|
NOVEMBER 1, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Posted by JEREMY
Source: Harry, a History
In preparation for writing her novel, Harry, a History
, Melissa Anelli conducted extensive interviews with J.K. Rowling, and has posted an excerpt of one, in which they talk about the many spoilers that surrounded the release of each of the Harry Potter novels.
This specific quote regards a story in which several copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ended up in a field outside the publishing plant. The man who found them decided to call The Sun (an infamous UK tabloid):
(A quick recap: A Sun reporter was called to a meeting with someone who claimed he had a copy and would sell it for about 50,000 pounds; he brought the police, and two shots were fired.)
Here is what J.K. Rowling had to say on the matter:
"I remember there was a journalist, a TV journalist, who said at the time, very flippantly, 'Ha, ha, it's all publicity, isn't it?" It just felt so out of control at that point, just felt so out of control that the manuscript had suspiciously turned up in a field, that this guy who had supposedly found it just thought, 'Oh, well, the best thing I can do here is phone some newspaper. ... And then of course we hit book six and we think we've seen the most out-there attempt to get a Harry Potter manuscript early, and of course we haven't come close because the we get the guy with the gun. That was pretty serious, that really was not funny. Fiddy told me and I thought it was a joke. I thought she was making a joke.
Just the mere fact that you've produced something that people want to steal, want to put on the Internet, is, for me, very uncomfortable. And when a gun gets involved, the joke's gone out the window. Completely out of the window. I was appalled. The guy who had the gun pulled on him wrote that he'd been in places like Kosovo and it went through his head, "I'm going die for Harry Potter." God forbid.
There is a view out there, 'It's all good,' it all adds to the hype, makes it more colorful. But no, it was really getting out of control. And as people talked about hype it was feeding off of itself, and it was generating this kind of ugliness...that's way beyond leaking plots, that's into violence and intimidation, and who wants to be associated with that? Who wants their work associated with that? You know, let's just publish it two weeks early. Who wants a gun pulled? So you start to get very anxious about it. ... At that level, it's become utterly divorced from what it's about. It's not about the anticipation for a book at all, it's not about love of a story or even wishing to spoil a story. It's become something that people want to be attached to because it's the quickest way they can see to get some publicity for themselves or notoriety for themselves and you have this fringe - I can't dignify them with the word fan because I think if it wasn't Harry Potter it would be Star Wars or it would be something high-profile enough that they could just get a little bit of face-time. ... it's really got nothing to do with Harry Potter, and yet Harry Potter attracted a large amount of that, latterly, I'd say, for the last three books. ... It's raising expectations in an unhealthy way, it's making people sick of the sound of Harry Potter for the wrong reasons, and most seriously you're getting into the realm of literally fraud, intimidation, violence, theft, and nearly always it had nothing to do with fandom.
To pre-order the book, which hits bookshelves on Nov. 4, click here.
Reader Comments (33)
click to read...
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2009 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 | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1780
TheOtherMinister says:
god i love jk rowling and harry potter but the gun thing just gives us harry potter fans a bad name... Good thing no one got harmed...
P.s: can't wait to read harry a history!
Posted Nov 1, 2008 at 9:10 PM EST
Mrs. Draco Malfoy
Points: 27754
Arika Granger Malfoy says:
Ooh very interesting. This was the best segment of the JKR interview so far. I really agree, why do people need to post spoilers and stuffs.... *rolls eyes*
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Posted Nov 1, 2008 at 9:46 PM EST
I Am Queen of My Castle
Points: 3639
Hecate3fold says:
This book still hasn't peaked my interest.
I don't think I'll be spending money for this one. Can't quite put my finger of the reason why either.
Maybe I'll change my mind after it's out and been reviewed.
Blessings! Hecate3fold!
Posted Nov 1, 2008 at 10:25 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 317
Basilina says:
Woah, I don't even remember hearing about the gun incident. I don't understand why some people have to bring violence into everything they do.
Posted Nov 1, 2008 at 10:46 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 435
Scarlet Snow says:
This was quite a shocker. I'd never heard of this before.. sad happenings. All this spoiler business is nonsense, especially when it gets intense like this.
(But on a positive note, I can't wait to read Harry, A History!)
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 12:08 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2050
Feelin' Felix Felicis says:
I'm very anxious to read this book. I love anything about Harry, but that interview bit was depressing and ugly.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 12:20 AM EST
Master of Multiplication
Points: 2716
TwnmomX2 says:
I got my copy today(I did a special order for it in april!!)!! I can't wait to dive into it!
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 12:36 AM EST
Student
Points: 285
NicoleHalliwell says:
I am not sure if I will buy this book. In all honesty, I rather read A Hogwarts, a history! I would love that.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 1:25 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2358
Nataly says:
Hogwarts, a history? you are so right:) But i am going to order it someday.. it would be interesting! Love how Rowlling writes
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 3:46 AM EST
Witch
Points: 819
accio_kim says:
I agree, I'd rather Hogwarts, A History, or better still the encyclopedia that I hope JK will pen sometime soon, or at least after the DH films so I have some dregs to hold on to. How sad...
Anyway, nice interview, no author would want such violence attached to their work, and she is quite right, it has nothing to do with the story but with the hype.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 3:55 AM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2874
Chogiiiirl says:
I like the way she spoke out about these nut jobs and what they do to try to get fame! I'm glad she's trying to stop this kind of behavior.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 7:18 AM EST
Witch
Points: 553
Sexyjeans says:
Harry Potter was really addicted.. Good for you Ms. JK
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 7:36 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2394
KissingDraco says:
Oh cool new Rowling interview! When is this book "Harry, a history" coming out anyway? Bet the author is going to make a decent sum of money out of it. Why didnt I think of that?! Hehe.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 7:43 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2860
mad_eye muggle says:
Wicked interview.Man....what people will go through to get the manuscript of HP,I mean it is the most anticipated and loved books.However its really stupid and crazy to pull those insane things.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 8:39 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1433
Brianna Huckpuck says:
You say it, JK Rowling. You go girl.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 10:02 AM EST
Squib
Points: 148
Lizzie Whizzbee says:
Harry a History sounds interesting, although i think that hogwarts a history would be good too. can't wait.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 10:16 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8909
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
I can hardly wait to read the book. It does sound facsinating and the first opportunity for her to talk freely wihtou giving anything away.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 10:25 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2313
loopy looney says:
Can't wait to read this book, there should be some good stuff in there!! Hopefully a lot of new stuff too.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 12:56 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2852
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Wow. I never though of it that way. She must have been going to a lot of hard times waiting for the book to come out. I hated it when a couple of weeks before the book came out there was stuff on the internet that spoiled it.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 3:17 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 529
Dementors Shadow says:
Spoilers just suck. A lot.
I'm actually looking forward to Harry, a history
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 4:03 PM EST
Witch
Points: 670
draconifors says:
People are going a bit far now days.I mean they can be diehard fans but its not worth dieing over.I hope the book reaches NZ soon.
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 10:43 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1383
Luna! says:
That is completely true J.K.! Woot!
AND GO MEL FROM POTTERCAST!!
WOOT! I love you!!!
:)
Can't wait to get the book, although us Ausies don't get it until the END of the month.
Bah! Humbug! :)
Posted Nov 2, 2008 at 11:24 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1514
MollyMomma says:
So true. I know how I would feel if something I had created were causing that kind of dangerous turbulent atmosphere.
Posted Nov 3, 2008 at 1:30 AM EST
Mistress of Music
Points: 8865
ViolaNut says:
Don't know about anywhere else, but the bookstore where I work got this one in on Friday. :-) I'll probably pick up a copy this week, not like I don't have about a hundred books to read at home already (not exaggerating... possibly underestimating, actually...). However, I, too, would GREATLY prefer Hogwarts, a History!
Posted Nov 3, 2008 at 1:59 AM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4393
ILoveHP! says:
Wow I felt for J.K. while reading her words... I didn't know about that event pre-OotP and I was really shocked reading it now...
Posted Nov 3, 2008 at 4:03 AM EST
Auror
Points: 3647
Anastasia Popovick says:
Wow! Amazing stories, aren't they? I can not wait to read the new book. I just need some freetime for myself...dreaming...I'm dreaming...
Posted Nov 3, 2008 at 7:21 AM EST
Back to top of page