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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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Squib
Points: 105
sirius'_gurl777 says:
|0| 7 is my favourite number too, but mainly cause Andrew Johns is number 7 (laughs) umm...how many days is it left? i dunno...but im kinda scared...what are we gonna do once HP is over? What have we got left to look forward to? no more HP adventures thats for sure...:'(
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 5:51 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 302
Regulus Alphard Black says:
Unfortunately, because of the movie being released the thirteenth, I highly doubt that the book would be released that same summer. Then again, it would give Jo more time to write!! :)
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 6:43 PM EST
Witch
Points: 537
lizzidi says:
That would be glorious! I don't know if the book can be released right up on the movie, but I know I'd be thrilled to see it next July!
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 5:32 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 8
meismeandthatsthat says:
hey i hope it comes on the 07/07/07 it looks lyk a good d8 to relase the book as i will probably be free and able to go to scotland for the releasing... :D
Posted Apr 12, 2006 at 5:22 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 5
ThunderlorD says:
The date is really good but I can't wait that long.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:03 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 67
mechnic says:
Like I said, the cooincidences are there to pull you all away from the actuall plot.
Posted Apr 15, 2006 at 2:34 PM EST
Squib
Points: 166
Aeris Ogden says:
I hope it's true, because that's neat all the sevens, but then how can I wait that long? I can't wait until 2007 to see if Snape is really evil or not!!
Posted Apr 15, 2006 at 4:50 PM EST
Squib
Points: 159
harryfan890 says:
Who cares if the number seven is remricably it is just too far away. This book better be a thick one like 1000 pages.
Posted Apr 15, 2006 at 10:04 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 16
pala says:
Wow number 7 is a magical number.
Posted Apr 16, 2006 at 2:16 AM EST
Witch
Points: 894
darkside rocker says:
Wow I can not wait that is one day befour my friend's b-day.
Posted Apr 16, 2006 at 12:30 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 711
Crookshanks the Auror says:
That would be so neat if that is when it was released.
But the fifth movie is supposed to come out on July 13th.
Posted Apr 17, 2006 at 6:31 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 71
*Jewel* says:
That would be great!!! Just think about it, Book 7 comes out on 07/07/07, you go to the book store and wait up half the night to get it, go home to start reading. Once you're finished reading it through 1,2,3, maybe 4 times (hey, it could be done!), Order of the Pheonix is in theatres on 07/13/07, and you get to sit through it a couple of times.
WHO CAN THINK OF A MORE WONDERFUL WAY TO SPEND THAT PARTICULAR WEEK!!!!
Posted Apr 18, 2006 at 12:31 AM EST
Student
Points: 228
Jlgrigsby says:
Im really excited about the new book! I cant wait!
Posted Apr 18, 2006 at 8:29 AM EST
Student
Points: 228
Jlgrigsby says:
Way Cool, I cant wait! I love Harry Potter!
Posted Apr 18, 2006 at 8:33 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 5
earcoqui says:
And what about the spanish edition?? Are we, spanish speakers going to wait a longer time, may be seven months more???
Posted Apr 19, 2006 at 2:30 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 25
ethel says:
I am going to search the internet to find tickers to count the days. I found on a while ago to celebrate my birthday, but i cant remember the site...*thinks hard* It had "ticker" in the name... off to google my way to greater knowledge...(will it count as spam if i tell you the site?... I'll try.
Posted Apr 19, 2006 at 5:48 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 25
ethel says:
Found it!!!
www.ticker factory.com
Please dont be spam, Please dont be spam
There's quite a lot of choice, but it takes ages to lod
Posted Apr 19, 2006 at 5:52 AM EST
Student
Points: 256
phoenixgirl127 says:
Probably no-one will read this as its so out of date but I need points,
It would so good if this happened but with the date release of the 5th movies, i cannot see this happening
Posted Apr 19, 2006 at 12:58 PM EST
Witch
Points: 701
Kelly Ann Snape says:
That sounds great be nice though if it were this July and not next... sad face.
Posted Apr 19, 2006 at 4:33 PM EST
Squib
Points: 159
harryfan890 says:
Why dose it have to be that long away. I mean it better be a very long book.
Posted Apr 19, 2006 at 7:54 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 48
Padfoot's Angel says:
It's just PERFECT!!!! I had already thought about it and I think it's very very MAGICAL!!!!
I hope someone tells JK this idea because I know we wold all be SOOOO HAPPY!!!
I can't wait!!!
Posted Apr 20, 2006 at 11:30 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 5
hpfan4ever!!!!!! says:
WOW!!!! I can't wait for that but i'll try just to get my hands on to book 7.... It is also a bit weird you know 070707 what a coincidence........ I can't wait for book 7 .......... please make it earlier to release the book.
Posted Apr 21, 2006 at 3:15 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 5
hpfan4ever!!!!!! says:
WOW!!!! I can't wait for that but i'll try just to get my hands on to book 7.... It is also a bit weird you know 070707 what a coincidence........ I can't wait for book 7 ... please make it earlier to release the book.
Posted Apr 21, 2006 at 3:16 AM EST
Witch
Points: 608
roxypotter13 says:
There right it would be just too perfect! I realy hope it comes out then! But I dont knoe if I can wait that long more than a year!
Posted Apr 22, 2006 at 6:55 PM EST
Student
Points: 294
lilly618 says:
I think it is really a great coincidence!!! COOL!!!This make me feel exciting,as we know,7 is the most powerful number in magical world,hope that it will make us fall into the most fantastic HP's world!!!!! But I will wait for the comfirmation first.GO GO,book 7!!!
Posted Apr 23, 2006 at 9:38 AM EST
Witch
Points: 646
~!*Gryffindor Rules*!~ says:
That will be so cool if it came out that day! I would be so happy jumping up and down in my chair!
Posted Apr 23, 2006 at 8:56 PM EST
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