Madam Pince's Potter Pages

Potter party was HUGE fun! Part 2

2009-07-10T23:27:00.010-07:00

This is the second report of the goings on at the July 9th Potter party at the Pima County Public Library's Mission Branch in Tucson, Arizona. [Part one of the report is here]

There will be a second party on Saturday, July 11th at 2pm in the Joel D. Valdez Main Library's Lower Level Meeting Room. Free; no registration required. See you there!

After the Potions class came Care of Magical Creatures, beginning with Rhonda as Professor Grubbly-Plank. She corrected Hagrid's earlier confusion of Gryphons with Hippogriffs and proceeds to teach the different types.

As a special treat, she tells the class that she has a sedated -- but real -- baby Gryphon named Katerina. Hagrid ghoulishly goes into a little too much detail about the damage even a baby could do to fingers and toes while Grubbly-Plank removes Katerina from her cage. And she's a darling. Eventually, however, she begins to get agitated and has to be put back in her crate. "Oh!" says Hagrid, "But not without her bunny!" and adds a stuffed bunny rabbit to the crate. Not a good idea. The crate jumps and bucks violently. Hagrid valiantly tries to rescue the bunny but alas, only pulls out stuffing. Ah well.

For Hagrid's segment of the class he has a special guest, a former Hogwarts professor-turned-werewolf. Ben as Remus Lupin is brought in and the students are told that while he is generally safe due to the Wolfsbane potion, they shouldn't get too close. Hagrid starts the lesson about how well the potion works when Lockhart ambles over to harangue the class about his book Wanderings with Werewolves. Over Hagrid's objections he demonstrates how werewolves like to be tickled on their tummy and behind the ears when he is attacked by Lupin. Hagrid petrifies Lupin long enough to allow Madam Pomfrey to drag Lockhart away. Once Lockhart is safe, Hagrid distracts Lupin by yelling "Squirrel!" and Lupin bounds out the door. My goodness, another close call. You never know what will happen in Care of Magical Creatures class!

We had to be careful with this segment because we knew there would be some very young kids in the audience. We had a full Werewolf costume, but ended up going for comic effect instead of a fearsome one. Curt made a Ben a tale and doggy nose and found some ears, and Ben wore the claws from the costume. It worked perfectly.

Our Hagrid is played by Curt who is, um, a little typecast. Curt, easily 6'6", brings to us a strong theater background and the ability to adjust track lighting without a ladder.

Ben, a Library Assistant from the Himmel Branch Library, was a great sport about the tame werewolf costume and told us at least it was better than when he had to play a puppy for one of the library storytimes.

Rhonda, like Curt and Chris, are active in the Society for Creative Anachronism. Their life-long appreciation for the archaic and arcane adds authenticity and and depth to their performances.

My role as Madam Pomfrey was dead simple: bandage Lockhart up after all his injuries. I had a large bar of chocolate, vet wrap, and goofy band-aids (Barbie, Sponge Bob, Scooby Doo) on hand. He looked pretty funny by the end of the evening!

The last segment was a visit from Simon Wanderman, Ministry of Magic official from the Wizarding Examinations Authority. Mr. Wanderman is visiting to test the students for their magical abilities. Wanderman is played by Chris who is a magician with over 20 years experience.

However, he has a little trouble getting to Hogwarts because he attempts to use a rickety vanishing cabinet. Hagrid puts the 4 broken pieces together and we held our breath while Wanderman emerged unscathed. Whew.

Wanderman has a great time, beginning with some basic wizard hygiene -- cleaning between the ears. My favorite part of the testing is for skill with the Expelliarmus! charm. I won't spoil it, but I can tell you that the child who got the blasted card yelled "Score!" to his friends. Wanderman ends his segment with an appeal to the students to be diligent in their studies because the Wizarding world needs smart, skilled wizards.

Then we snacked on pretzel wands, jelly beans and butterbeer (cream soda). The cast was available for photo ops and other kinds of mayhem afterwards.

I have a gallery of Potter party photos on my flickr account.

Potter party was HUGE fun! Part 1

2009-07-10T00:35:00.007-07:00

Tomorrow I will look at today's great-sounding HBP movie premiere footage, but for now I am still basking in the afterglow of a very fun Potter party. I thought this time I would write a little about the logistics of pulling a party off in case it is helpful (and not boring).

Room set up: There are 5 classes at our parties: Divination, Herbology, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, and testing from the Ministry of Magic, so we set it up so that the classes alternated sides of the room so the next class could get everything ready while the audience was focused in the other direction.

Ideally you'll be in a room that has dimmer lights. If not, bring some floor lamps so the kids can see what's happening even when the lights are out.

We had a full house at Mission Library. Our hosting librarians Lupita and Leila did a wonderful job planning the sorting, door prizes, and food. I thought the sorting technique was especially well thought out. Library staff made Hogwarts house ties out of cardstock and string. It was really easy to see the child's house when awarding and taking points. What I really liked about it was that even the kids who came in t-shirts had a proper school tie.

The decorations

Iridescent streamers at entry door so that entry looks like a magical veil [source]
A machine that projected the night sky onto the ceiling [source]
Fog machine
Magic dust (cosmetic-grade iridescent glitter) sprinkled on arms at entry [source]
Faux stone on walls [source]
Handmade banners of the Hogwarts houses
Candelabras and spell books galore [one source]
Hedwig in her cage [photo]
Several flickering faux flame lamps [source] [source]
Purple twinkle lights [usually only sold at Halloween]
A large mercury glass gazing ball is a cheap substitute for a crystal ball
Tables covered with black plastic, but also with real fabric and shaggy black fur (4'x6') for accents
Huge canvas with tropical flowers for the Herbology greenhouse
Shawls draped all over Trelawney's corner
A vanishing box, also homemade
Potions bottles and cauldrons in the Potions classroom
Bookcarts decorated to look like the teacart on the Hogwarts Express

As they entered through the "veil," kids were given a wand (a clear straw with a fat glittery pipecleaner inside wrapped with ribbon) and asked to select a school house tie.

Hagrid welcomed everyone, introduced the professors and school staff, and directed everyone's attention to Professor Trelawney who informed us that she was a true seer who knows EVERYTHING. Laurie plays her with a querulous voice and dry sarcasm, and has concocted around 80 of the most doleful fortunes you have ever heard. She has the kids pick them from a basket and then reads a few of them aloud to the dismay and guffaws of the audience. The rest are handed out and read later when the food is served.

Next is Professor Sprout in her greenhouse with a special guest: Gilderoy Lockhart, on leave from St. Mungo's and still extremely forgetful. Lockhart immediately interrupts to show off his new book, Magical Me, and hands out autographed photos of himself. Once the class starts, he loses interest in helping. Thankfully "Fernie," a remote-controlled potted fern is on hand to bring her things.

Sprout demonstrates the characteristics of the Deadly daisy, Mandragora ("Silencio!"), and Mimbulus mimbletonia. The notoriously grumpy cactus is unfortunate enough to attract Lockhart's wandering attention. Lockhart ignores Sprout's explicit advice and pokes it repeatedly with his wand while her back is turned. Yeah, you guessed it (and so does the audience), prettyboy Lockhart gets stinksapped. With a twinkle in her eye, Sprout turns the plant on the audience and squirts the crowd too.

Her final plant is her deadliest, in fact a young girl in the audience correctly identifies it as Devil's Snare. While Sprout is focused on impressing the crowd with the plant's ferocity, Lockhart seems drawn to it and in a flash he is thrashing on the ground with the vine around his neck. Once Sprout notices she leads the class in a loud "Lumos!" and Lockhart is freed.

Sprout is played by Thania and her husband Steve. Together they are a joy to watch because of their attention to detail and because their gags are so perfectly calibrated to the audience. Both of them have great comic timing too.

Potions is next! The dark professor, Draco at his side, begins by explaining the power and importance of potions and then proceeds to mix a transformative potion. Right in the middle of this, Sprout enters with Lockhart and asks Snape if he could step away to see her snargaluff pods. Snape asks Lockhart to "babysit" the students (BIG mistake), tells Draco not to let Lockhart touch anything, and leaves with Sprout.

Can you guess? Lockhart proclaims himself a skilled potions master and finishes Snape's potion, which starts bubbling. When Snape returns, he sees the bubbling glass, proclaims it ready to drink and quaffs it in one gulp. "I feel funny" he proclaims and in a flash he is whipping around. Once he steadies, he asks the audience -- in a Borscht Belt voice -- why 6 is afraid of 7 (because 7-8-9). One more corny joke, and he whips around and is Snape again. Snape is suspicious of the laughter, but before he can figure things out he is whipping around for more vaudevillian jokes. You get the idea. I really loved this part. The physical comedy reminded me of the Boggart lesson in the third movie when Snape turns into Neville's grandmother.

Mike plays Snape, cast against type, because he is one of the funniest people I know. He's been doing stand-up for years and writes filks satirical of libraryland that help make our library's holiday parties the stuff of legend. Draco is his lovely daughter Wren.

I will write more later about the Care of Magical Creatures class and the visit from the Ministry of Magic. The adrenaline has finally worn off and I'm off to sleep.

UPDATE: Part 2 is now posted.

--Lisa

Our Potter parties are this week!

2009-07-05T23:28:00.005-07:00

Pima County Public Library's Potter parties are this week! We're doing two parties; one requires registration, the other one doesn't. [Calendar information]

Here's the cast:
Rubeus Hagrid: Curt Booth
Sibyll Trelawney: Laurie Fleetham
Pomona Sprout: Thania Mayorga-Shull
Gilderoy Lockhart: Stephen Shull
Severus Snape: Mike Sterner
Prof. Grubbly-Plank: Rhonda Staggs
Simon Wanderman, Ministry of Magic: Chris Lyon
Poppy Pomfrey: Lisa Bunker
Draco Malfoy: Wren Sterner
Remus Lupin: Ben Matiella
Molly Weasley: Leila Duncan

The role of Madam Pomfrey was a bit of a surprise, but I found a nurse-like apron on the internet and a dear friend is making me a cap and shipping it express from Canada. My role will be to rush over whenever a cast member gets hurt (I expect Lockhart will have a genius for this) and bandage them up. I will be using some rather unorthodox materials such as fluorescent vet wrap and Dora the Explorer, Scooby Doo and Sponge Bob band-aids. Hee. We have SUCH fun!

On 'mood wolves' and drawing

2009-06-19T22:41:00.009-07:00

Have you ever tried drawing with your eyes closed? Finnish children's book writer and illustrator Riikka Jäntti makes it a regular exercise.

She visited me a few years ago, arriving in Tucson after taking the train from NYC to Flagstaff, via Chicago. Her sketchbook was filled with exquisite, funny, incisive pen-and-ink drawings of America as seen from the window of a train: diners and fast food joints, tenements, laundromats and corn fields. She told me that the other young people on the train were glued to their laptops and phones while she was glued to the window, soaking it all in.

I got a little nervous as her drawings began to show the southwest. What would it reveal of her thoughts? Well, Flagstaff was dead-on: quaint and funky with a bit of snow on the ground. Then Riikka turned the page and the drawing of the Grand Canyon took my breath away. And another page. Another drawing from the same vantage point, but this one bounced and quivered and provided its own soundtrack. "I did this one," she said, "with my eyes closed."

She pointed out to us the 'moodwolves' that appear on her sketches a la Oliphant's penguin, offering commentary on the scene, or on the quality of her dinner that day. In another scene at the Metropolitan Museum the moodwolf grumpily complains about the dreadful frame on Van Gogh's Starry Night. I didn't realize it at the time, but Riikka draws all of the moodwolves with her eyes closed.

Riikka's new book, Mielialasusi (Helsinki: WS Bookwell OY, 2009), collects the moodwolves that she and her sisters Eeva and Liisa have drawn over the years. The book informs us that "the wolf must be drawn eyes closed, so that it's easier to focus on the current mood."

The book is organized by moods, which are really more like states of being: "Every-day wolves" (just woke up, crowded in a tram), "Pub-wolves" (too many whiskeys, nostalgia), "What I'd like to do," "What I could do" (I love the "I could read more books!"), What I'm going to do (finish all the sewing), and so on.

She thoughtfully and hilariously subtitled it for me with post-it notes. The page spread shown above is "Egg-Burp" "Overtired, a little hysterical," "Shapeless ankle," and "This wolf hasn't been listening and tries to pretend that he knows what others are talking about." Heh. I've NEVER done that!

"I could read more books"
"I could sing"
"I could throw a party"

At the back of the book she and her sisters thoughtfully left pages for their readers to start drawing their own wolves, inviting them to "Have a Wolf-moment every day. It only takes two minutes."

I'm off to have a Wolf-moment myself.

A Midsummer Night's Squirrel

2009-06-19T22:28:00.004-07:00

Riikka sent me this drawing of a squirrel celebrating midsummer. He looks like he's not quite sure if the burgers are done!

Next I will post some scans of her newest book, one she created with her sisters Liisa and Eeva.

Just an update

2009-06-18T09:45:00.003-07:00

I'm not sure if anyone is still reading this blog, but here goes...

Here's what's been going on. Our book The Lexicon : An Unauthorized Guide to Harry Potter Fiction was published in mid-January. I don't have any sales figures yet but my friends sure bought a lot of them =) and our local bookstores -- both chain and independent -- displayed it prominently.

For me personally, this victory was tempered when my mom got sick in November and died in April. I was able to show her a copy of the book, but oh well, you know how it goes. It was wonderful to have the family all together again, and I am comforted by knowing that mom had a good life and was loved by many. Miss her though.

Steve came out in March for the wildly successful first annual Tucson Festival of Books. Steve's talk was standing-room only and got great reviews, and I think I just *glowed* when I saw the line that formed afterward at our signing tent. Next year will be even better -- I'm on the committee that selects the children's and young adult authors and illustrators!

And now? Steve will have a booth for the book at Azkatraz, and he's invited me to come help. Not one to turn down free registration, I've booked a hotel room and am looking for a quiet person (well, female) to share it with. Anyone want to come to a Potter convention in San Francisco? There's some really exciting programming and a huge Wrock fest!

But before that, our library will again be putting on 2 more Potter parties. Our first planning session is tonight. One date is still undecided -- I will post an update when everything is confirmed.

More news coming, but for now I need to get ready for work!

Local article about The Lexicon (and Tucson Festival of Books!)

2009-03-08T07:54:00.007-07:00

The Arizona Daily Star interviewed me and Steve about our book last Wednesday for an article in today's paper. Danielle did a great job, and Fred took some lovely photos!

Article "Librarian/writer's Harry Potter knowledge is voluminous"

Steve's talk and our booksigning: Sunday, March 15th at 2:30pm, Catalina Ballroom of the University of Arizona Student Union

Signed copies of the book available at: Kids Center, 1725 N Swan Rd, Tucson, AZ

Tucson Festival of Books

List of exhibitors in attendance [pdf]

Come to the Book Festival next weekend! Karen Cushman (Catherine Called Birdy), Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted), Richard Peck (A Long Way from Chicago), Charles de Lint (Widdershins), J.A. Jance (Cruel Intent), Diana Gabaldon (Outlander), Luis Alberto Urrea (Hummingbird's Daughter), Richard Shelton (Crossing the Yard), Gregory McNamee (Moveable Feasts), and over 350 more authors and illustrators will be speaking and signing their books.

Other friends speaking, storytelling, and/or signing: Marge Pellegrino, Martin Rivera, Lynn Bevill, and Liz Danforth.

Potter Parties next week!

2008-11-28T23:19:00.003-07:00

Well, our parties are next week and they are beginning to shape up. Trelawney will be there, as long as she stops hitting the sherry (j/k Laurie), as will Professors Sprout and Lockhart (visiting from St. Mungo's). Snape (sorry, Professor Snape) will be teaching Defense against the Dark Arts and for some reason he requested a karaoke machine. I can't wait. Mike's filks are famous here at the library. Hagrid and Professor Grubbly-Plank will squabble, er, teach Care of Magical Creatures, and Simon Wanderer from the Ministry will be testing kids for their magic abilities. For some reason Umbridge decided to come, and there was no polite way to dissuade her. Hopefully she won't disrupt the classes -- and there won't be any centaurs around.

What's new? Well I think I found a way to have stars on the ceiling like the Great Hall's. We'll see. And I hear rumors that we will have live Celtic music before and after, which will be super cool.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008: 5:30pm-7:45pm; Himmel Park Branch Library; All ages welcome.

Thursday, December 4, 2008: 6:00pm-7:45pm; Eckstrom-Columbus Branch Library; Space is limited, so all attendees must register beginning Tuesday, November 19th. All ages welcome.

Many thanks again to Scholastic Book Fairs which has generously donated the door prizes.

Now, where did I put my wand?

My "While You're Waiting for Beedle the Bard" reading list

2008-11-07T09:17:00.003-07:00

My library just published my list of suggested reading while you wait for The Tales of Beedle the Bard to be published, and we've got a fabulous cast again for the library's Potter parties celebrating the book's publication. No Umbridge for me this time (I had too hard a time not grinning to be a good one); I'll be playing Molly. My library has over 300 copies of Beedle on order!

Who are we? Where are we going?

2008-05-12T00:24:00.005-07:00

[Note: I am a co-author of the book The Harry Potter Lexicon, but that's not what this post is about. I think there are larger things at stake.]

On my last visit, my doctor listened to my update on the book situation and asked me “What is ‘fandom’ – what do you mean when you speak of it? Is it one website? Two?” I knew she wanted me to explain it out loud because it might help me figure out why I have given it so much power to hurt, to control what I say and do. I launched into an answer but kept stumbling. Eventually I came up with something like “It’s the whole community of online Potter fans, people who come together to theorize, or draw the characters, or write fanfics. Not just people who love the books, but people who love the books and feel compelled create and to be together online sharing it all.”

I was surprised I had such a hard time explaining it, because I haven’t taken Potter fandom for granted. When I discovered my first fansite (HPANA) I dove in partly *because* I wanted to understand it as a phenomenon. As a children’s librarian I could see that what was happening in the name of Potter could have implications for the way young people of the future read books, why they read, and how they share them. Although I was initially hooked for professional reasons, I quickly learned to appreciate the energy and creativity of the fandom itself. I began contributing too. Soon, I added my voice to the community at HPANA, theorizing, and enjoying other’s theories. The reference librarian in me discovered that there was no reference book to consult, but that there was this nifty website called the Harry Potter Lexicon. Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine ever working there.

But anyway, I have been aware of Potter fandom as children’s literature history in the making since the very beginning. At the conventions I attended I sought out programs where people would be discussing what we were, and where we are headed. What will happen to us when book 7 comes out? I have even done presentations to area library professional organizations using Potter fandom as an example of how online communities can bring readers together in fresh ways, a sort of “best practices” for libraries looking for new tools to bring book lovers together online.

So part of my sadness about the lawsuit and fandom reaction has been an awareness of a massive loss of innocence, a lessening of freedom and openness to new ideas that I remember from early fandom. I know, I know, it was not always sweetness and light *coughshippingwarscough*, but we were so unself-conscious, so proud of our dorkiness, so unshielded, so glad to find people online to share it with. What the hell are we doing to ourselves? How is it that we seem to have been taking lessons from Seamus all along, and not Dumbledore? What does it say about people that a community centered upon books that celebrate tolerance, integrity and individual responsibility can turn into angry factions bent on wounding and punishing each other?

I think I am finally getting over the loss of fandom as a place I can escape to, but my sorrow over where we find ourselves is profound. Potter fans, let’s see if we can build bridges and stepping stones together, and remember how to have fun again.

More photos from Riikka's visit

2008-03-29T09:32:00.012-07:00

A Visit from Riikka

2008-03-28T16:06:00.005-07:00

Riikka Jäntti, the Finnish artist behind the Accio Quote! Artwork, is visiting America! She spent a week with us in Tucson where we were blessed with fabulous weather and lots to do.

Riikka brought me copies of her delightful book, Nokikätkön ritarit ja Kuuhiisi (The Knights of the Sooty Nook), and kept us enthralled with her sketched account of her travels via Amtrak from New York to Chicago to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, to Tucson. In the picture on the left she is drawing the sunset over the Avra Valley in Tucson Mountain Park. She says she will send us scans of it when she gets back.

Riikka, it was awesome to finally meet you! I hope the rest of your trip is full of adventures too.

1997-2007 in review

2008-01-01T01:15:00.000-07:00

Both Mugglenet and The Leaky Cauldron have posted retrospectives of the last ten years. Mugglenet's is an extensive timeline, and TLC's is a thrilling movie montage. If they used Accio Quote in their research, I hope it was helpful!

Mugglenet Presents... the Decade in Review 1997-2007
10 Years in Harry Potter, A Video Retrospective by The Leaky Cauldron

“J.K. Rowling, A Year in the Life” available online

2007-12-31T00:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's ITV1 broadcast of “J.K. Rowling, A Year in the Life” is now online for everyone to view! There are a few ads first. Thanks ITV.

On the whole I thought the show was lovely, although unlike the famous BBC “Harry Potter and Me” show, there is little new canon.

However, I think the title is a misnomer. Rather than being entirely about “a year,” we get a nice look at Jo’s roots with highlights of events from 2007. Among these are the moment she finishes Deathly Hallows (January 11), the hand off of the manuscript to her agent, a meeting of the worldwide publishers, footage of the book being printed, the OotP film premiere, the book launch at the Natural History Museum (and bits from world launches), at home baking in her kitchen for her son David’s birthday, and at a planning session for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park.

Other highlights:

it is lovely to see Jo with her sister Di joking about old photographs,
a stronger sense of place for towns where Jo spent her childhood,
she is franker than I can remember about her relationship with her father,
watching Jo draw the family trees of Harry and his friends,
the wrenching scene in her old flat in Leith.

What were your favorite bits, or observations?

Make your own wands

2007-12-31T00:17:00.001-07:00

I'm always on the lookout for Potter crafts for our library's Potter parties, so I was very happy to see excellent instructions on DadCanDo.com for making wands out of paper, acrylic paint and glue from a glue gun. These are as good as some wooden wands I've seen! Appropriate for teens with supervision because of the glue gun. Hmmm. Perhaps you could use glitter glue instead...

Canon summaries posted

2007-12-29T02:09:00.000-07:00

The canon summaries for the last several interviews have been posted on the 2007 listing over on Accio Quote!

The big news today is that the third trailer for the December 30 ITV1 documentary contains information on the second generation of Harry's friends and their families. All three trailers are available on The Leaky Cauldron's YouTube page, and Jo's diagrams of the families is above.

Update: The door on Jo's Website is open with the drawing of the tree with additional information on Draco's family.

New JKR feature in Time Magazine

2007-12-19T23:32:00.000-07:00

Time Magazine has announced that author J.K. Rowling was a runner-up for the 2007 "Person of the Year." The current issue of the news magazine has a lengthy article and Jo's answers to ten questions! So here is the new quotage and canon:

"Runner-up: J.K. Rowling" by Nancy Gibbs

Although the bible verse "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" on James and Lily's grave is the "theme for the entire series," Jo is not trying to convert her readers to Christianity.
"It is perfectly possible to live a very moral life without a belief in God, and I think it's perfectly possible to live a life peppered with ill-doing and believe in God."
"I'm opposed to fundamentalism in any form," she says. "And that includes in my own religion."
On Wizard rock activism: "It's incredible, it's humbling, and it's uplifting to see people going out there and doing that in the name of your character," [...] "What did my books preach against throughout? Bigotry, violence, struggles for power, no matter what. All of these things are happening in Darfur. So they really couldn't have chosen a better cause."
"He's [Harry's] still mine," she says. "Many people may feel that they own him. But he's a very real character to me, and no one's thought about him more than I have."
On the epilogue: "I kept arguing that 'love is the most important force, love is the most important force.' So I wanted to show him loving. Sometimes it's dramatic: it means you lay down your life. But sometimes it means making sure someone's trunk is packed and hoping they'll be O.K. at school."
Jo is currently writing two books: an adult novel and a "political fairy tale."
"If, and it's a big if, I ever write an eighth book about the [wizarding ] world, I doubt that Harry would be the central character," she says. "I feel like I've already told his story. But these are big ifs. Let's give it 10 years and see how we feel then."

Rowling Answers 10 Questions About Harry

JKR chose the people who came to walk with Harry in the forest as he was going to his death because they were in some way were parental for him, or gave up their lives for him.
Having Harry's blood in him was a bit of "goodness" for Voldemort, and gave him one last chance. If he had repented he would have been healed to a remarkable extent.
Voldemort's Avada Kedavra succeeded in "killing the part of him that is not truly him, in other words, the fragment of Voldemort's own soul that is still clinging to his. The curse also disables Harry severely enough that he could have succumbed to death if he had chosen that path."
Harry was right to feel repulsed by the baby-like remains of Voldemort's shattered soul.
What did Dumbledore really see in the Mirror of Erised?
JKR: "His family, alive and whole and reconciled."
Harry and Voldemort are distantly related through the Peverells, but you could say the same about Harry and most other wizarding familes.
Draco Malfoy marries Astoria Greengrass, the "younger sister of the Greengrass family."
Jo repeats her earlier assertion that Ron's adult career was working at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, where he "does very well."
Tonks was a Hufflepuff.

Roonwit's list of new canon

2007-12-18T20:52:00.000-07:00

Roonwit has made a summary of the new canon in the PotterCast interview! Here it is for your reading pleasure...

Rowling on PotterCast!
The first part of Jo's PotterCast appearance in now up. There are summaries of what was said below. There are of course SPOILERS included.

Helga Hufflepuff gave the Hogwarts House Elves good working conditions (which was the moral thing to do at that time).
In The Tales of Beedle the Bard
- The Wizard and the Hopping Pot - the moral is to teach young witches and wizards to use magic altruistically
- The Fountain of Fair Fortune - (her favourite) about the qualities you need to achieve your heart's desire (magic isn't the best option).
- The Warlock's Hairy Heart - A dark, gothic tale. Voldemort would have done well to know this one before starting his reign of terror.
- Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump - (a stupid title) one witch's revenge on muggle persecution.
Beedle the Bard was originally invisaged as about 30 tales but shrank to 5 when Jo realised she was going to hand write them.
Horcri was considered as the plural to Horcruxes, but Jo didn't want it too similar to inferi.
The first Horcrux was probably made by Herpo the Foul [cf. the Basilisk entry in Fantastic Beasts].
The making of a Horcrux is a dangerous and evil thing, one of two things Jo considers might be too horrible to explain (the other is how Wormtail fashioned the child-like body for Voldemort).
John Dawlish was originally powerful, but was weakened by Dumbledore's and subsequent attacks on him. However Augusta Longbottom is still a formidable opponent.
Being gay in the Wizarding world is less of an issue (to those who care about such things) than blood status.
Dumbledore, the great defender of the power of love, was made a fool by it. Grindelwald was almost his dark twin, Dumbledore wanted to believe he was good, and he appeared to offer a solution of the problem of caring for his family.
Harry isn't really a Horcrux, which needs to be made intentionally. He wasn't an evil object with curses on him, and wasn't contaminated by it except on occasions in OotP when it fed off the dark time Harry was going through.
Harry's scar hurts when the soul piece in him is drawn back to the master piece of soul in Voldemort
The scar is the wound through which the soul piece found its way into Harry.
The two-headed smoke snake was Dumbledore detecting that Voldemort's soul had split like this.
Harry had to die to get rid of the soul piece in him, being poisoned by the basilisk but cured wasn't enough.
Neville is the-boy-it-could-have-been. Harry has an edge more talent, particularly an instinct of the right thing to do which makes him such a good auror, but Neville proves by the end of the books that he could also have done it had Voldemort chosen him.
Bellatrix went after the Longbottoms because they were efficient and successful at their jobs as aurors.
James and Lily were asked out of school to join Voldemort, but they rejected him.
Dumbledore knew what happened at Godric's Hollow because of an alarm spell on the house, but Jo couldn't remember if there was an explanation for the 24 hours until Harry arrived at Privet Drive.
The Encyclopedia or "Scottish Book" is currently planned to be half facts and backstory within Harry's world, and half discarded plots and commentary on planning and what went in or not. Jo only wants to write it if it is amazing, she doesn't what to have to rush it out.
Jo thinks of Hannah Abbott as pure blood (though she might be muggle born in Jo's notes.) She is landlady at The Leaky Cauldron.
Jo was under pressure to do a fan club, but created her website as a better solution.
There will be no more WOMBATs. She was told for legal reasons that it would be a bad idea to release snippets of information about DH, and saw the WOMBATs as a way of giving the fans something, though WOMBAT 3 had a lot of hints concealed within it. Jo might put up the answers.
Harry and Ron didn't go back to school and were aurors, but Hermione did another year at Hogwarts to get her NEWTs. Kingsley wanted anyone in the Battle of Hogwarts on the right side, who was old enough, to help clean up the Ministry (including Ron, Neville and Harry).
Hermione went with Harry and Ron through Deathly Hallows because ultimately her heart was bigger than her brain; she isn't naturally drawn to battle.
Jo was sad that she wasn't going to write a Hogwarts graduation scene.

Rowling to be on PotterCast!

2007-12-16T20:25:00.000-07:00

Today The Leaky Cauldron announced that J.K. Rowling would be the featured guest on next Tuesday's PotterCast. Leaky staffers Melissa Anelli, Sue Upton and John Noe were on hand for the first extensive fan interview since 2005. Melissa promises new canon and lots of fun, so stay tuned.

Tales of Beedle the Bard sells for nearly $4 million U.S.

2007-12-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, translated from the original runes by J.K. Rowling, an entirely handmade book, sold this morning for £1.95 million ($3,985,410 U.S.) in London. The buyer was later announced to be Seattle, Washington-based online merchant Amazon.com. The Children's Voice, a charity co-founded in 2005 by Rowling and Baroness Nicholson is to receive the proceeds.

The book is bound in Moroccan leather with hand-chased silver bosses set with moonstones; there are only 6 other copies in existence. It's 157 hand-written and illustrated pages contain 5 wizarding fairy tales: "The Fountain of Fair Fortune," "The Warlock's Hairy Heart," "The Tale of the Three Brothers," "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot," and "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump."

Amazon does not have the rights to publish the book; however they say they will post reviews of the stories and more photographs. According to the Associated Press, Amazon spokesman Craig Berman said the company plans a tour for the book of libraries and schools.

December 16, 2007: Well, all 5 of the reviews have been posted, and they make delightful reading. I especially appreciate how the Amazon editor described things like how Jo's handwriting changed during certain parts of the stories, and how the drawings foreshadowed each tale. Bravo, Amazon! And thank you for sharing your treasure with all of us.

Amazon: pictures, reviews, a video, and a forum for questions
Associated Press report

Here, there be artwork

2007-11-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

Last week I met author/illustrator James A. Owen and he told me about Every Picture Tells a Story, a store in Santa Monica California that sells artwork from children's books. I found all kinds of wonderful artwork, prints by David Wiesner, Mo Willems and David Shannon, but also a series of Mary GrandPre Potter prints I hadn't seen for sale before -- AND concept art from the movies. Now I have to figure out how I can afford one.

P.S. I am enjoying Owen's book Here, There Be Dragons, very much! He drew a dragon in every book he signed, and gives pointers on drawing them on his blog.

Lengthy interview for De Volkskrant

2007-11-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

There is a new interview of J.K. Rowling in the newspaper De Volkskrant, her second ever for her Dutch readers. In this interview she talks about her spiritual development, the King's Cross chapter, and Deathly Hallows meaning and symbolism.

I am working on posting an interview sent to us by Peter Kersbergen. In the meanwhile, the text in Dutch is here (flash animation), and The Leaky Cauldron also has a translation.

"Beedle the Bard" announcement transcripts

2007-11-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

Meann has completed two transcripts, one of the BBC Radio broadcast, and one of the BBC's video of Jo's announcement. Both reports were by Razia Iqbal, but were edited differently. There is a bit of new information:

"The Tales of Beedle the Bard" consists of 5 stories set in JKR's Wizarding world, continuing the same themes in a different time period.
Only 7 copies exist; the book will never be published.
Jo thinks what she publishes next will be a "half-finished book for children."

Thanks Meann!

"Tales of Beedle the Bard" to be auctioned

2007-11-01T06:55:00.000-07:00

In a surprise announcement, Jo tells us on her website that she wrote The Tales of Beedle the Bard as a thank you gift for 6 people who worked closely with her on the Harry Potter books over the years, and that she will auction the seventh copy off at Sotheby's for charity. The Sotheby's site shows screencaps and the book is chock full of Jo's drawings too! Here is Sotheby's description (it will make you drool, I promise!):

Autograph manuscript of “The Tales of Beedle the Bard ” translated from the original runes by J.K. Rowling. Individually handwritten and extensively illustrated by the author, c.160 pages written in an Italian hand-made notebook, bound in brown morocco embellished on upper cover by Edinburgh silversmiths Hamilton and Inches, with five individually hand-chased hallmarked sterling silver ornaments and mounted moonstones.

AQ staffer Jules has purchased the auction catalog so we will have more soon.

Reports in the media: BBC, CBBC, The Leaky Cauldron.

Transcript for Toronto press conference

2007-10-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

AQ staff Meann and roonwit have created a transcript for the 10/22 press conference in Toronto. Jo had a microphone but the reporters asking the questions did not, so many of the questions were unintelligible. The video for it is here: CBC.ca.

Highlights:

There wasn't a point at which Rowling decided that Dumbledore was gay; she gradually realized it "very early on" while she was writing the first book.
Rowling "probably" won't write a prequel.
JKR: "He [Dumbledore] is my character, and as my character I have the right to say what I say about him."
Most of the tweaking of the epilogue was to remove information; the biggest change was the addition of information about Teddy Lupin.
Rowling still plans on working on a Hogwarts encyclopedia, but not immediately.
Hermione would read Margaret Atwood's books; Harry and Ron don't read much as adults.