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MAY 28, 2008 at 9:43 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: Chicago Sun-Times via Yahoo! News
Author J.K. Rowling has penned an 800-word Harry Potter prequel with all proceeds from an auction on June 10th going to English PEN
, the writers’ association, and Dyslexia Action.
According to the article:
Waterstone’s Booksellers Ltd. says the cream-colored A5 papers — each slightly bigger than a postcard — were distributed to 13 authors and illustrators, including the boy wizard’s creator J.K. Rowling, Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing, novelist Margaret Atwood and playwright Tom Stoppard.
Rowling used both sides of her card to hand-write a prequel to her seven-book Harry Potter saga, while Lessing penned a story about the power of reading. Stoppard wrote a short mystery and Atwood was due to fill out her card remotely using a robotic arm controlled by computer linkup.
Organizers refused to comment on the content of Rowling’s Harry Potter prequel, but Hogwarts fans hoping for another book to add to their collection may be disappointed by her signoff.
"From the prequel I am not working on — but that was fun!" Rowling wrote.
Copies of the cards will be put into a book and made available at Waterstones and online in August.
UPDATE: Thanks to Jon for letting us know that the prequel will be about "the fictional wizard's father James and his friend Sirius Black in their younger years."
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Muggle
Points: 40
kikipotter103 says:
That is amazing. I can't wait!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 5:01 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2563
School Governor says:
I am eagerly looking forward to reading it as soon as possible.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 5:45 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1255
TheSeventhHorcrux says:
Ha, and I remember how she was so adamant against a prequel... but if it's for charity, it's OK to make an exception! ;-) I'd love to read it though!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 6:02 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2621
hbluvhp says:
Fastinating stuff.... I love the idea of giving all those amazing authors a card to write on. What do brilliant authors write when given freedom... a prequel to their monumental 7 part series of course!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 6:18 PM EST
Antipodean Snow Goddess
Points: 3070
Tikihaha says:
So, are we able to buy this from Waterstones?? How wonderful!! It's a shame it's only 800 words long - I would love a whole book dedicated to how Lily and James became an item! Yay!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 6:24 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2108
phoenix_feathers says:
I think it's cute that she used both sides of the post card, ha ha. I bet she crammed her words, too. xD
Posted May 29, 2008 at 6:35 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1819
zues says:
I don't have much to say other then "I want to read this stuff".
Posted May 29, 2008 at 7:45 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1608
~Harry's true love~ says:
Awww! I wish she would go on with the story! How sad, but I am quite excited to read what she DID write! I bet it was fantastic
Posted May 29, 2008 at 8:51 PM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
At first I was really surprised, because I heard it was ONLY going to be sold in one store in London, and there was only one copy. I heard this on The Daily 10. At first, I thought they said 800 pages, but now I hear it's only 800 words. I really wanted to read that book, but now that I hear it's about Harry's father and Sirius, and nothing about Harry, Ron and Hermione, I really don't care.
I don't know if this is true, but if it is...that's cool. I'm still hoping for a HP novel about the trio when they're grown up, with their kids, but I have a feeling that's never going to happen. I guess that I just have to stick to mine and everyone else's fanfics...
Posted May 29, 2008 at 11:38 PM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4399
ILoveHP! says:
Oh my gosh I would give anything to read that!!!!!!!!!
Posted May 30, 2008 at 9:42 AM EST
Lunarly challenged
Points: 2480
Grayback'sVictim says:
From the prequel I am not working on
Hahaha, funny
Well i can surely say she's a real charity person...
I had to find something on the internet about her and from her biography she's really into charity...
I like that.
Posted May 30, 2008 at 11:21 AM EST
Sirius's Veil Thrower
Points: 4655
SiriusBlacksGodDaughter says:
Ooh, that's FANTASTIC!
~Drish~
Posted May 30, 2008 at 3:28 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2076
Feelin' Felix Felicis says:
I'm so excited about this because I heard that it will be published in a book with other writers works so we will have a chance to read it. I know I can't wait!
Posted May 31, 2008 at 1:28 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1576
ALLI8 says:
Well first off, i want to read this! Secondly, with what the update says that it was about James and Sirius? I wonder how that ties into the story??
Any theories?
I can't wait till i can read this, i bet it will be a lot of money because of all the authors.
Alli8
Posted May 31, 2008 at 9:09 AM EST
Hogwarts Valedictorian
Points: 2807
Lily*R/Hr says:
That's a really cool idea. I hope we get to read it, even if it's only 800 words. It's a shame she won't turn it into a full-blown prequel, but honestly it wouldn't be the same.
Posted Jun 1, 2008 at 2:41 PM EST
Squib
Points: 131
DonnaK says:
Oh I wish I could see the prequel.
It would be nice if she would write another long books or series in the HP universe.
Posted Jun 1, 2008 at 7:26 PM EST
Student
Points: 205
Loving HBP says:
What could she possibly write as a prequel to the HP stories that we don't already know? I mean, most everything prior to Harry's birth was explained in HBP and DH...what else is there to know?
Posted Jun 2, 2008 at 8:00 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3656
Anastasia Popovick says:
A preguel would be awesome. Wish we knew if it were true or not. I am starving for something new from JK. I doesn't even have to be HP. It could be completely different. I just love her writing style.
Posted Jun 17, 2008 at 8:14 AM EST
Rickmaniac to the Core
Points: 2564
snaily says:
Thanks to Jon for letting us know that the prequel will be aboutopens in new window "the fictional wizard's father James and his friend Sirius Black in their younger years."
Okay, at least whatever she writes isn't going to be something out of the ordinary ... I mean, after reading so much of fan fiction stuff based on the Marauder era, I for one, won't be surprised if she writes an already proposed theory.
Posted Jun 19, 2008 at 2:28 AM EST
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