Harry Potter author JK Rowling updated her Twitter account with a quick note letting us know that it’s going to be a little difficult for her to update Twitter as she’s too busy writing.
This is the real me, but you won’t be hearing from me often I am afraid, as pen and paper is my priority at the moment.
What exactly she’s writing isn’t known…any ideas?
Thanks to MN.
The Telegraph are reporting that J.K. Rowling is the best selling author of the decade in their list 0f authors who sold the most books between 2000 and 2009.
J K Rowling, who has seven of the decade’s top 10 bestsellers, sold 29 million books with a sales value of £215 million, but Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code was the bestselling book of the decade, selling 5.2 million copies to 4.4 million for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Read the entire list here.
We previously reported that Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe were noted in The Guinness World Records 2010 The Book of the Decade for the ““Highest-Grossing Actress of the Decade” and the “Highest-Grossing Actor of the Decade”. Although it is now noted on the Guinness World Records website that Samuel L. Jackson is the highest-grossing actor of the decade, Emma Watson still retains her status. It is also noted on the website that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has received the highest earnings for a children’s author in the past decade.
The site quoted the Forbes Celebrity List (released on June 11, 2008) regarding Ms. Rowling’s earnings:
“Her adventures of teenage magician Harry Potter and his classmates at Hogwarts became a children’s literary sensation in 1998 with the US publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the US title of the first Harry Potter book. It and the six subsequent books have now sold 375 million copies worldwide. The final volume, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has sold 44 million since it was published in July 2008, including 15 million copies sold in the first 24 hours.”
Thanks to Alex for the tip!
Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films) and J.K. Rowling attended the British Comedy Awards this past Saturday night. Jo was the presenter for the outstanding contribution to comedy award which went to Peter Kay. You can see a photo of Jo at the ceremony here and Tom here.
Source: SS
J.K. Rowing has bought a new home in Barnton, which is a suburb of Edinburgh. According to the Edinburgh Evening News, she became interested in the home because of its security features. The move means she will leave the area that she is currently in called ‘Writer’s Row’.
Congratulations, Jo, on your new home!
Entertainment Weekly have posted their Best of the Decades, and Harry Potter received a spot in three different areas.
Goblet of Fire came in at #8 under Books: The 10 Best of the Decade.
8. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (2000)
The fourth Potter novel was the darkest yet, forcing poor Harry to contend with Death Eaters run amok and the loss of a major character. That it also encompasses some of the series’ most purely fun moments of escapism is proof of Rowling’s versatile gifts.
Harry Potter came in at the top with Entertainers of the Decade: Your Picks!
Harry Potter
The Entertainer of the Decade is obviously Harry Potter — a franchise that covers all the cultural bases, selling books, movie tickets and merchandise. Fans whip up butterbeer batches, obsess over John Williams’ iconic score, even listen to ”wizard rock.” College students actually play Quidditch (and when someone comes up with the right jet-propulsion technology, they can play it for real). Millions of people all over the globe watched J.K. Rowling answer questions about Deathly Hallows on television. Unlike anything else, Harry Potter has literally taken over the entire world.
Heck, Harry Potter has actually inspired new entries into the Oxford English Dictionary! Muggle is now an actual, accepted word. If that doesn’t point to influence, I don’t know what does. And unlike the vast majority of names suggested by EW readers for this list, Harry Potter has actually been around (and consistently popular) for the entire decade. —James
J.K. Rowling came in at #15 for 15 Entertainers of the 2000s.
J.K. Rowling
As 1999 came to a close, J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter were already household names — as long as those households contained literate children with a voracious appetite for fantasy fiction. In 2000, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire — the fourth book in the British author’s seven-book cycle — ignited a global pop phenomenon that got the attention of all readers, young and young at heart. By 2007, the planet was both eagerly anticipating and deeply dreading the release of the final Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. When it finally arrived, it became clear that Rowling had nailed one of the decade’s greatest artistic achievements: finishing not just bloody well, but brilliantly. —Jeff Jensen
Source: MN
JK Rowling has donated a signed copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to be auctioned to help benefit The Hibiscus Children’s Center. Many other celebrities donated a signed copy of a book to also help funds for the center as well. The books will be auctioned through eBay beginning November 9the through the 18th. The winning bidder gets a ‘phone ticket’ to bid during the Laughing Out Loud For Literacy show at the Elliott Museum in Stuart, Florida on November 20. The entire collection of books is currently on display at the museum. You can see photos of the book Jo signed in our gallery here and here (thanks to SnitchSeeker).
MTV has a preview of the biographical comic book on J.K. Rowling that we previously told you about. The comic book is an unauthorized biography and is being published by Bluewater Productions as part of their Female Force line. The preview shows how Jo struggled with her oldest daughter as a single parent, trying to get her Harry Potter books published, and how the magic unfolded. You can see the preview over at MTV right here.
Source: MN
Upon checking J.K. Rowling’s website I noticed there were a few changes. The previous diary is no longer on the main page (see an older screen shot here). Instead, the notepad now gives us information on everything we want to know about Jo. It includes a small biography, her books, honors and awards, the charities she supports, and the films.
Also, her site has also been updated with a birthday wish to Professor Flitwick!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FILIUS FLITWICK!!!
Harry Potter author JK Rowling and French actress Clemence Poesy (Fleur Delacour in the Harry Potter films) were seen this past week in Paris during Paris Fashion Week. Jo attended the Stella McCartney show last Monday. Clemence was seen yesterday during the Chanel fashion show. You can see photos of Jo here and Clemence here.
Source: SS
Warner Bros have provided fansites with a video and loads of new photos from the LEGO Harry Potter Years 1 - 4 game. The photos are specifically from years 1 - 2 (Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets). They include some great screen shots of Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, Platform 9 3/4, the Troll, Hermione, Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, Draco, and much more. Check out the many new photos in our gallery beginning here. And here’s the video (thanks to MN):
Thanks much to WB for these awesome photos and video!
