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Today JK Rowling buried a time capsule as part of the start up on a research clinic for patients with neurogenerative diseases.

JK Rowling donated £10m to the clinic, which is located at the University of Edinburgh, and will be named after her mother, Anne, who died of Multiple Sclerosis when Jo was 45 years old.

The time capsule contains written accounts from patients with MS and other neurodegenerative diseases, contributions from clinicians, current treatments, and hopes for the future.

Ms Rowling said: “I am both delighted and moved to be marking the start of the official building work for the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic.

“This time capsule captures how it is for people living with MS and other neurodegenerative diseases right now, and the current state of research.

“I believe that this clinic will have a huge positive effect on both of those areas in the future. I am enormously impressed in what has gone into setting up the clinic so far, and I look forward to seeing it completed and making further great strides in research and treatment.”

You can see a short video of Jo putting the time capsule in the ground here.

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MTV have posted a video that includes an interview with J.K. Rowling where she admits that the battle that takes place between Snape and Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was originally drafted as a Snape vs. Harry battle. However, she doesn’t like stories that don’t allow females to fight, so she put McGonagall in the battle instead.  She explained, “I don’t like the marginalization of women when the fighting breaks out. We get to fight too. I really wanted that.”

The video, which also includes an interview with Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), is part of the featurettes included with the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Blu-ray or DVD.

You can pre-order the U.S version from Amazon at the following links (release date November 11th):

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (+ UltraViolet Digital Copy)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (Movie-Only Edition + UltraViolet Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 DVD

You can pre-order the UK version from Amazon at the following links (release date December 2nd):

• Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)[Region Free]
• Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 – Triple Play (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) [Region Free]
• Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 DVD

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 We previously reported that one of the special features in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack is a conversation between J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter).  According to an article posted by the Daily Telegraph, Rowling admitted to Radcliffe that she had played with the idea of having Harry Potter’s best friend Ron Weasley killed:

“Funnily enough I planned from the start that none of them would die,” Rowling said. “Then midway through, which I think is a reflection of the fact that I wasn’t in a very happy place, I started thinking I might polish one of them off. Out of sheer spite. ‘There, now you definitely can’t have him any more’.

“But I think in my absolute heart of heart of hearts, although I did seriously consider killing Ron, [I wouldn't have].”

Click here to read the complete article.

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According to an online report, J.K. Rowling received a benefactor’s award for her “remarkable act of philanthropy” at a ceremony held at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.  The award was presented to the Harry Potter author by Princess Anne.  The occasion was due to the £10 million donation Ms. Rowling made to the university last year to establish a new multiple sclerosis (MS) research clinic as well as to formally install Her Royal Highness Princess Anne as the university’s new chancellor:

Professor Sir John Savill, head of the college of medicine and veterinary medicine, said the money will have a “major impact” on the university and has already given hope to thousands of people with incurable diseases.

Addressing the open air ceremony in the Old College on South Bridge, Sir John said: “In 2010, Jo Rowling made a donation of £10 million to the University of Edinburgh to establish the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic.

“The clinic is named after Jo’s mother, Anne, who died after complications related to multiple sclerosis at the age of 45 – the age at which Jo made this most significant gift to Edinburgh.

“While multiple sclerosis will be at the heart of the research initiative, people with the many other diseases caused by neurodegeneration, such as motor neurone disease, are likely to benefit from discoveries made here.”

Click here to read the complete article.

Source:  Mugglenet

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We previously reported that J.K. Rowling agreed to appear in an episode for the BBC TV edition of the show Who Do You Think You Are?  UK viewers will follow the Harry Potter author as she traces her family roots.  The episode was broadcasted last night in the UK.  Today, BBC TV has posted the episode for a limited time on its iPlayer.  Click here to watch.  Unfortunately, it is not available to be viewed by non-UK residents.

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 Happy Birthday, J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter!

Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born on July 31, 1965 in England and grew up in Chepstow Gwent before she eventually and currently lives in Scotland.  More details of her life and her current activities can be read here on her official website.  An unauthorized biographical film, Magic Beyond Words:  The J.K. Rowling Story,  about her journey on writing the first Harry Potter book has been recently broadcasted on Lifetime TV.  It can now be viewed on the network’s website until August 11. Click here to view it.

As for Harry Potter, he was “conceived” on Ms. Rowling’s delayed train journey from Manchester to London in the late 1980′s.  For the next five years after that inspiration, Ms. Rowling wrote notes and outlines about Harry’s life and his world for all seven books in her series about the boy wizard.  Twelve publishers actually rejected him before Bloomsbury in the UK and eventually Scholastic Books in the US were interested in publishing the story of Harry Potter approximately ten years after he was “conceived”.

With the opening of  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, FL and the release of the two final Harry Potter films Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2, Ms. Rowling has had quite a year; and now, we hope she has another brilliant year with the new site Pottermore and stories to tell, but most of all, a happy year for her and her family.

And Harry, we hope you live forever!

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 We previously reported that an unauthorized biography film was being made on the life of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.  And now tonight,  Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story premiered at 9:00 pm EST on Lifetime TV.  It will air again tonight at 11:00pm EST and tomorrow (July 24) at 7:00pm EST.

Here is a summary of the film posted on Lifetime’s website:

“Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story” dramatizes the British author’s struggle to bring the beloved wizard fantasy of Harry Potter to life. Starting out as a single mother on welfare, she becomes one of the world’s wealthiest women, with more than 400 million copies of her visionary books sold across the globe, resulting in a billion-dollar film franchise. The film is an inspiring look at a woman’s rise to become one of the most influential writers ever — from her humble beginnings as an imaginative young girl and awkward teenager to the devastating loss of her mother and the genesis of the Harry Potter phenomenon in her early twenties. The rags-to-riches tale also follows Rowling’s tumultuous first marriage, becoming a mother, her divorce and the dark days of living on government assistance while publisher after publisher passed on her first novel … before it became an international best-seller and established Rowling’s rightful place in literary and cultural history.

Coincidentally, the child actress who portrayed Rowling as a little girl has the last name Watson like the actress Emma Watson who portrayed “Hermione Granger” in the film adaptations of the Harry Potter books.  Click here to see her photo in the midst of other photos from the film.

UPDATE:  The film is now available for viewing on the Lifetime website until August 11, 2011.  Click here to watch it.

The site also posted one-minute bonus videos from the film:

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JK Rowling is scheduled to be on the first episodes of the upcoming season of Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC One later this year.  The website has been updated to show she is scheduled for their premier episode but does not include a date.

As soon as we have a confirmation on the date the show airs we’ll let you know.

Source: SS

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We previously told you that JK Rowling was set to make an announcement today as part of her Pottermore unveiling.  She made the announcement on her official JK Rowling Announces YouTube site that Pottermore will include an exclusive place where fans can purchase the Harry Potter audio books, and for the first time e-books, on her Pottermore website.  It will be a place where fans of any age can gather and be a part of Potter.  She also stated that she will include more content from the stories that she’s ‘hoarded for years.’

Here’s some of what she had to say:

I’m thrilled to say I’m now in a position to give you something unique.  An online reading experience unlike any other.  It’s called Pottermore.  It’s the same story, with a few crucial additions, the most important one, is you.  Just as the experience of reading requires that the imaginations of the author and reader work together to create the story so Pottermore will be built, in part, by you, the reader.  The digital generation will be able to enjoy a safe, unique online reading experience built around the Harry Potter books.  Pottermore will be the place where fans of any age can share, participate in and rediscover the stories.  It will also be the exclusive place to purchase digital audio books, and for the first time, eBooks of the Harry Potter series.

I’ll be joining in too, because I will be sharing additional information I’ve been hoarding for years about the world of Harry Potter.

Pottermore is open to everyone from October, but a lucky few can enter early and help shape the experience.  Simply, follow the owl.  Good luck.

Here’s her announcement:

Read the rest of this entry »

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We previously reported that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has created Pottermore, a new website for fans of the boy wizard and his world.  There has been a lot of online speculation as to what kind of site it will be:  i.e. role-playing, purchasing Harry Potter e-books, or an interactive encyclopedia on Harry and his world, or all of the above.

Fortunately, we fans won’t have too long to wait for an answer.  Ms. Rowling has also created a YouTube channel where “the owls are gathering” for her video announcement in 6 days (and counting!) which hopefully will uncover the secret of Pottermore!

Source:  Barnes & Noble Official Facebook Page

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