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AUGUST 2, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: HPANA
The first of two charity readings by authors JK Rowling, Stephen King and John Irving concluded Tuesday evening at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
HPANA was in attendance and has full coverage of the event:
The best-selling authors read from some of their popular works, including Different Seasons, A Prayer for Owen Meany and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, as well as answered probing questions from audience members.
Actress Whoopi Goldberg took to the stage first and warmed up the crowd, standing at a podium shaped like a bookcase with each author's name on faux spines. She called the group of authors a "force of nature" and the evening "historic" (even while pronouncing Rowling's name "Roulings").
"Reading is alive and well," said Goldberg. The event served as a testament to what happens when you "put great books in the hands of great readers."
Kathy Bates, who starred as one of Stephen King's most memorable and frightening characters in Misery, introduced him while gushing about the influence her affiliation with him has had on her life. (King later said: "I never met a gross story I didn't like.")
John Irving discussed the desire of audiences to want to know what happens to characters, whether one likes them or dislikes them (which may be most striking to Potter fans eager to determine the loyalties of Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy).
Host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, Jon Stewart, finally introduced JK Rowling to a standing ovation, after jokingly commenting on how his five-month-old baby had already been in line for three months in anticipation of book 7. Rowling then read from chapter 13 of Half-Blood Prince, "The Secret Riddle," in which Harry explores Dumbledore's memory of first meeting Tom Riddle in an orphanage.
Rowling then answered questions from the audience. Here are a few highlights (paraphrased):
NBC News correspondent Soledad O'Brien then mediated the rest of the question/answer exchange, noting that over 1,000 questions had been submitted for the authors.
Rowling was asked how online communication and fan interaction influenced her writing. She responded, in part, that the "shipping wars" were like "cyber gang wars", referencing Harry/Hermione shippers, Hermione/Ron and ones she did not even want to talk about (as several audience members shouted out various suggestions).
Speaking about rejection, Rowling said her works were declined representation early on, like most budding authors. While she landed an agent rather quickly, it was years before she got a book deal. "I was determined," said Rowling. "I would not have stopped writing," she said, even if she had never been published. What would she be doing with her life? "I'd be teaching," she concluded.
We'll have more after tomorrow night's reading. Stay tuned!
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Witch
Points: 828
Elphaba_Thropp says:
That muggle using a wand thing seems really interesting. Maybe Dudley uses Harrys' wand. CAN'T WAIT
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 4:30 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1011
Fflewddur Fflam says:
Well, there was nothing earth-shaking in the answers to those questions, but at least we finally have some fuel to add to the discussion fire. It has really been a long time since we had any new information.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 5:13 PM EST
Emma's Darkest Secret
Points: 4604
Firestrike212 says:
Those were some good questions to whoever asked them!
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 6:21 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 442
Teacher Herms says:
They are very very very good writers. I love Rowling and Stephen King alot. I really thing they are "forces of nature."
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 7:13 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2079
kermittounette says:
Yes, I would have been able to guess about the vision into the mirror for Hermione. She would like to see everybody alive and Voldemort dead for sure! Harry's vision about Draco not killing Dumbledore, there's a lot more to come into the book 7!
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 7:27 PM EST
Witch
Points: 566
lupinsgal24 says:
I wish I could have been there. How great to see these 3 wonderful authors together. I hope everyone there enjoyed the 'show'.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 8:41 PM EST
Chief Auror
Points: 15502
auror_potter says:
That is so freaking true! They are a force to be reckoned with!
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 9:27 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1255
TheSeventhHorcrux says:
Awesome!!! I am SO psyched for Book 7 now!!! And I think I have a pretty good idea with whom Hermione would be "closely entwined" with in the Mirror of Erised.... (*coughRoncough*) I REALLY wish I could've been there. Thanks for the info, HPANA!!!
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 9:32 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1065
GeeMessy says:
Must have been an event to attend personally and I would give anything to have been there, She always seems to give the right answer without giving out too much.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 9:33 PM EST
Sirius's Veil Thrower
Points: 4651
SiriusBlacksGodDaughter says:
Cool information!
~Drish~
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 9:43 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1841
Remmy4193 says:
Oh my...sooo many amazing people attended that event! I wish I could have came or at least seen it on somewhere or something!!
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 10:07 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1122
PhoenixPatronus2 says:
Ooo, just enough information to start the gears of speculation turning all over again. I would have loved to be there. Even if I get to go to something in the future, it won't be the same as being able to hear her drop hints and answer questions before the final book is released.
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 10:19 PM EST
Harry's Mental Advisor
Points: 19432
Smileyradcliffe says:
I like what she said about hermione... and the fact that draco would not have killed dumbledore... he didn't have ii in him to do it
peace
love
happiness
Posted Aug 3, 2006 at 10:27 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1970
Jekca says:
absolutely fascinating. Cool really, and thanks, I love seeing into her brain a wee bit. There are so many neat things floating around there and what not.
Cool.
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 12:51 AM EST
Squib
Points: 103
Magina13 says:
I like very much what she said about Hermione and the Mirror or Erised!!!I think it's ture that sometimes, you just can't take a story an further, if you do the books just get worse and worse, better to finish strong.
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 3:35 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
I still cannot believe there are people who think that hermione and harry are more than friends!
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 10:15 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
Ps: its veRy obvious who heRmione would be entwined with in the miRRoR of eRised!
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 10:19 AM EST
Witch
Points: 881
Just Dance says:
Wow! i would have loved to have went to that .. Hmm.. but i'm too far away from New York :( ..
Its great that she answered some of those questions!
l0l smart hermione " hence the capital R's in your post " haha.. Ron/Hermione shipper as well?
- Nicole
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 12:07 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1987
tigerlili_08 says:
The report is good! I heard at the podcast about the Mirror of Erised & Hermione, that seems like it was a fav. question. Sorry to the remaining H/Hr-ers its pretty much final with that.
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 12:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 888
HarrySiriusly says:
I love finding out info! I hope that the reading goes well. I am really looking forward to reading book 7 and hopefully seeing some video of the readings itself.
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 12:29 PM EST
Witch
Points: 869
kat_snowyowl says:
Sounds pretty good. Have to read some more of this A.S.A.P.!
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 12:44 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1252
1USHPFN says:
Haveing attended this reading was a fabulous evening for sure. I enjoyed all the readers and guests enormously. I very very interested in the loose thread/threads that Ms. Rowling spoke of, wondering and hoping to hear more of further information....
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 12:45 PM EST
Student
Points: 278
AurraPhoenix says:
What a fantastic article! I really liked JKR's answers--but I'd love to hear her say that she's done with Book 7. Give me a title, or something?!?
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 3:29 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 800
Dr EraseR says:
That was really great , they really are forces of nature . well said .
I am really sad she didn't give us much clues .
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 3:49 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 84
Aray says:
Heck yah they are look at this way the one that got me reading and the one that kept me reading all in the same place and I got to see them this rocks.
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 7:57 PM EST
Student
Points: 292
Heartless says:
Hmmm... I wonder what I would see in the Mirror of Erised... I think, if I looked in it right now, I would see me with my cat Molly. (she went missing a couple weeks ago)
Hey, what would you guys see in the Mirror of Erised?
I love Whoopi! I'm going to start pronouncing Rowling 'Roulings'.
Posted Aug 4, 2006 at 8:05 PM EST
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