Muggle Monday (19): The New Book

It's time for Muggle Monday, in which I post a quote, a video, or a significant piece of news from the Harry Potter franchise. This is somewhat inspired by the Mundane Monday posts by The Mundie Moms.

But let's be real as to why I made up this meme: I just want the opportunity to post something about Harry Potter.


I haven't been keeping up with this meme because honestly, there hasn't been a whole lot going on that I want to talk about in the HP Universe. Pottermore, a site that I had initially been very excited about, ended up being a disappointment and I never visited it again beyond the first time. Thankfully, the announcement of The New Book has brought me out of this funk, at least briefly:

J.K. Rowling is finally leaving Hogwarts behind — and for decidedly more adult fare, too. Little, Brown Book Group and Little, Brown and Company announced Thursday that Rowling, author of the mega-successful Harry Potter series, is set to publish her first novel for adults.

“Although I’ve enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world,” Rowling said in a statement. “The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life.”

The title, date and details of the new novel are set to be announced later this year.

“For me, quite simply, it is a personal and professional dream come true to be working with J.K. Rowling,” said David Shelley, publisher of Little, Brown Book Group, in a statement. “She is one of the best storytellers in the world, and I am looking forward enormously to helping bring her new novel for adults to her fans and admirers, and to introducing her writing to new readers the world over.”

A new adult book by Jo that will very different from Harry Potter and will be released later this year? Oh yes, I'm obivously excited! And though I cannot deny that I would DIE to read something else set in the Potter universe, or even something that's still related to the MG/YA fantasy genre like Harry Potter, I do mean it when I say that I would read absolutely anything written by J.K. Rowling.

And though no details about The New Book have been released as of yet, there have been some possible clues as to the genre of The New Book. Jo will be leaving her Potter UK and US publishers, Bloomsbury and Scholastic respectively, for Little, Brown and Company. Her new editor, David Shelley, specializes in crime thrillers, so that is possibly the genre of The New Book.

How about you? Do you have any interest in reading an adult book by J.K. Rowling that is likely going to be a crime thriller, or do you think you will skip it because it's not your genre? Are you like me and would read absolutely anything by J.K. Rowling, even if it was about the history of taxes, or are you a little bit more sane?

If you would like to be kept informed about any new information regarding The New Book, you can sign up for an email subscription at JKRowling.com.