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AUGUST 20, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: The Guardian
On Saturday we let you know that crime writer and neighbor of JK Rowling, Ian Rankin, speculated that she was "writing her Edinburgh detective novel" in city cafes. In a new interview
today with Mr. Rankin, he now states that:
This is a joke that got out of hand.
There were 600 people in the audience, and only one person didn't laugh.
Meanwhile Emma Schlesinger, speaking for Rowling's literary agent, Christopher Little called the rumors "unfounded" and:
JK Rowling is taking a well-earned break following the English language publication of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows and there are no firm plans as yet as to what her next book may be.
Since the original quote of Mr. Rankin has spread like wildfire over the web let us hope that this new information will put this matter to rest.
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Eternal Meatball Head
Points: 6171
BellaCullen says:
Okay wait...so...this was a joke?? haha...I'm confused. It would have been great if JKR was wrting another book!
First post perhaps??
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 11:37 AM EST
Honeydukes Eye Candy
Points: 3501
Pansyful says:
That's ridiculous to start joking about it! many people are HUGE fans of jk and it would be a major mistake of a joke for him to say that.
maybe he's just in it for the attention
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 11:39 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8785
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
Funny really. At least he admitted it. It does show how hyper sensitive the system is right now with all the buzz on the last book and movie. Also, people really do want more.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 11:52 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2310
Nataly says:
Not a joke eally i loved the idea of a new novel.. Hope she finally writes one
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 12:12 PM EST
Mrs. Draco Malfoy
Points: 27557
Arika Granger Malfoy says:
WOW...how rude of him
Why would he do that to us fans.
But I wasnt going to believe it until it was confirmed anyways
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 12:35 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2636
Tokio Hotel Fan says:
Why would he think that funny. People really toke him seirously. I think that was really rude of him. I only trust thing that Jo says about herself.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 12:41 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1070
azkaban_wannabe says:
That is so stupid. Who makes jokes out of that kind of stuff??? She is a famous writer. So dumb.
*Grrrrrrrrrrr*
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 12:41 PM EST
Witch
Points: 826
crazyeme says:
Hmmm... the joke wasn't exactly funny... which defeats the purpose of it being a joke really... Why on earth would someone make up such a story? To raise the hopes of people who love JKR simply to crush them... Not funny at all...
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 12:41 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2555
Mystique says:
Oh dear.. i was now starting to think that she'd be great at crime novels! oh well, maybe she may decide to write one someday!
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 1:01 PM EST
Auror
Points: 4060
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
I knew this was a joke from the 2nd I heard the rumour. Jo wouldn't start writing a book immediately after she ends HP, that would be wrong on so many levels, it would be like she's leaving HP like the books were nothing to her, like it was just another random book she wrote. Plus, Jo said she needs time off(especially to write that HP encyclopedia she's been talking about, but that could take a year or 2).
Going from fantasy books that have sold billions around the world to a crime novel...I'd like to see how she would write a crime novel, but I bet it would be amazing.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 1:06 PM EST
Mistress of Music
Points: 8840
ViolaNut says:
Ah well. Knowing Rankin's work, I thought it might be a joke, but I suppose it did get completely out of hand. Guess nobody else will say stuff like this now...
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 1:18 PM EST
Witch
Points: 861
star chaser says:
It wasn't a very funny joke for all the fans who thought it was true. I'm glad I didn't believe it.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 1:21 PM EST
Witch
Points: 508
Jealz says:
I knew that it wasn't real. But it wasn't a good rumor to start.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 1:24 PM EST
Witch
Points: 614
Harry_Hermoine_Fanz says:
-_- Whoever that started this joke, are not smart. Because fans of Jo are hoping that she can write another book. And now what? It's just a joke. This can put down fans of her.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 1:27 PM EST
Lupin's Furry Girlfriend
Points: 6941
theslugclub says:
Great joke, Rankin (!) (whoever you are) :(
You lifted the spirits slightly for all those who were still gloomy and sad over Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows :(
And it was all a stupid joke.
Ta'.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 1:32 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2108
phoenix_feathers says:
Hmm.. well, she may have been seen writing in a cafe, but Jo always says that she can't go for very long without writing something. I'm willing to be patient for any new novels from the hands of Jo Rowling, just as long as it's less than five years.
Hope nobody else formulates any other stupid jokes, shame on him, whoever he is, regardless of waht he is famous for.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 1:39 PM EST
Witch
Points: 803
ShiningShina says:
That's good to know. How do these random rumors get started?
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 1:51 PM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
I kind of had a feeling that this was just a rumor.
why would she go back to writing so soon after the worlds best book series ever just ended?
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 2:00 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 708
gildavis says:
What a shame! I was looking forward to reading something new from Jo in the not too distant future.
However, I know she will write something new eventually and I will read it when it comes out.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 2:16 PM EST
Witch
Points: 980
OffTheLoop says:
oh, that's a bummer. I was really looking forward to a crime novel from her. Maybe she will write one in the future.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 2:48 PM EST
Witch
Points: 718
Hedwig,express says:
I highly doubted the rumor anyway. I was pretty sure her "I'm taking a break" Meant a year or so before she started another book.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 3:07 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 427
h.p sauce says:
Im not sure if you know but it was a joke because Ian Rankin, who made the comment, is a relativly well known author in the UK who writes crime fiction based in Edinburgh. So saying that JK was going to do the same thing is the joke!
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 3:12 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1901
Feelin' Felix Felicis says:
Well let that be a lesson to Mr. Rankin to keep his mouth shut and to not speak for other people especially the likes of a great author like J.K. Rowling. If I want to know what is really happening, I will wait until I hear something from Jo herself.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 3:17 PM EST
Squib
Points: 164
SixArmedJesus says:
Unfortunately, it seems that the quelling of rumors never happens as fast or as thoroughly as the initial spreading of rumors.
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 3:22 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 328
Siobhan684 says:
Hear hear h.p sauce. I suppose this is one of those jokes that doesn't translate well across the pond because no-one really knows who Rankin is! I thought it was kinda funny myself, but if you don't know that Rankin writes Edinburgh-based detective stories, I suppose the joke loses all its effect!
Sorry guys, but I don't think JKR will be writing for a while, and you're gonna have to start taking things a bit less seriously before you all give yourselves hernias!
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 3:25 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 427
h.p sauce says:
Thank you Siobhan684 I thought no-one was going to read my post! People should calm down it was only a joke, it is not like he was making it all up for attention or something!
Posted Aug 20, 2007 at 3:28 PM EST
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