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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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Squib
Points: 171
Cheyanne Granger says:
That would be so cool if the book did come out on 07/07/07. We have all been waiting so long that I don't think I could stand to wait much longer than that.
Posted Mar 9, 2006 at 8:52 AM EST
Squib
Points: 188
Her_My_O_Ninny says:
I think that date would be wonderful, especially since it's very special to me too. That's the date of my engagement and wedding anniversary! I, also, agree that the number 7 has a great significance in the books.
Posted Mar 10, 2006 at 2:45 AM EST
Sorceress of Ink
Points: 5003
~*Something Special*~ says:
Mwahaha...7 has been my fave number for a looooooong time especially since its my birth date [Nov 7]
And I think it would be really cool if the book could be published on that day :)
Posted Mar 10, 2006 at 7:22 AM EST
Parselmouth
Points: 29083
Thestral Eyes says:
Bah i didnt see this news article until now, that serves me right for not coming on hpana i suppose. Hope it does comeout then, it would make sence and as it says, it WOULD be perfect to release it on that day...*fingers crossed*
Posted Mar 10, 2006 at 2:08 PM EST
Points: 7
tenebrusmke1979 says:
I just would like to let people know that July 7, 2005 was a fateful day in London. If anyone remembers (like me, and I am sure most of the people here from LONDON), that day was a day of pain, sorrow, and death for 60 people including one who was a Harry Potter fan. That day happened because terrorists bombed the Underground and a bus in London... and releasing the book, on the second anniversary of that day would be insulting and insensitive. I would hope that JKR would never be like that. I hope that it would either be the week before or the week after that date.. since it would be less volatile to do it that way. I may be saying that I don't care if she doesn't release it on July 7.. but I wouldn't want people celebrating on a day that death happened to take one fan of Harry Potter and 59 others. Disagree with me if you want, but I know that I will not celebrate on that day.
Posted Mar 10, 2006 at 2:27 PM EST
Guardian of the Realms
Points: 5601
A&Agang says:
It would be interesting if they do publish it on that date. I am hoping that it would be published at that date since that would great. But that bombing thing is unfortunate. That might conflict with what people want with people grieving for their loss.
Posted Mar 10, 2006 at 3:55 PM EST
Squib
Points: 161
Moriarty says:
tenebrusmke1979I live in kent,I know exactly what you mean about 7/7/5. I think the release would have been good for that date, but I don't think the would release it then if pepole were gonna be upset by it. But some people might want it to show that the terrorists didnt damage london as a whole, or its people.(I know it did but do you get what I mean right?)
Posted Mar 10, 2006 at 4:39 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 727
fawkesfire says:
This is a Great Theory cheeser and I'm wondering if it could actually be possible poking in with J.K's Love of the Number 7... Thank You For Your Over view to make sure we can understand this as it is just a theory...
Posted Mar 10, 2006 at 7:31 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 436
Mugglemagics says:
I heard before this (as in rumours) that it would be coming out on the 07/07/07 but now i believe that it may actually be true!! yep, it would DEFINITELy be a coincidence...how cool would that be?!
But then again, how are we supposed to wait that long?!! it's soo long and i still don't believe that's the last book..what's going to happen after that?!! NO more HP?!!!
*frowns sadly*
Posted Mar 11, 2006 at 2:24 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 369
I_love_mormon_girls says:
Not only is 7 special to the book but in everday life as well such as the 7 wonders of the world the lucky number 7 the list is literaly endless.
Posted Mar 12, 2006 at 2:36 AM EST
Squib
Points: 190
harrys-spirit says:
i did expect that it would come out in the summer like the Halv-blood prince, but i wanted it to come out a little erlier. mayby around the time when the 5th movie come out.
Posted Mar 12, 2006 at 11:49 AM EST
Squib
Points: 118
Dan Em Rup Fan 2011 says:
That will probably happen. I hope so, but I hope she takes her time since it is the last book. I wish she would make more than 7 HP books like have a series of Harry's kid going to Hogwarts. That would be awsome!
Posted Mar 12, 2006 at 1:26 PM EST
Witch
Points: 701
Kelly Ann Snape says:
I don't know if I can wait over a year to read the next book. I am already driving people crazy with my theories already. Maybe she will give us some more clues to give us obsessed a break.
Posted Mar 13, 2006 at 12:17 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
(Moderator)
Points: 1562
lbaylor says:
I think that would be cool if it came out 07/07/07. Hopefully that is the plan and it really happens.
Posted Mar 15, 2006 at 9:27 PM EST
Squib
Points: 120
kylieluvshp says:
Honestly I think that would be really cool if it came out on 7/7/07, but I would much prefer to have it come out before then...its just so far away!
Posted Mar 16, 2006 at 9:36 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 9
tarheelprin says:
I have mixed emotions about the release of book 7. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait for the book to be released, but at the same time I will be sad. Sad, because the story will be completed and there will be no more story to look forward to. But, I agree, that she can't pass up an opportunity to release book 7 on 07/07/07.
Posted Mar 17, 2006 at 2:27 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 27
rons_girl_007 says:
I think it would be way to perfect. however much we want it to happen I highly doubt that it will. I want to come out as soon as possible and I don't want anything bad to happen to harry in it it would make me cry.
Posted Mar 17, 2006 at 3:27 PM EST
Witch
Points: 781
deathlyhallows says:
If it was released on the 07/07/07 it would be really cool! But i expected it to come out on the 31st of July 2007, which would be JK's birthday, as well as Harry's.
Posted Mar 18, 2006 at 4:57 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 67
mechnic says:
The coincidences are all planned out to pull you away from the actual plot. don't be fooled.
Posted Mar 20, 2006 at 5:23 PM EST
Squib
Points: 198
Annetteg says:
An interesting theory, but we'll just have to wait and see.
There has always been hints about the number seven in the books, so maybe this has been in the workings all along?
I'll read it whenever it comes out anyway!
Take care,
Annette
Posted Mar 22, 2006 at 10:47 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 3
JessiLS07 says:
I can't wait for the seventh book, cooincidentally, I just finished the sixth tonight. I wonder if Harry will go back to Hogwarts for his seventh year to learn everything, any ideas?
Posted Mar 23, 2006 at 12:51 AM EST
Friendly Deaf Angel
Points: 5268
Friendly Deaf Angel says:
It weared because everything in Harry Potter has to end with the numeber 7. but i cant wait for the book.
Posted Mar 24, 2006 at 1:13 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 38
HPlover000 says:
I can't wait for the seventh book! I am going to have to read all the books repeatedly in order to keep myself sane until then!!!
Posted Mar 25, 2006 at 2:14 PM EST
Points: 3
Battosai says:
Now I what do you think about Harry himself being a horcrux? Is it possible? He could be the "Griffindor" horcrux
Posted Mar 25, 2006 at 8:31 PM EST
Witch
Points: 830
Barbarian Black says:
Keeping my finger's crossed and my Avatar running!!
Posted Mar 27, 2006 at 2:29 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 51
GryffindorGirl22 says:
That cool i cant wait 4 the book to come out i will take the day off from work.
Posted Mar 29, 2006 at 10:00 AM EST
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