From The Atlantic:
In a much-anticipated press event this morning, J.K. Rowling announced the launch of Pottermore, a new website meant to bring all-things-Harry Potter to the Web. It was revealed in a leaked memo yesterday that a central focus of the site would be an online gaming experience developed by the company Adam & Eve that will include real-world prizes such as magic wands secretly scattered throughout Britain and the United States. But the launch revealed that the site will be much more than that, though it does appear to include some gaming elements.
And here’s the woman herself:
More about JKR’s reasons for setting up Pottermore, and the interesting (to me!) discussion about which e-book format they’ll use, are at The Atlantic‘s site as well as elsewhere.
cynth says
After reading the Atlantic article, in which they seem to think Ms. Rowling is just a money-grubbing author, I’m curious to see how things turn out. It’s a curious and interesting twist, don’t you think?
jules says
Do you ever wonder what it’s like to *be* her? Hardly a profound comment I’m leaving here, but it’s all fascinating — how huge she is and her personal story of transformation (as in, starting this novel in a coffee shop as a divorcee single parent and then becoming the superstar she is).
John says
cynth: There’s probably a grain of truth in The Atlantic‘s claim that the main incentive is financial. If so, though, I still can’t get worked up about it. She seems to have worked out a really attractive balance between success-begetting-success, and staying “normal” (and generous, and good-hearted, and…).
I’ve read a number of reports which declare that this news will remake publishing. Not convinced, here; that she can pull off a deal like this, with her influence (and presumably contractual power) says nothing at all to me about the ability of plain-old authors to follow suit.
John says
jules: I find it really hard to dislike anything about JKR’s backstory — or about her, for that matter. The odds of it all having worked out as it has seem so incredibly minuscule. That it has worked out this way to someone who seems actually nice and normal, well, we’re talking miracle here!
Jayne says
Oh, the fantasy here! What did the dormouse say? Do we really know?
I love Vonnegut rushing in with his perspective. Of course, I love anything and everything Vonnegut, so when I see him–and I do see him, instant visual of old Kurt, his sly grin, in my head–I instantly stand to attention. (It’s funny, though, the Deadeye Dick excerpt you pulled–like Hemans’ “burning boy” poem”–has been parodied several times. Everyone has their own version!)
I wonder what Vonnegut would think of JKR’s idea??
I’m torn. At the one hand, it’s brilliant to add another dimension to the Potter story. It’s sci-fi actualized (or as close as we can come to it presently). Yet, like the movie versions of her books, it taint the mind’s initial experience with the story. Not to say that’s a bad thing. Maybe the story can’t really be tainted. After all, it’s fantasy!
And this is where we are right? We could say that augmenting literature with multi-media enhances the experience. Though it would seem there’s the risk that hi-tech versions of the story diminish book sales. I supposed there’s money from either angle.
All that said, I think Pottermore is a fascinating option. It certainly a platform that will appeal to her readers, and will bring in new readers. And if Rowling makes a boatload of cash from it, who cares? Good for her. I love her backstory.
(Forgive my, ugh, lack of clarity here. I’m just waking to the “real” world–I jumped off the grid for a good three days and thoroughly enjoyed literature in its purest form, which for me, can’t be enhanced.)
Jayne says
HAHA! Wait- this is how utterly confused I am (said with a beet red face.)! I have melded two posts into one! You know, it kind of works, though right?! Oh my gosh–I need to go back to bed. Working on too little sleep here !!
Now – I’m going to take another look at your most recent post. But first, a little breakfast. That might help. ;)
John says
Jayne: I’m so relieved that you were at least as confused as I about that melding, and that you came to the same conclusion as I did. I kept thinking, like, “But this sounds like it refers to that other post… but wait, no, she’s back again about this one… wait, now she’s referring to her own Suburban Soliloquy post, and my comment there…?!?” :)
(In the same spirit, I should reserve an ACTUAL reply to this comment and leave it, oh, say, at someone else’s blog altogether… (That IS Grace Slick on the soundtrack, nicht wahr?)
Jayne says
Yes, yes! It’s true-Grace Slick! LOL–maybe I should just keep my shoeless feet firmly on ground rather than prancing around cyberspace… or maybe the danger is staying away from space for too long thereby forgetting how to sail through it.
Er, uh, about JKR: You go girl!
(Still, what would Vonnegut say?) ;-)
John says
Haha, Vonnegut would sort of frown, bemused, and he would pick a flake of tobacco from his tongue (he smoked Pall Malls all his life), and then he would look up out of the tops of his eyes, smile, and say something gnomic like So it goes, in that flat voice.
marta says
Love the paper cutouts in the video! I love JKR too. Hurray for her. For the cynics I give not a wit.