|
JKR discusses many things in new interview 
MARCH 26, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: News Tip
Earlier this month writer and comic Adeel Amini
had a chance to sit down with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling in a Starbucks in Edinburgh. The interview, now online, includes Ms. Rowling's thoughts on her favorite book in the series, fame and complements, Dumbledore, lack of anonymity and many more interesting tidbits.
Rowling on anonymity:
Truthfully, it's gone up and down. There are definitely moments in the ten years that I was being published that I would have given almost anything to have the anonymity back, but those were the bad times and they never actually had anything to do with people coming up to me in Starbucks. Because people coming up to me in Starbucks are always charming. Always.
You know, as far back as I can remember... I wouldn't need all the fingers of one hand to think of anyone who's ever approached me who has been in any way rude - I'm setting aside the eBayers, what I call the eBayers, they're very aggressive, but that's not about being a fan, that's about making as much money as possible so they can be quite scary - but there were times when I would have given anything to have the anonymity. I felt under siege at certain times. I never expected journalists to come and bang on my front door. There was a period in the middle where it was very stressful.
Rowling on which of the books she would go back and change:
There are two books I would go back and do a good Director's Cut on: Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix. Order of the Phoenix is definitely overlong but, like Chamber of Secrets, they're both transitional chapters in the overall story, so information has to be given in both of them, and Harry has to visit places in both of them. Now that seven's out you can see that he had to have gone to the Ministry of Magic, he had to know that there was a Basilisk under the school, there were certain things he had to know and information he had to get and so in a series like that you do end up with transitional chapters. Phoenix should have been tightened up. I was in a state of advanced exhaustion when I was writing that, I was very heavily pregnant as I came to the end of it and I just ran out of energy. It definitely needs a clean-up job.
You can download the complete interview here or read it on Facebook.
Thanks to Harry Latino for the tip.
Reader Comments (68)
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2008 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Book 7 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1595
zues says:
I'm sure there are other authors who now look back at their books and would like to change things about them. I also think she should leave them the way they are.
Posted Mar 28, 2008 at 3:52 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1461
Feelin' Felix Felicis says:
I disagree with JK Rowling when she said that the ending to Order of the Phoenix needed a "cleanup". Absolutely not! That book is my favourite and I wouldn't change a thing. The only thing I wish for is more Harry Potter books.
Posted Mar 28, 2008 at 9:55 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 29
Le*Soleil says:
Of course we all know this, but Jo is amazing.
And that picture of Hogwarts is really pretty!
Interesting article, I had fun reading it. I'm glad that she didn't cut OotP!
Posted Mar 29, 2008 at 12:07 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2372
hbluvhp says:
Phoenix was just fine with us, JK! But I like how she explained the transitional chapters and how the creative writing process unfolded for her. What an amazing mind!
Posted Mar 29, 2008 at 10:21 AM EST
Heart Of Music
Points: 3515
_-_~*ZeE*J@Y*~_-_ says:
No JK Rowling , you did the best job in either of these books and none of them should be cut.. every detail makes the books more interseting !
Posted Mar 29, 2008 at 12:01 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1058
humes says:
Just read the interview and a good job by Amini for a Potter non-fanatic. I will agree that Phoenix doesn't need cutting, just revision.
Posted Mar 29, 2008 at 3:56 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1913
JAYSTARR says:
Brilliant...But, in the Muggle world you can't go back to change things as in the Wizarding world can't we...
Posted Mar 29, 2008 at 10:47 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1036
Herminone Potter says:
Well thats cool that this guy got an interview with Jk, but I disagree with her, I loved OOtP, it was my favorite and to imagine scene in that book not being there is almost a crime!
Posted Mar 30, 2008 at 2:37 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1400
~Hermione says:
This interview was very interesting and well written.
Posted Mar 30, 2008 at 8:42 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2788
HufflepuffActress says:
It nice to see a interview more than a few lines long. I not sure if I could cut GOF to much but I do agree OOTP drags on. It is my least favorite of the books.
Posted Mar 31, 2008 at 2:29 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 326
Ayesha***Yumna says:
I have this feeling that we might have a revised edition of the Phoenix.....
Posted Mar 31, 2008 at 5:28 AM EST
Witch
Points: 963
Helena xx says:
Oh Excellent!!!
I love reading interviews by JK Rowling.
Its nice to hear her own thoughts on her books!!
Roll on more interviews!!!
Posted Mar 31, 2008 at 8:00 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1337
smart hermione says:
Woooow that was one hell of a long interview!
Posted Mar 31, 2008 at 1:29 PM EST
Witch
Points: 695
i brake for thestrals says:
ahhhhh i love interviews..
it makes me SO happy to hear from anyone involved but especially JK herself :D
Posted Mar 31, 2008 at 2:56 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1911
brenpotterfans says:
That was an absolutely fascinating article. I think it's most interesting thing I have ever read about her. I love it when she gives long interviews.
Posted Mar 31, 2008 at 8:53 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1992
phoenix_feathers says:
I do love Jo. She is positvely ingenius- and to admit that OotP was overly long, though I disagree, is extremely humble of her. I like that she is not unappreciative of her Starbucks fans, ha ha. She seems to treat her fans civally, which I appreciate a lot.
Posted Apr 3, 2008 at 3:48 PM EST
Student
Points: 290
harry_potterfan says:
Perhaps for the first time Rowling is mentioning what she should have written in her previous books!!
Posted Apr 7, 2008 at 9:56 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2484
Mystique says:
Well i understand where she's coming from. It must be hard that she can't step out of her house to do normal things like.. .take a walk or go shopping without beign recongnised and besieged. i like that she doesn't like the "e-bayesrs". there not real fans, just people looking to make money.
Posted Apr 12, 2008 at 10:22 PM EST
Back to top of page