HP in Canada: It's a wrap

The Canadian run of HP5 is complete.

Potter First to Former First Lady

New York Senator and former Hillary Rodham Clinton's highly anticipated new book, Living History is still second to Phoenix in Amazon.com orders, according to a report in the New York Daily News.
Also, the Shreveport Times notes that "while local booksellers report getting no requests or a few per day forContinued...

USA Today: Tracking Potter's readers' growth

Thanks Christopher, for pointing us to this USA Today article, which discusses the Potter audience as it ages, and expectations for Phoenix among that population. Quotage:

Erin Meyers, 18, of Tyler, Texas, is excited, but she won't be wielding a wand on June 21. Having begun the series at 15, the incomingContinued...

Entertainment Weekly's Letter to JKR

Thanks to the reader who sent this; from the June 6 issue of Entertainment Weekly is this funny, tongue-permanently-stuck-in-cheek, piece:

DEAR MS. ROWLING:
It has come to our attention that your children's novel Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is scheduled to be released on June 21. Frankly, weContinued...

Events, Contest in Richmond Indiana

The Palladium-Item has an article that talks about a rather large mall-wide launch party at the Richmond Square Mall starting at 9pm and closing after all books are sold (around 12:30am).

What's one trait of your favorite Harry Potter character you wish you had?

To previewContinued...

Book Page Mag article

Thanks Robin, for pointing us to this Book Page article that discusses the release, possible plot points as released in the Scholastic summary (spoiler warning), the auction (though not "Get a Clue"), and a list of book parties that needs help from Meet Up and Read In's database, where over 2,000 signees areContinued...

Potter Book Thief Sentenced

According to the BBC, Donald Parfitt managed to skirt a jail term and was sentenced today to 180 hours of community service and £55 of court costs.

Scholastic Updates Site, Creates Parent's Guide

A visit to Scholastic's Web site has shown it to be remade with the Harry Potter look and feel. Also, in an effort to get parents up to speed (like most parents haven't read the book), they've created a Harry Potter Companion.
Stay tuned for the winners of Scholastic's competition dueContinued...

Amazon Receives over 1 Million Pre Orders for OotP

Amazon.com put out a press release today with some interesting statistics.

To-date more than 550,000 copies of "Harry Potter and the
Order of the Phoenix" have been ordered at www.amazon.com. At
2.8 pounds a piece, that's more than 770 tons of Harry Potter
magic - nearly 3.5 times theContinued...

Harry Potter & Christianity

An interesting commentary on Christianity & Harry Potter from Christianity Today.

BBC Exclusive to Interview Rowling on June 19th

Set your calendars and ready your Quick Quotes Quills - Jeremy Paxman from BBC's Newsnight has already interviewed Rowling in a show set to air on June 19th.

Rowling tells Paxman about Order of the Phoenix, gives him a taster from the new book, and provides an insight into the inspiration behindContinued...

Rowling Event at Royal Albert Hall to be Webcast LIVE

According to the AP, the big event at London's Royal Albert Hall will be webcast live at http://www.msn.co.uk/harrypotter starting at 12pm EDT. Microsoft says it has the ability to reach children in 34 countries in 18 different languages.
Here's the best part:

Before the event, childrenContinued...

Business 2.0 on Potter Secrecy

Business 2.0 has an article talking about the unprecedented secrecy surrounding the printing of Book V.

Win a Copy of OotP Signed by Chris Rankin AKA Percy Weasley

BBC Norfolk has a competition to win a signed copy of OotP by Chris Rankin who plays Percy Weasley in the movies. Just follow the quiz and find the codeword.

BBC Seeking Potter Fan from Northern England!

Are you a rabid Potter fan who lives in Northern England? Specifically North Yorks, Co Durham, Cleveland/Teesside, Tyne and Wear and parts of Cumbria ? If so, the BBC wants to interview you for a possible television feature. EMail us your name, city you live in and email address where you can be contactedContinued...