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NOVEMBER 24, 2003 at 10:18 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: Contact Music via Wizard News
According to Contact Music, author J.K. Rowling's father is "unleashing secret details
from her massively popular Harry Potter novels, in an attempt to raise over $200,000 (GBP125,000)."
In the letter written at the start of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK reveals character Ron Weasley is based on a family friend called Ronald Ridley - something the author was keen to keep private.
It reads, "Dear Dad, If I had said Ronald (Weasley) Ridley, they would have tracked the poor bloke down... but that's why Ron's called Ron, of course!"
The sale will take place at Sotheby's in New York on Dec. 10, 2003.
[Editor's note: My question is why is he trying to raise cash - is it for a good cause?]
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Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 9051
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
This is really sad. It would be a poor thing for something to get out in a way not planned by JKR. This seems funny. I think there is more than meets the eye here and it will develop over time.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 10:24 AM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
If he is not disclosing these secrets for charity, nor if this was not authorzed by J.K. Rowling, I think Mr. Rowling shouldn't reveal those secrets as the media would start going after those who influenced J.K. Rowling's writing. I hope we hear more of this in the near future too...If these secrets, however, disclose future plots, like the card released last December, they'll be a major success. Watch the fans raise money once more and their attempts to learn the truth will be foiled by some rich person...
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 10:29 AM EST
Marauder
Points: 3954
jade says:
I do not think he should reveal any of the secrets these are the things that JK wanted to keep private. It has not been authorized by JKR which makes me think that maybe he is doing this for selfish reasons and not for charity!
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 10:34 AM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23488
KT Lady says:
Yea, I agree with you guys. Part of me would really like to know lots of secrets but I think in the long run Id wanna find out by reading the last two books. Unless theyre not secrets about the series but just little snippets of information like the Ron Ridley thing. But I hope hes doing this with her permission..and like jade said, not just for charity!! beacause that would be wrong!!! *tsk tsk*
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 10:59 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2289
Snufflesmom says:
I would hope that if I had as much money as JKR, I would be willing to lend the old fellow a couple of bucks rather than have these "secrets" revealed before the publication of book 7.
But, they do things differently in the UK I guess.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:11 AM EST
Head of Gryffindor House
Points: 3725
Professor McGonagall says:
Well, if her dad is trying to raise money for charity, the way he's doing it is not very loyal. Why just don't ask her for the money ????
For a good cause? I don't think so. I mean how can a father do that to his daughter's creation? How can he betray her trust like that. This is revolting, i mean, J.K. really didn't need that on top of what she's facing that's similar to this, especially not from her own father ! She's working so hard to keep some subjects about the book very very private.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:12 AM EST
Editor of the Squibbler
(Moderator)
Points: 2031
eudaemonia says:
In that auction listing JK even circles a publishing number on one of the books he's auctioning and writes "Guard it with your life" -- so, yeah, this is strange. That drawing of a gnome is cute though. It's the only accurate illustration of it out there (at least I think so since Jo's the one who drew it).
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:14 AM EST
Gryffindor Chaser
Points: 3637
Angelina Johnson says:
I agree with you PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL all the way!
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:24 AM EST
Witch
Points: 552
Gir Vasquez says:
You would think her own father would respect her decision to keep some things secret. Poor JK.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:32 AM EST
Witch
Points: 681
SiriusLove says:
There's got to be more to this than meets the eye. At least I hope so! Not only would it be rotten if he was selling JKR's secrets without her knowing it, but what kind of Dad would sell a very personal gift such as this? Very sad. It'll be interesting when we know the entire story.
If you look at the rest of the items in the auction, #169 has an inscription that when pointing to the fact that it was a first edition JKR writes, "Guard it with your lives!!!"
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:38 AM EST
Gryffindor Diva
Points: 5496
Deanna says:
Whoa. That really sucks. Honestly, I don't want to find out until I'm supposed to. I'd be really angry if someone ruined the surprise and the fun for everyone else. :-P
Deanna
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:44 AM EST
Points: 790
M. Sebastian says:
Did you see the estimated price set on the book. Unbelievable. Somehow I feel charity has nothing to do with this. As JKR seems to get along with her father (at least at the time of the dedication), why would he feel it necessary to do this. She is a generous woman and would never want to see her father in need. Also why would he want to sell something so personal as others have noted. I'm sure we have not heard the last of this.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:48 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 321
Kim Weasley says:
I don't get it. The big secret is that Ron is named after a family friend? I think it's pretty sad that JKR's dad would sell off what should be a treasured gift, but I don't think it's really giving away much. Unless what everyone is saying is true- there is more to this than meets the eye.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:49 AM EST
Chief Magic Investigator
Points: 4910
EagleOwl says:
My guess is this is just some kind of publicity ploy for whatever the reason for the raising of this money. It didn't say that he was doing this against her wishes, that he has any ill intent, or that JKR is upset about it. IMO, that article is worded specifically to lead the reader into jumping to those conclusions, and as the general public loves a scandal, that guarantees a lot of exposure. I'm sure there will be more info on this at some point, so we'll see then. I have to think that if Peter Rowling was doing this against his daughter that he would have no end of attorneys jumping all over his backside, so really, what are the chances that this is as scandalous as they make it out to be? I predict that the worst that will come of this is that every poor bloke in the UK named Ron Ridley will have the media beating down his door in the next couple of weeks.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:50 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1826
snapelupinfan says:
Hmm, I really don't know what to think about that. I would be very disappointed if it was my father and I didn't give him the permission to sell this. Maybe she has allowed it? I can remember a TV special here in Germany not long ago where she was shown with a youth friend who was a kind of model for Ron Weasley. I just can't remember his name, but if it was the same person (and why shouldn't it?) it is no secret any longer.
Although I'm very curious about all the secrets in Harry Potter I'm quite sure I don't want to know all of them (maybe a bit more about Snape, of course!), I can remember that I was very angry to get to know who is going to die in book 5 right after I've bought OotP. It is not the same reading if you know about the best parts already!
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 11:57 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1093
neoepiphany says:
First off, how big of a hint is this? Unless we actually know Mr. Ridley, what else have you really learned? We all know JK often bases her characters off real-life people. So how is this a really new hint? (Pity if your name happens to BE Ron Ridley, though.)
And anyway, surely she knows her dad is selling the book? If, as I hope, he's selling it for a good charity, then I reckon she'd encourage him. She's always been active in charity work.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 12:02 PM EST
Magical Creature
Points: 3064
Phoenix Feather says:
I don't know about this. Sotherby's is a private auction house. If it were for charity it would have been mentioned. I think he needs money and is "cashing in" on his daughters celebrity. I really doubt, though if the secrets have anything to do with the upcoming books, more likely they are things like were mentioned in the article, about who certain characters were based on and the like. She could sue him for revealing plots of her future books even if he is family.
All that is in the auction are his signed first editions. None of the other books have any other "secret" information. The comment "Guard it with your lives" refers to the fact that it is a first edition copy so it will be rare and worth something. I would think that they would mean more to him for the fact that they had come from his daughter than their monetary value.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 12:43 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1147
Spirits*of*Fire says:
Hmmm... this seems like a tricky situation. I think if JKR doesn't know about this book or isn't endorsing it then I think it's wrong of her dad to publish it. The book would obviously reveal things that JKR did not want to be revealed & it's wrong of her father to do to that. Mr. Rowling should value his daughter's wishes (not to mention she told him this in private, trusting that he wouldn't blab) more than profits. It's just wrong, IMO.
Now if JKR supports this book that's fine. I might not get it now, 'cause I want to read ALL of the books before I learn the secrets. Personally, I think those sort of works should be published after all the books come out, not in the middle.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 12:53 PM EST
Student
Points: 276
Sam 2 Sar says:
I really hope he is doing this for charity. I think it is a dispicable thing to do to your daughter and her creation.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 12:54 PM EST
Student
Points: 224
Diasco says:
I don't know, wouldn't you think he would ask first? He's her dad, and she obviously is close with him(judging from what she wrote to him), so I mean, I think he would ask...don't you?
As for the charity thing...I agree, if he's just doing this for personal gain, that's kinda shady. Otherwise, it's all good.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 1:00 PM EST
Student
Points: 223
dreamngirl24_7 says:
He must have asked her for her permission first because there must not be a lot of important further information. I mean that is really cool and now people will be looking for who this guy is but I bet he asked for his daughters acceptance before doing anything. I mean it's great it's for charity and he'll be helping out a lot of people. I'm an optimist so I look at the positive side. I would also love to know what other small details are written in the book. There's also not a lot of information regarding it so I think a lot of people will question his motives
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 1:21 PM EST
Half-Blood Prince
(Moderator)
Points: 945
Professor Scoots says:
I agree - this is really sad!! I just hope that this fool doesn't ruin all her hard work and give away meaningful storylines! If is is trivial things like who is based on whom from her life and things like that - well still troublesome, pathetic and sad, but not critical. If he leakes future storylines and damages the series then it will be criminal!
I don't think the charity aspect has anything to do with this...I mean JKR is really generous in her own right. It is not as if Jo is hording her money and not giving back. This seems like a stunt by Jo's father to get his name in the paper. This whole issue can only serve to take away from all JKR has accomplished.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 1:40 PM EST
Lethifold
Points: 2864
Snitch Sox says:
Why don't we just wait for Jo to comment? She'll surely come out in support of her father as everyone is slagging him off or if she stays silent we can conclude she's not impressed.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 2:16 PM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3837
hermionefan1 says:
Ok i think it pretty messed up of the father to give out JKR's secrets like that. He should have respect for her. IF she gave him permission, then its ok, but i don't think she did. I mean that Ron secret is a big one to give away.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 2:27 PM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
I am appalled that a family member so close to JKR could do something like this!
What is the money for? Charity might make this seem okay. Personal greed and gratification would make her dad out to be a monster. Let's hope it is charity.
And let's hope he does not give anything too big away. I would hate to see the plans JKR has for the books given away for money.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 2:32 PM EST
Student
Points: 253
Emma724 says:
I'm wondering if JK approves of this.
Posted Nov 24, 2003 at 2:53 PM EST
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