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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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Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1252
*Indi Zabini* says:
Because it is the last book I really wouldn't mind wait so long for it to come out. After the book comes out, the only thing to look foward to is the next three movies. And after that there's nothing. Harry Potter is finally coming to an end.
Posted May 17, 2006 at 12:41 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 627
Yappa says:
I think that Jo writes so fast that she will finish early, by that I mean soon. I can see it released for Christmas of 06. Just hewr saying that what was planned for 2 chapters took 4 chapters and that she typed another half chapter thanks to Andy of mugglenet shows how she writes.The only question I have is why is she typing if she writes long-hand. Is she typing because the book is done and she doesn't want her secretary to read the last book?
Posted May 17, 2006 at 6:26 PM EST
Points: 2
Rubaiya says:
HARRY POTTER book7 is a much awaited novel for HP fans.Well to give my opinion I say that there are many tangled threads which have to be spun properly.I think that our super hero has to meet a tragic end when he completes the downfall of Voldemort.I know that if this assumption take turn into reality then it is the biggest news of grieve for Potter fans,isnt it?dont u agree?
I suppose u all might have heard that there are rumours that the last word in the novel will be scar of which Hermione asking Harry "Harry!where is ur scar" that means that with the end of Voldemort the scar from Harry's forehead vanishes but we never know wht Jk has in store for us to read in book7.So I think u all will agree that it is too tough to pass this year & hungrily waiting for 2007.
Posted May 22, 2006 at 12:43 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1011
Fflewddur Fflam says:
My friend is getting married on the 6th...he is going to face quite a problem on his wedding night. Do I read, or do I...?
Posted May 23, 2006 at 9:56 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 465
Angel Of Music <3 says:
Yeah. That is an awsome idea, the 07/07/07 thingy, but i don't want to wait until then! But if it winds up being next year, it will definatley be worth waiting for anyways!
Posted May 23, 2006 at 10:09 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1437
allilau says:
Well it's all been so well thought, from the humble beginnings on the train where it began to the finale!!! 07/07/07 will be an important thought in many person's minds if this develops!!!
Posted Jun 1, 2006 at 1:20 AM EST
Witch
Points: 733
PhantasmKiss says:
Ooooooooh, I want that to be true! That would be ...indescribably cool! (And yes, I was an English major) Just a few days after my birthday, standing in line for the final book in my favorite series, which is also on a once-in-a-lifetime date (because every date isn't once-in-a-lifetime)!
Posted Jun 2, 2006 at 12:20 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2011
brenpotterfans says:
That would be wonderful if the book came out on that day, but I think it will take away from the movie release.
Posted Jun 2, 2006 at 6:47 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 56
destfairy says:
I like the thought of the seventh book coming out on 07/07/07. I think it would make one of the best summers ever.
Posted Jun 9, 2006 at 1:45 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3647
Anastasia Popovick says:
How exciting! 7 is my lucky number! I only wish and hope and pray for a definite release date soon.
Posted Jun 10, 2006 at 9:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 844
~Silver Potion~ says:
How perfect! That would be a brilliant marketing scheme, let alone the fact that nobody would forget when it came out! Maybe the stars will align and bring us the book 7/7/07. The wait is long, but I'm sure that it would be well worth it!
Posted Jun 12, 2006 at 5:47 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 2
Lm_melgoza says:
Cool but i dont want to wait that long...
Posted Jun 13, 2006 at 11:43 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 453
sparkle_fairy92 says:
That would be SO cool! Its along ways to wait but I know that book will be worth the wait. I am so excited that I can hardly type. I know that this is only rumor, but acually I hope that is a heck of alot sooner then that though!
Posted Jun 14, 2006 at 4:49 PM EST
Squib
Points: 165
kella says:
I hope it is released then! That woul dbe so amazing! But I really just want the book now...
Posted Jun 16, 2006 at 10:32 AM EST
Auror
Points: 3647
Anastasia Popovick says:
While the date is perfect! I just don't know if I can wait that long! It's killing me now to know what happens next!!!
Posted Jun 16, 2006 at 10:32 PM EST
Student
Points: 271
Germz says:
Cool, can't wait 'till it comes out!!!!!
<3 Germz.
Posted Jun 19, 2006 at 4:42 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1147
Spirits*of*Fire says:
Since hearing that the movie date is so close to 7/7/07 I am starting to doubt that the book will be released then. I would be great if it were (or heck even earlier would be better!) but it's not looking too good for us. Why would they put the movie & book releases so close together? It would not be in their best interests to do so but if they move OotP's release back or even forward if possible then we've got a shot!
Posted Jun 20, 2006 at 7:05 PM EST
Whimsical Flautist
Points: 2519
Minstrel in the Gallery says:
I really hope book 7 comes out on 7/7/07. That's like the biggest coincidence of the century. That would be so awesome.
Posted Jun 21, 2006 at 3:41 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 346
Order_Member_#1 says:
I want it to be in 2006 ! It would so awsome!
Posted Jun 22, 2006 at 11:56 AM EST
Prof. Alfred W. Mandoore
Points: 2445
JAYSTARR says:
Brilliant...What a coincidence with so many sevens 7-7-7-7, just like in the Omen 6-6-6. But, I feel this will not be the last book of Harry Potter.
Posted Jun 22, 2006 at 12:18 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2621
hbluvhp says:
I just don't see this happening.... great analysis and theory though. It's just too close to OotP release and too good to be true that we'd get that much HP in a short time span...life just doesn't work that way. I've got an even better idea for a release date though... how about tomorrow?
Posted Jun 23, 2006 at 6:58 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1865
Crookshanks2 says:
What a week that will be, if Book 7 is released on 07/07/07, then Order of the Phoenix film is on 13/7/07, which happens to be my birthday!
Crookshanks2
Posted Jun 25, 2006 at 8:53 AM EST
Student
Points: 264
SnitchSeeker1 says:
So much speculation. The book will be out when the book will be out.
Posted Jun 26, 2006 at 10:34 AM EST
Points: 3
Rocco says:
I don't think 7/7/07 is a good release date for the book because it is also the second anniversary of the Kings Cross Staion bombing.
Posted Jun 28, 2006 at 12:09 PM EST
Witch
Points: 525
Draco'z Devil says:
I really dont think that it matters what day the book is released on.
Posted Jun 28, 2006 at 4:31 PM EST
Squib
Points: 112
~*Tracey*~ says:
I really wish we could find out when the 7th book will be done. I mean yeah it would be cool if it came out on 07/07/07 and its the 7th book because yeah seven in the magical world is a good number> I want to read the book.
Posted Jul 5, 2006 at 4:07 PM EST
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