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DECEMBER 27, 2005 at 2:35 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
Editor's Note: This was a commentary (opinion piece) published in 2005. The official release date for book 7 has now been announced (and I was only two weeks off!). You can pre-order it now as well.
Harry Potter 7 will be released July 7, 2007.
At least, it should be. While this date has no doubt already crossed the minds of many fans, JK Rowling's recent revelation that "2006 will be the year" she writes the final book lends itself entirely to this theory.
That, and it is the biggest stroke of magical marketing luck so far this century. The book simply can't not be released on 07/07/07. It's too perfect.
It just so happens that July 7, 2007 is a Saturday. It just so happens that every Potter book since Goblet of Fire has been released on a Saturday (presumably to allow kids and their parents to attend those midnight release parties without undue hardship). It just so happens that July 7 falls right in the traditional June-July release window during which the other books were released. (Finally, while less relevant but still interesting, 12:00 a.m. on Saturday will be 7 p.m. Friday in the U.S., where the most Potter books have been sold to date. Fans on the east coast, already lined up to buy their copies, will see book 7 released across the pond at 7 p.m. local time - what a coincidence.)
Rowling has hinted at the significance of the number 7
, most recently in August when her official site's Wizard of the Month was an arithmancer who discovered the number's magical properties. In Half-Blood Prince, it was revealed that Lord Voldemort had made seven horcruxes (himself included). Quidditch teams have seven players each. Gryffindor Tower's entrance is on the seventh floor at Hogwarts. The list goes on and on.
I can see it now: the biggest marketing campaign in the history of publishing, with one very short, very simple, very effective message: Book 7. 07/07/07. Woe betide the marketing departments at Bloomsbury and Scholastic if they don't clinch what's obviously the most perfect storm of circumstance, desire, product and marketing the world may ever know.
Not that the book needs to be released on any specific date, though. As one of the planet's most successful authors, Rowling probably has the luxury of turning in a manuscript no sooner than when she sees fit. Fans will line up when told to. And it's up to her editors and publishers to polish, prepare and print it. One last consideration, from a business standpoint, is to ask if it makes sense to bump up against the next movie's release (and Order of the Phoenix will be in theatres July 13, 2007). Unfortunately, July 7 will also be the two-year anniversary of the London terrorist bombings (thanks to a reader for pointing that out).
No true fan would begrudge Jo for taking her time. But I must wonder if she also feels this coincidental "aligning of the fates" is something special, something magical, something to take advantage of. As a fan, I can only hope she does.
I also hope Jo doesn't find this speculation absurdly presumptuous. I hope she realizes it's our duty to poke and prod and ask and beg and whine and plead. How would that be any different from the last five years?
We certainly wouldn't want to disappoint her.
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Witch
Points: 541
ProfMM says:
Fun idea about the 07/07/07 release date. I doubt that the OoP release will interfere with the release of the book...I can't imagine that someone as smart as JKR & Bloomsbury didn't put down in writing that they have choice of release dates for books and that Warner Brothers has to adjust from there...besides, it's in the best interest of WB to get all of the books on the market as quickly as possible considering that they want to get the movies made before Dan, Emma and Rupert turn 30.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 10:37 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 41
Elenah says:
I'm soory because the harry potter's story will be finished
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 10:43 AM EST
The Fifth Marauder
Points: 2771
Curious Werewolf says:
Yeah, that would be cool! 7/07/07, AND it's Book 7, it just has to happen! And what if it was released around the same time as the OotP film, imagine all the Potter craze caused then! It would be chaos! Oooh...I sooo cannot wait for OotP film and I soooo cannot wait for Book 7, hurry up 2007!
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 1:33 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 32
JenDan22 says:
It would be very cool if it did release on 7/7/07 because that is the day that my fiance and I decided to get married. I know I will be reading it on my honeymoon if it is released that day.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 1:39 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 314
I'm Rad says:
That'd be cool if it was one 07/07/07. Oh i can't wait till the seventh book~!
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 2:05 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1099
Gryffindor*Girl says:
I think that would be a totally great theory if every single little comment about Book number seven that would be awesome!! As for if it was released than that would be awesome again!! But it might overlap OotP.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 2:43 PM EST
Witch
Points: 734
yuko says:
Wow wow wow!!! I already told all my friends!
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 3:58 PM EST
Lady of Hufflepuff
(Moderator)
Points: 10339
Lady Lee says:
7/7/07. Hmm...That would be quite the coincidence if that was the date JKR originaly had planned for the debut of book 7. Considering that the number 7 does come up quite a bit throughout the Harry Potter books, can we view that as a sign of when the next book comes out? I hope so although I seriously wouldn't mind having Book 7 come out sooner than July 07.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 4:08 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 91
Brooklyn Padelecki says:
Counting down the days! 1 year 6 months 1 week and one day! MAN I AM GOOD! WHAHOO!
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 5:37 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 362
lioness says:
I must say that was a well written commentry, actually made me laugh out loud.
Cannot wait and so very excited...
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 5:50 PM EST
Queen of Mount Doom
Points: 3519
Luna83 says:
So....7/7/07?? Not bad, but i cant wait that long. A YEAR! That's like forever... I hate waiting, specially this one! Looking at the bright side, the releasing date is easy to remember! It's kinda funny!! *laughs by herself* Why am i doing this?? But still... yeeeeeaaaarrr!!!
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 6:06 PM EST
rockstar
Points: 2857
Harry_J Potter says:
>.O Only a year and a half (presumably)... If this report turns out to be true... and lets hope it is... (wouldn't it be something is we knew the release date before JKR?) then, well, cool. Hehe
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 7:32 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 418
shimmeraei says:
yeah, that'd be facking nice, wouldn't it? But you know, if she waits until 2008 to make us all desperately anticipate it...that'd be cruel. But I'm waiting for some sort of let down like that.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 8:45 PM EST
Squib
Points: 110
EmmaWatson_Fan says:
Wow! that is soooo wonderful! It's toooooooo far away though!! ugh.... it's going to be great!
Audrey
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 10:17 PM EST
Squib
Points: 175
PadyPadfoot says:
That's brilliant, but I'm dreading that day, Harry Potter won't have any new adventures (if he lives). I always thought 69 was the "magic number".
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 10:37 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 368
Prince of Slytherin says:
I can't wait!!! Book 7 is gonna be awesome
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 12:19 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1049
thirsty4hp7 says:
That would be so cool. I think that book seven will have a great deal to do with the # 7. IT's a little weird but I bet Jo has a point to it.
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 12:50 AM EST
Gryffindor's Dark Lord
Points: 4430
Quidditch2008 says:
Makes sense to me. Lucky number 7... hey, with the arrival of 2006 tomorrow, it's only 1 year, 7 months and 7 days away! Begin the countdown!
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 12:58 AM EST
Cryptologist
Points: 3010
Veronica Smethley says:
Well, I am almost sure that book seven might be released on 7/7/07! Can't wait!
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 1:07 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 337
sarahpatrick says:
07/07/07....
THAT'S A very powereful number....
oh.. this is so cool..
can't wait....
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 1:38 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 334
~hp Roxx~ says:
This would really be great.But still I think it is not mere coincidience.
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 1:59 AM EST
Lil' Auror Dude
Points: 4731
Renegade Alpha says:
I can't believe i's that soon. I mean although it's not for sure it's still probably gonna be about then becuase it's usually summer.
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 7:06 AM EST
Witch
Points: 609
Athena says:
WOW!!! Great point! And if you think about it, there was two years in between the releases of 5&6 (2003-2005) So another two years should be what we were expecting- I know I was! I'd resigned myself to the fact that it's not suddenly going to come out tomorrow :(
And you're right Cheeser- seven is mentioned an awful lot in the books! Though I have to mention one thing- LV split his soul in to seven bits therefore he made six Horcruxes. The magical strength of the number seven is tied to his soul.
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 7:35 AM EST
Points: 35
Amorida says:
Wow how ironic....7 is also a powerful number in Christianity as well.
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 7:52 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 480
sneha_luvs_ron says:
WOw I never thought that book 7 will be released on 07/07/07.she might do that after all 07 is a very powerful number in the magical world.That would definitely be interesting. Coincidence of course, but interesting. We'll have to wait and see.
LOVE U RON
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 8:03 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 31
Minister of Mystery says:
07/07/07, that would be really great (magical). But if it is released 07/07/07 it's 533 days left.
Well, that is sufficient time to re-read the other 6 books.
Posted Dec 31, 2005 at 10:48 AM EST
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