Harry Potter Fans Face Wizard Drought in 2001

LONDON - Harry Potter fans face a wizard-free 2001.
JK Rowling, whose tales of an intrepid teenage wizard have sold 90 million copies in 43 languages, has produced a Potter book every year for the past four years.
But the author is heavily tied up with overseeing the first Harry Potter film, supervising merchandising deals and writing two special short stories for charity.
Christopher Little, Rowling's literary agent, told Reuters on Thursday: "She is working on book five and it is ready when it is ready. I think we would be looking at a 2002 publication date."
The book's current working title is "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."
Potter fever gripped children around the world with the publication of each new book about his rumbustious childhood at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Previous Potter titles caused bookshops to open at midnight as children queued eagerly for books delivered in security vans. Parents looked forward to some peace and quiet as their offspring dug their noses into the latest volume.
Publishers said Rowling, who has been garlanded with awards, was singlehandedly responsible for getting children to rediscover the joys of reading in the age of the computer.
She also waved her magic for Bloomsbury Publishing Plc whose profits rose by 120 percent last year. The firm hailed Rowling's fourth book -- "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" -- as the fastest selling book in history.
After their annual profits climbed to $8.3 million, Bloomsbury Chairman Nigel Newton said: "Harry Potter is a long-term asset that will continue to generate significant earnings."
"In the short-term the film of book one, due for release at the end of the year, will trigger a huge awakening of interest among those who have yet to read the books, expanding the market significantly," he said.
For the teenage sorcerer is currently making the transition to the silver screen with child actor Daniel Radcliffe playing the young wizard.
Fans in the United States will see "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" but the British version will retain the book's original book title of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."

"Harry Potter Fans Face Wizard Drought in 2001"

by Paul Majendie (Reuters, March 28, 2001)

	"Harry Potter Fans Face Wizard Drought in 2001" by Paul Majendie (Reuters, March 28, 2001)
LONDON - Harry Potter fans face a wizard-free 2001. JK Rowling, whose tales of an intrepid teenage wizard have sold 90 million copies in 43 languages, has produced a Potter book every year for the past four years. But the author is heavily tied up with overseeing the first Harry Potter film, supervising merchandising deals and writing two special short stories for charity. Christopher Little, Rowling's literary agent, told Reuters on Thursday: "She is working on book five and it is ready when it is ready. I think we would be looking at a 2002 publication date." The book's current working title is "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." Potter fever gripped children around the world with the publication of each new book about his rumbustious childhood at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Previous Potter titles caused bookshops to open at midnight as children queued eagerly for books delivered in security vans. Parents looked forward to some peace and quiet as their offspring dug their noses into the latest volume. Publishers said Rowling, who has been garlanded with awards, was singlehandedly responsible for getting children to rediscover the joys of reading in the age of the computer. She also waved her magic for Bloomsbury Publishing Plc whose profits rose by 120 percent last year. The firm hailed Rowling's fourth book -- "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" -- as the fastest selling book in history. After their annual profits climbed to $8.3 million, Bloomsbury Chairman Nigel Newton said: "Harry Potter is a long-term asset that will continue to generate significant earnings." "In the short-term the film of book one, due for release at the end of the year, will trigger a huge awakening of interest among those who have yet to read the books, expanding the market significantly," he said. For the teenage sorcerer is currently making the transition to the silver screen with child actor Daniel Radcliffe playing the young wizard. Fans in the United States will see "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" but the British version will retain the book's original book title of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."