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JKR pens 800-word 'Harry Potter' prequel for British charities 
MAY 28, 2008 at 9:43 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: Chicago Sun-Times via Yahoo! News
Author J.K. Rowling has penned an 800-word Harry Potter prequel with all proceeds from an auction on June 10th going to English PEN
, the writers’ association, and Dyslexia Action.
According to the article:
Waterstone’s Booksellers Ltd. says the cream-colored A5 papers — each slightly bigger than a postcard — were distributed to 13 authors and illustrators, including the boy wizard’s creator J.K. Rowling, Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing, novelist Margaret Atwood and playwright Tom Stoppard.
Rowling used both sides of her card to hand-write a prequel to her seven-book Harry Potter saga, while Lessing penned a story about the power of reading. Stoppard wrote a short mystery and Atwood was due to fill out her card remotely using a robotic arm controlled by computer linkup.
Organizers refused to comment on the content of Rowling’s Harry Potter prequel, but Hogwarts fans hoping for another book to add to their collection may be disappointed by her signoff.
"From the prequel I am not working on — but that was fun!" Rowling wrote.
Copies of the cards will be put into a book and made available at Waterstones and online in August.
UPDATE: Thanks to Jon for letting us know that the prequel will be about "the fictional wizard's father James and his friend Sirius Black in their younger years."
Reader Comments (44)
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Prof. of Cultural Literacy
Points: 4219
PowerGranger says:
I can hardly believe this story is true, especially the part about the contents of the cards eventually being made available to the public! I am dying to know what JKR wrote!!! Dying!!!! And, of course, this is for charity. Way to go (again!), JKR!
Posted May 28, 2008 at 10:53 PM EST
Witch
Points: 615
FawkesRox315 says:
Oh Man WHY! know i really want to read it! Oh well second to post!
Posted May 28, 2008 at 11:06 PM EST
I Am Queen of My Castle
Points: 2476
Hecate3fold says:
This is going to be something that everyone will want to get their hands on. At least it's for a worthy cause.
Blessings! Hecate3fold!
Posted May 28, 2008 at 11:29 PM EST
Mrs. Draco Malfoy
Points: 25735
Arika Granger Malfoy says:
WOOOO!
I cant wait to read it!!!!!
eEEEEEEEP!!!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Posted May 28, 2008 at 11:33 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
(Moderator)
Points: 1735
Since the Start says:
Well that's disappointing... "from the prequel I am not working on"... maybe she'll decide to do it someday, after the encyclopedia? I think it would be a great idea.
Posted May 28, 2008 at 11:50 PM EST
Mistress of Music
Points: 8604
ViolaNut says:
Oooooooooooh... I'm going to BE in the UK in August... I'll have to remember to pick up a copy of that book! Waterstone's, eh? I'll remember that... :-D
Posted May 29, 2008 at 12:25 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2727
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Oh my gosh!!! That is sooo cool! I can't believe this! I want to read it now!! I realy want to see what she wrote. Maybe. hopefully, she changes her mind and does start working on a prequel. That would be awesome!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 1:00 AM EST
Witch
Points: 944
Ron+Hermione says:
Haha this is cool, I wanna read what she wrote!!! I can't wait for the contents to be open to the public!!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 1:39 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 64
saiyanwizardgurl says:
MUST...READ...PREQUEL! MUST...READ...PREQUEL!
I can't wait...I wanna read it now!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 1:45 AM EST
Auror
Points: 3154
HufflepuffActress says:
Well I hope who ever buys it lets people know what the prequel is about at any rate. I would love to be able to buy it but I have no where near enough money.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 2:34 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2090
Nataly says:
I really want to read that prequel! Wonder what she wrote.. It would be available to the public? hmm.. hard to believe it
Posted May 29, 2008 at 3:36 AM EST
Squib
Points: 157
EmmaCMF says:
The website (http://www.waterstoneswys.com/) says that the stories will be online from June 11th, so not that long to wait!
And I can't imagine that it'll cost much more than about £5, to be honest, so it won't be prohibitively expensive.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 4:23 AM EST
Squib
Points: 157
EmmaCMF says:
D'oh, must learn to reread a post properly before submitting it! I meant that a copy of the book will probably cost £5.
I got the impression that it's going to be a mass-produced publication, sold in store, much like JKR's books for Comic Relief, and I seem to remember a previous story stating that.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 4:31 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1679
Bright Eyes says:
Oh! How lovely - it'd be fantastic to see what she wrote :D Hopefully that means she'll be up for an encyclopaedia :D
Posted May 29, 2008 at 4:40 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 820
Silly Dragon says:
800 words for postcards is an excllent idea-J.K.R. really puts her talent to good use. Still, I'd love to read a 800-page prequel. I'll wait for te encyclopaedia instead. Of course, I miss the prequel, but it means she knows the limits of the series and does not want to extend it excessively.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 6:25 AM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
It is just marvelous that J.K. Rowling is doing this, and I cannot wait to read the content of this card in about a month and a half!
I do have to wonder what is contained in these eight hundred words!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 7:43 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2305
mad_eye muggle says:
Oh.My.God!This....is so wicked cool.How I soooooo wish I could read the contents on that paper.It would be really awesome to get to read it.WoW!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 7:52 AM EST
Witch
Points: 516
accio_kim says:
WOW! I love her sense of humour. I'm sure the 800 words are brilliant and can't wait to read what JK has dreamt up. All in all, we have to think that maybe she has been thinking about a prequel or at least what she would write in a prequel for her to automatically think to write this, I mean, she could have written anything.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 8:21 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8201
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
Nice to see her do this. Anything added to the HP universe by her is a treat and a welcome addition. One can hope for more.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 9:07 AM EST
Witch
Points: 796
harrypotterfan4eva says:
Ohhhh I'll be in the U.K. in August! I'll have to pick it up! woohoo!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 9:48 AM EST
Witch
Points: 525
KarateKid says:
YESSSS!!!! It's so obvious she's terribly missing writing HP books... Maybe she'll write some more afterwards. I'm glad this'll be available to the public, not like the Beedle the Bard one.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 11:53 AM EST
Student
Points: 253
Twilight princess midna says:
oh, I'd love to get that.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 12:00 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2037
JAYSTARR says:
Brilliant....way to go JK, I am glad that she is working with charity organizations. We need to help more those that are unfortunate. She is an example for all of us.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 12:07 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2004
PHOENIX5625 says:
Well I thought she was writting another HP book for about 2 seconds. 800 words is still better then nothing that will be fun to read. How can JK have all this extra knowledge about HP and not put it in a book.
Posted May 29, 2008 at 12:46 PM EST
Lupin's Eternal Love
Points: 3062
BlackKatL says:
Ohhhh I Need to read this prequeal!!! the "Marauder Era" is my all time favorite!! I Dream about a book on those years.... there are so many questions without answer.... and to read about James, Sirius & Remus,... Alive & Happy!! At least until the end.... Please JKR!! Write us a Full Length Prequeal!!! I Beg You!!
::Falls to her knees and begs with her best pleading look::
Posted May 29, 2008 at 2:19 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 40
kikipotter103 says:
That is amazing. I can't wait!
Posted May 29, 2008 at 5:01 PM EST
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