Here, there be artwork

Last week I met author/illustrator James A. Owen and he told me about Every Picture Tells a Story, a store in Santa Monica California that sells artwork from children's books. I found all kinds of wonderful artwork, prints by David Wiesner, Mo Willems and David Shannon, but also a series of Mary GrandPre Potter prints I hadn't seen for sale before -- AND concept art from the movies. Now I have to figure out how I can afford one.

P.S. I am enjoying Owen's book Here, There Be Dragons, very much! He drew a dragon in every book he signed, and gives pointers on drawing them on his blog.

Lengthy interview for De Volkskrant

There is a new interview of J.K. Rowling in the newspaper De Volkskrant, her second ever for her Dutch readers. In this interview she talks about her spiritual development, the King's Cross chapter, and Deathly Hallows meaning and symbolism.

I am working on posting an interview sent to us by Peter Kersbergen. In the meanwhile, the text in Dutch is here (flash animation), and The Leaky Cauldron also has a translation.

"Beedle the Bard" announcement transcripts

Meann has completed two transcripts, one of the BBC Radio broadcast, and one of the BBC's video of Jo's announcement. Both reports were by Razia Iqbal, but were edited differently. There is a bit of new information:

• "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" consists of 5 stories set in JKR's Wizarding world, continuing the same themes in a different time period.
• Only 7 copies exist; the book will never be published.
• Jo thinks what she publishes next will be a "half-finished book for children."

Thanks Meann!

"Tales of Beedle the Bard" to be auctioned

In a surprise announcement, Jo tells us on her website that she wrote The Tales of Beedle the Bard as a thank you gift for 6 people who worked closely with her on the Harry Potter books over the years, and that she will auction the seventh copy off at Sotheby's for charity. The Sotheby's site shows screencaps and the book is chock full of Jo's drawings too! Here is Sotheby's description (it will make you drool, I promise!):

Autograph manuscript of “The Tales of Beedle the Bard ” translated from the original runes by J.K. Rowling. Individually handwritten and extensively illustrated by the author, c.160 pages written in an Italian hand-made notebook, bound in brown morocco embellished on upper cover by Edinburgh silversmiths Hamilton and Inches, with five individually hand-chased hallmarked sterling silver ornaments and mounted moonstones.

AQ staffer Jules has purchased the auction catalog so we will have more soon.

Reports in the media: BBC, CBBC, The Leaky Cauldron.