| Late in June of 1997 in London a publishing | | | | movies, and the extraordinary fan phenomenon |
| company released what was to become a cultural | | | | during the day; then, attendees will revel with the |
| phenomenon. The book's author, a teacher, would | | | | beat of the Crescent City herself rising from ash |
| go on to become a household name. Her journey | | | | and flame when evening advances." |
| took her from Gloucestershire, England, where | | | | For those of you who might have missed it, don't |
| she was born, through Exeter, a town in the | | | | worry, there's another schedules for August 7-11, |
| south coast of England where she went to | | | | 2008, in Chicago. |
| university, to a job as a research assistant for | | | | The impact on the publishing world was immense. |
| Amnesty International and on to teaching. Joanne | | | | So great was the clamor for each new book in |
| Rowling's lifelong dream was to be a writer...she | | | | the series that the New York Times was |
| succeeded. | | | | persuaded to reformat its best-seller list. Harry |
| Since the release of Harry Potter and the | | | | was taking up too many slots on the list. In 2002 |
| Philosopher's Stone (the title was edited to | | | | just before the release of Goblet Of Fire the |
| Sorcerer's Stone in America because it was | | | | Times created a separate list for Harry Potter |
| thought we wouldn't associate magic and wizardry | | | | and the children's book category. |
| with the word Philosopher), the book now a | | | | The New York Times wasn't alone. FedEx used |
| series, has garnered world-wide attention, | | | | 9,000 trucks whose sole purpose was to deliver |
| countless fans, numerous awards and accolades, | | | | the Goblet Of Fire to eager fans. Book retailers |
| drawing attention from film producers, video | | | | like Barnes and Noble, Amazon and Borders |
| game makers and merchandisers. | | | | pre-sold books in spectacular amounts - 700,000 |
| The list of awards Rowling's has received? | | | | copies of Goblets Of Fire. Sales records were |
| - 4 Whitaker Platinum Book Awards in 2001 | | | | shattered with each new release. |
| - 3 Nestle Smarties Book Prizes in '97 and again in | | | | In all the books alone have sold over 325 million |
| '99 | | | | copies worldwide. With the subsequent films, video |
| - 2 Scottish Arts Council Book Awards | | | | games and merchandising that followed, Joanne, |
| - the first ever Whitbread children's book of the | | | | aka J. K. Rowling by her fans, is a billionaire. |
| year award in '99 | | | | In spite of her success, or maybe because of it, |
| - and in 2006, the WHSmith book of the year | | | | she and Harry have their critics. Right wing |
| Oh, and her little friend, Harry Potter, who | | | | conservatives claim the premise of the series is |
| borrows his name from Rowling's childhood | | | | designed to entice the younger generation over |
| neighbors, is a legend FROM her own mind. | | | | to the dark side by glorifying witchcraft. |
| Fans waited in long lines as the hours tick down to | | | | Personally, I think Bewitched already did that. But |
| the official release date of each new book... many | | | | if you're really that concerned that a work of |
| times at midnight! Special security measures had | | | | pure fantasy will convince your child it's ok to turn |
| to be taken to ensure no books were sold before | | | | his 6th grade math teacher into the next slimy |
| the actual date. Book store owners had to sign | | | | little spokesman for Geico, then learn calculus and |
| legal documents insuring they would not even | | | | help your child with his homework! On a side note |
| open the boxes before then. | | | | - I have nothing against the Geico gecko, I think |
| Numerous conventions, conferences and | | | | using cute little animals to sell insurance is brilliant. |
| symposiums have sprung up all over the world. | | | | For those of you dealing with separation anxiety |
| People couldn't and apparently still can't get | | | | over the departure of Harry and his gang, fear |
| enough of Harry and his clan. These gatherings | | | | not! Although Rowling has decided to retire the |
| feature speakers, book and film discussions, | | | | teenaged wizard, she does plan to write an |
| games and costumes. Just recently (May | | | | encyclopedia, an epilogue, which would detail some |
| 2007)the was a conference in New Orleans - | | | | background information derived from the |
| Phoenix Rising which ran from May 17th to the | | | | narrative, what happens after Deathly Hallows and |
| 21st. | | | | reveals who will step into the Hogwart |
| From the site: | | | | Headmaster's position. |
| "The conference will examine the novels, the | | | | |