The author in her own words

Publishing

Questions are sorted in chronological order. Most recent ones are at the bottom.

Question on Finishing with book seven

Did you always plan to write Harry's story in more than one book? If so, how many?

I always conceived it as a seven-book series because I decided that it would take seven years -- from the ages of 11-17, inclusive -- to train as a wizard, and each of the books would deal with a year of Harry's life at Hogwarts.

(Source: Scholastic interview - 00-00-1998 )

Question on Life after Harry Potter

Do you have any plans to write books for adults?

My first two novels -- which I never tried to get published -- were for adults. I suppose I might write another one, but I never really imagine a target audience when I'm writing. The ideas come first, so it really depends on the idea that grabs me next!

(Source: Amazon.co.uk - 00-00-1999 )

Question on Book The philosopher's stone

Was it hard to get Harry Potter published?

It was a year after finishing the book before a publisher bought it. The moment when I found out that Harry would be published was one of the best of my life. By this time I was working as a French teacher and being serenaded down the corridors with the first line of the theme from Rawhide ('Rolling, rolling, rolling, keep those wagons rolling...'). A few months after 'Harry' was taken for publication in Britain, an American publisher bought the rights for enough money to enable me to give up teaching and write full time - my life's ambition.

(Source: Rowling, My life so far - 00-00-1999 )

Question on Finishing with book seven

Will there by any more Harry Potter books?

Yes, even back on that train I saw it as a series which would follow Harry to the end of his schooldays at Hogwarts (seven years). So in the final book, Harry will have come of age in the wizarding world, and ready to leave the Dursleys at last.

(Source: UKOLN - 00-00-1999 )

Question on Translations

The Harry Potter books were first successful in the U.K., and then in the United States. Where else has Harry Potter been released?

Harry is now published, or will be published shortly, in Britain, America, Brazil, Holland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Japan.

(Source: Borders.com interview - 00-06-1999 )

Question on Changing words in US edition

What kind of manuscript changes had to be made to make the U.S. version more understandable to American readers? Specific things, like the title change of the first Harry Potter book?

Very few changes have been made in the manuscript. Arthur Levine, my American editor, and I decided that words should be altered only where we felt they would be incomprehensible, even in context, to an American reader. I have had some criticism from other British writers about allowing any changes at all, but I feel the natural extension of that argument is to go and tell French and Danish children that we will not be translating Harry Potter, so they'd better go and learn English. The title change was Arthur's idea initially, because he felt that the British title gave a misleading idea of the subject matter. We discussed several alternative titles and Sorcerer's Stone was my idea.

(Source: Borders.com interview - 00-06-1999 )

Question on Translations

Are the Harry Potter books being translated in other languages, like Portuguese/Brazil?

The Harry books are available in Portuguese, both a Portuguese and a Brazilian version.

(Source: Chat session - 03-02-2000 )

Question on Translations

How many languages is the book published in?

Oh goodness! Twenty-five, I think!

(Source: Chat session - 03-02-2000 )

Question on Finishing with book seven

Is it true you're doing 7 books, one for each year that Harry will be at Hogwarts?

Yes, it is true.

(Source: Chat session - 03-02-2000 )

Question on Titles of the 7 books

What is your next book going to be called?

I'm still not going to tell you! ;-)

(Source: Chat session - 03-02-2000 )

Question on Book The goblet of fire

Will it be the biggest?

No, I think book seven will be. Seven's going to be like the Encyclopaedia Britannica, because I'm going to want to say goodbye. I always knew four would be a long one, but I didn't know it would be this long. But it had to be. I've got no regrets. That's how many words it took to tell the story I needed to tell. I like it. I'm very pleased with it. It's definitely the book that gave me the most trouble. But then "Chamber of Secrets" gave me a fair amount of trouble. Bizarrely, it seems that the two that were the most hell to write were the two I like the best.

(Source: Newsweek, Malcolm Jones - 10-07-2000 )

Question on Release of book five

I'm hooked! My son and I read them every night. Thank you so much for giving us this time to share something so wonderful together! He's to be Harry for Halloween. We'd like to know how soon for the next book (like everyone else), but mostly just wanted to thank you for sharing Harry with us!

That's wonderful to hear, thank you. Well, book five is underway, but I don't yet know when it will be available. It'll be ready when it's ready, is the best I can say!

(Source: Chat session - 16-10-2000 )

Question on Covers in different countries

Why was a different cover illustration chosen for the books sold in the United States? Why do those books have illustrations at the beginning of each chapter but the British books do not?

Publishers choose to do things differently, and I'm glad about that. It's very exciting for authors to see their work in many different versions. I love the look of the American books, especially the chapter illustrations.

(Source: Chat session - 16-10-2000 )

Question on Changing words in US edition

After the first book, you stopped converting English words to American words. Is there any reason for this?

Actually, we didn't stop, but the number of words that were changed has been greatly exaggerated! We only ever changed a word when it had a different meaning in "American," for instance, the word "jumper," which in England means "sweater" and here, I believe, is something that only little girls wear!

(Source: AOL Chat hosted by Jesse Kornbluth - 19-10-2000 )

Question on Release of book five

When does book five come out?

I don't know! It isn't likely to be next July, but you shouldn't have too long a wait. I am writing it already.

(Source: AOL Chat hosted by Jesse Kornbluth - 19-10-2000 )

Question on Release of book five

Do you find the whole secrecy issue, the need for secrecy, a bit ridiculous?

No not at all. Well, a lot of it comes from me. I mean, of course one could be cynical, and I'm sure you would be disposed to be so and say it was a marketing ploy, but I don't want the kids to know what's coming. Because that's part of the excitement of the story, and having - you know - sweated blood to create all my red herrings and lay all my clues to me it's not a... this is my,this is my... I was going to say this is my life, it's not my life, but it is a very important part of my life.

(Source: Newsnight interview, Jeremy Paxton - 19-06-2003 )