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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: 112
~*Tracey*~ says:
I really wish we could find out when the 7th book will be done. I mean yeah it would be cool if it came out on 07/07/07 and its the 7th book because yeah seven in the magical world is a good number> I want to read the book.
Posted Jul 5, 2006 at 4:07 PM EST
The Next Great Wizard
Points: 2822
chrisw2202 says:
I so think that the marketing for the book is too easy not to release it on 7/7/7. I agree with the article completely.
Posted Jul 5, 2006 at 5:59 PM EST
Witch
Points: 935
fizzingwhizbees says:
i wouldNt like that..it is to cliche, you know?
Posted Jul 6, 2006 at 5:30 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1064
Ginny511 says:
No i don't.......and so here it is
7 books
7 Weasley children
7 years of Hogwarts
7th floor to go to Gryffindor commom room
and a new one i found out today....The 7th Weasley child (Ginny) was born on the 7TH MOUNTH!!! wow
Posted Jul 8, 2006 at 4:44 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 415
øffe-joe687½ says:
And 7 rings was given to the Dwarf-lords.
Naah, i dont beleive in all the magic about a date.
It is a book.
JKR is a regular person.
The book will make money, I.E. it will get on the street A.S.A.P.
Posted Jul 10, 2006 at 11:03 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 2
Sirius Damascus Black says:
This is not entirely along the 07/07/07 line, which is a brilliant idea, but I have something else that would be interesting to see with book seven. If book seven is 114,057 words long, that would make the entire series exactly 1,000,000 words long. To the best of my knowledge, one million has no magical properties, but I think it would be amazing to have a million-word series, as much as I want book seven to be one million words itself! Although, from what Jo is saying, book seven keeps getting longer and longer, which makes the million-word series less and less likely to occur as book seven could only be a bit longer than Prisoner of Azkaban (107,253 words long).
Posted Jul 10, 2006 at 5:35 PM EST
Witch
Points: 596
SlytherinsPerfectPrefect says:
I would absolutely love it if the 7th book was released on 7-7-07. It would just be too perfect. Not to mention, almost a week later, OotP is supposed to be released. I really hope that it works out that way. It would be really neat if it did...
Posted Jul 10, 2006 at 9:53 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 687
tenniswizard says:
You posted a doble negative The book simply can't not be released on 07/07/07. It's too perfect. Just to let you know.
Posted Jul 10, 2006 at 10:10 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1922
doodle_pancake says:
that's just creepy... and really exciting. But we still have a year left... how, how can this go on? hehe, I'm dying here! Tortured by these wonderful books! And all those coincidences...
Posted Jul 16, 2006 at 9:29 PM EST
Squib
Points: 112
Ginnyish3890 says:
That is sooooooooooo cool if it comes out that day we have to wait longer but it is worth it if it comes out 7/7/07 because J.K Rowling is so fasinated with that number so it is really cool.
Posted Jul 17, 2006 at 8:22 PM EST
Squib
Points: 158
sylvrbdrfly says:
Yes, the timing is perfect, the effect magical. With the way she writes her books, so much goes into preparing details to fit the story to pre explain things in the Harry Potter world so that they are perfectly believable when next they come up,(although unlikely) it seems that the timing was all part of her grand plan from the beginning.
Here's to hoping, "Cheers!"
Posted Jul 20, 2006 at 9:20 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1174
Fleur Delacour* says:
Yes, this makes perfect scence, alot of main things have sevens, i never noticed that, but, i will with out a doubt go to theMid-Night party and get the last a Final Harry Potter Book, i hope it is good, JK Rowling is one of the best Book writers in the World, go Jo!
Posted Jul 21, 2006 at 11:49 PM EST
Squib
Points: 166
Ginny-Weasley89 says:
That's just too perfect! i get goose bumps just thinking about it!
Posted Jul 22, 2006 at 12:12 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 513
Humphrey Belcher says:
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... (catches breath)aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Jul 26, 2006 at 10:30 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 442
dalishka says:
Men!!!... I was so excited until I read the update.... I wish she at least gave the date of release... I mean I'm sooo excited that I can't wait so maybe if she gives thedate I can calm myself a little bit.... Pleeease lets beg for a date of release ... pleeeease...
Posted Jul 28, 2006 at 1:14 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 429
Celticbryan says:
7/7/07 would be a very cool day to release the book. I hope that whenenver she does get it done that it is done right and not rushed into stores. I would hate to think that after six great books seven was rushed to make the publishers happy.
Posted Jul 30, 2006 at 7:28 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 15
aryalara says:
Ya! I cannot wait 'till the 7th book comes out! I'm too excited!
Posted Jul 31, 2006 at 5:10 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 18
THE DARK LORD says:
It would be the best thing happening on earth if book 7 was released on 07/07/07 . I really wish it would be released on that date.
Posted Aug 1, 2006 at 6:52 AM EST
Eccentric Princess
Points: 5200
Remix!! says:
WOW!! I cant believe what I am reading.. HARRY POTTER 7 HAS to release on 7th July, 2007. ITs the PERFECT date, day.. everything is appropriate... Hoping... the wait wont be tooo long...
Nancy
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 8:11 AM EST
Points: 1
stridox says:
I really wouldn't like to wait that long. Dumbledore also said that '7' is a magic number.
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 12:13 PM EST
Student
Points: 231
The Harry Potter Freak says:
Hey this is cool. (Even if it is only a theory.) The evtire 7 thing is awesome.
Posted Aug 5, 2006 at 6:40 PM EST
Squib
Points: 161
Spark500 says:
Emma Watson get more and more beautiful as everyday passes!!!!
Posted Aug 8, 2006 at 9:34 AM EST
Witch
Points: 685
herblackwings29 says:
I wish it would be released sooner, honestly, but 07/07/07 (If they will set it in stone) would be a very cool date. Almost any date would be fine with me though if we just knew for sure what it was!
Posted Aug 16, 2006 at 12:57 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 2
HP4E says:
Each book also commences on page 7!
Posted Aug 16, 2006 at 2:56 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 66
alinabobina says:
I think releasing on 07/07/07 would be so cool!! It would just work out perfectlly because since seven is such a significant number in the harry potter books!!!
Posted Aug 20, 2006 at 1:58 PM EST
Magical Music Professor
Points: 4840
MagicalMusicDreamer says:
Interesting article, Cheeser.
That is still almost a year away. For us Fans, that is forever. On the other hand, it will all be over...JKR's bit with her stories. That will be harder than the wait. Yes, we are all dying to know what will happen. But, Harry Potter and HPANA have been so much of our lives the pst few years.
Ah well, it will come when it comes and we will have to deal with it (paraphrasing Harry Potter).
Posted Aug 24, 2006 at 3:11 PM EST
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