J.K. Rowling Signs Publishing Contract for New, Adult-Targeted Book

Mike Kayatta

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Aug 2, 2011
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J.K. Rowling Signs Publishing Contract for New, Adult-Targeted Book



Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has switched publishers to write about anything other than Harry Potter.

Once upon a time, there was a humble, first-time author who wrote a little series called Harry Potter. Perhaps you've even heard of it. Now, approximately fifteen years and a bajillion-zillion dollars later, she has publically announced her first new venture since finishing what eventually became the most famous seven-book series (that's "heptalogy" for the word nerds) ever written. J.K. Rowling is officially working with a new publisher on a book for a whole new audience: 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 media release. "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."

Neither the title, nor the release date of this mysterious new book has been announced, but publisher Little, Brown has committed to launching it simultaneously in the U.S. and Britain when it's ready for publication. As for what this new book is about? Who knows. The only thing that seems certain at this point is that it won't be about Harry Potter, even as an adult. I guess that means we'll never get to see him grow old, get a real job, lose his hair, and complain about new-fangled technology until someone forces him into a retirement home. Oh well.

Source: LA Times [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2012/02/jk-rowling-to-publish-book-for-adults-with-little-brown.html]

Image: JKRowling.com [http://www.jkrowling.com]

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Gizmo1990

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Oct 19, 2010
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I have lost count of the amount of times I have seen people use 'Their kid's books' to defend the quality of Harry Potter. Let's hope she can actualy do better than mediocre this time because that excuse will not work this time.
 
Feb 13, 2008
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Hairy Puta and the Whores of Babylon?

I don't know. Rowling isn't a great author; she's good - don't get me wrong - but I've yet to see the depth that will take her into the adult market. Most adults enjoy the teenage market for fluff, and specific authors for the hard-hitting material.

I think she could still do some great kidult books, but she's left it very late to re-build a fan base. Someone like Rachel Caine has 3 good series on the run, as have Jim Butcher and Laurell K Hamilton.

If I remember rightly, her non-Potter books have been widely avoided. Now, if she put her mind to detailing Hagrid's role, without Lucasizing it, that could be a money-spinner.
 

Scarim Coral

Jumped the ship
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Oct 29, 2010
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I guess time will tell if she can still achive fame without Harry Potter unlike George Lucas.
 

Klitch

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Jan 8, 2011
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I don't need to know what it's about to say for certain that I'm going to buy it.
 

Proverbial Jon

Not evil, just mildly malevolent
Nov 10, 2009
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Excellent news. I'm really looking forward to seeing what else J.K. can do.

She's a bit of a Dan Brown, she's a good story teller but not neccesarily a wonderful writer. There's a subtle difference.

However, I was a very big fan of the books back in the day and I still am today. She's been a great inspiration to me and I hope she continues to be.
 

Zen Toombs

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Nov 7, 2011
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Kay? Well, her next series could be interesting, but I'd want to wait for a bit to get excited. At least find out the genere, you know?
 

s_h_a_d_o

Mr Propellerhead
Jun 15, 2010
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Personally, I can't think of more underwhelming news.
That's not to say her new book won't necessarily make a profit - that's something one can count on with fans... they'll quite happily hand over the readies, regardless of quality.
Mass Effect 3 will probably be a case in point.
 

Mike Kayatta

Minister of Secrets
Aug 2, 2011
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Zen Toombs said:
Kay? Well, her next series could be interesting, but I'd want to wait for a bit to get excited. At least find out the genere, you know?
Well, this is completely unsubstantiated, but there are some rumors that it's a detective novel.
 

Callate

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Dec 5, 2008
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The only thing that seems certain at this point is that it won't be about Harry Potter, even as an adult.
...or even half as successful.

No offense towards Rowling: she caught lightning in a bottle, and there are far worse authors out there.

But my suspicion is that the next work is going to be a combination of a) the excesses of someone who has had it up to her ears with writing "kid-lit" and not being taken seriously, b) the excesses of someone whose books have been getting progressively longer without a similar expansion of plot, action or character to justify that length, and c) the terror of some poor editor at the new publisher who dares not lay a heavy hand on their new, famous author's work.

It will be grabbed by old fans, who will be disappointed, many of whom will turn to ze interwebs to vent their ire. Some professional critics will also be glad for a chance to lay the mighty low; others who never understood the appeal of the Potter books will vent spleen on the presumptuous childrens' author. The result will be an enormous drop in sales after the early weeks.

Hopefully the final result will have enough inherent worth to merit further, possibly more refined, writing, and develop a fanbase of its own.

This is my prediction, at any rate.
 

Thaluikhain

Elite Member
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Jan 16, 2010
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Like others have said, I don't hold too much hope for this. Being by the author of Harry Potter is going to completely overshadow whatever is in the book.

Fans will condemn it for being too much like HP and/or not close enough. Everyone will buy it because of the author, though.

OTOH, I'm glad it's not more Harry Potter. I was afraid she'd turn into Lucas and keep fiddlign with the golden goose, so to speak.
 

Vault101

I'm in your mind fuzz
Sep 26, 2010
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I relaly like Harry potter

also I think she's in a lucky position where she can write pretty much whatever she wants

sure, she will always have "harry potter" hanging over her, but still it doesnt matter
 

Yoshisummons

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Aug 10, 2010
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Why can't she create a book with a bunch of stories such as the Tale's of Three Brothers" Seriously that short story was the shit. I think she did a great job creating a good fanciful world with mechanics worthy of a good children's book. Then some cracks were showing in the later books as the story tried to take a more serious and teenage audience tone. To some that's probably really negative but, overall I have not been very impressed with any literature aimed at teenagers written by anyone so nothing personal there.

If anything I feel bad for her with all the expectations. If I was her though I'd just write "The Poop that Took a Pee" and donate the money to charity. But that's assuming the opinion of someone on the internet was actually worth 2 cents.
 

Kakashi on crack

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Aug 5, 2009
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Finally, less pottergasms perhaps?

Unfortunately, while I know what you mean by Adult, the term "Pornography" comes to mind every time I hear it... XD
 

LGC Pominator

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Feb 11, 2009
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s_h_a_d_o said:
Personally, I can't think of more underwhelming news.
That's not to say her new book won't necessarily make a profit - that's something one can count on with fans... they'll quite happily hand over the readies, regardless of quality.
Mass Effect 3 will probably be a case in point.
Wow we really can't escape the hate can we?
Jesus Christ.

OT: I reckon this could be interesting, I have seen a few authors be completely unwilling to stray from their source material or universe, not to mention their established field of writing, I would like to see what happens when an author whose work I particularly enjoy tries her hand at something new, however I REALLY hope that her perception of an "adult targeted book" isn't simply "take each Daenerys chapter from the first Ice and Fire book and string them together"... because that would be bad... like, seriously BAD
 

weirdee

Swamp Weather Balloon Gas
Apr 11, 2011
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Micalas said:
Oh sweet. Is this book going to be set during Hermione's bi-curious phase?
There's already enough fanfiction of that to fill a whale.

I'm not really sure why I picked a whale to keep it in, but I feel that is where it belongs.