 PM EST
Student
Points: 296
h.p. says:
07/07/07 Is a perfect date! Yes, i wish it came out sooner, but if i had read it this year then there won't be any more Harry Potter books for us to ponder on. Which is sad. I wish the series would continue on as long as she lives.
Posted Mar 6, 2006 at 1:01 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 40
HP_AnGeL_HP says:
Yeah, I agree with h.p.: that will be sad because it will be the last book! :(
Posted Mar 7, 2006 at 3:13 PM EST
Overqualified Jester
Points: 2783
jurassicfatt says:
If it is true and JKR releases the seventh book on July 7, 2007, then it is also true that the midnight release parties will start on my 25th birthday. How sweet is that? That's really sweet.
Posted Mar 8, 2006 at 1:44 PM EST
Squib
Points: 171
Cheyanne Granger says:
That would be so cool if the book did come out on 07/07/07. We have all been waiting so long that I don't think I could stand to wait much longer than that.
Posted Mar 9, 2006 at 8:52 AM EST
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