New York, U.S.A. – Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, announced on July 31, 2012 a live webcast with worldwide bestselling author J.K. Rowling on October 11, 2012 and the launch of the Harry Potter Reading Club, an online destination created to share the magical world of Harry Potter with a generation of new readers. The live webcast is presented by the new Harry Potter Reading Club from Scholastic at www.scholastic.com/hpreadingclub.

At 12:00 noon ET on Thursday, October 11, 2012, J.K. Rowling will participate in a live virtual author visit to classrooms across America to discuss the world of Harry Potter including Pottermore (www.pottermore.com), an exciting, free online experience that offers Harry Potter fans the chance to explore and discover exclusive new writing by J.K. Rowling as well as immerse themselves in other interactive content and community activities.

The October 11 webcast will be broadcast live from J.K. Rowling’s hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland, and is the first time she has had the opportunity to answer questions from kids live since 2007. Educators can sign up to join the webcast beginning July 31, 2012 at www.scholastic.com/hpreadingclub.

The new Harry Potter Reading Club website provides educators, librarians, after school program coordinators and parents who want to organize a book club with access to all the tools they need to host a Harry Potter Reading Club and celebrate the joy of reading. The first 10,000 registrants for the Club will receive a welcome kit including bookmarks, stickers and nametags. Printable versions of these items will also be available for download from the website.

“Scholastic has been in conversation with educators, librarians, and other book lovers about ideas for bringing the Harry Potter books to new readers in exciting and different ways,” said Ellie Berger, President, Scholastic Trade. “The Harry Potter Reading Club is a direct response to that feedback and provides an entry point through which the thrill of these books can be shared with new generations of Harry Potter fans both within and beyond the classroom.”

The Harry Potter Reading Club website includes a comprehensive discussion guide for each of the seven Harry Potter novels. The guides provide questions to help club members start an insightful conversation about the themes and events in the books and, in certain instances, how the books may relate to readers’ own lives and the world today. Each month Scholastic will add new themed activities to complement the Reading Club discussions that will often relate to experiences on the Pottermore website.

“I have run my own Harry Potter Reading Club with my students for two years and seen them grow into better readers while having a great shared reading experience,” said Donalyn Miller, sixth grade teacher, Trinity Meadows Intermediate School in Kellor, TX.   ”I am delighted to be an advisor for Scholastic on the new Reading Club so that many more children will discover and become deeply engaged in the series in their own clubs all across the country.”

The Harry Potter Reading Club will also feature a live feed at Twitter #hpREADS providing a community for club leaders as well as “Teacher Tips” from educators already running Harry Potter Reading Clubs. The site will also include a series overview, a glossary of terms and a pronunciation guide as well as information about author J.K. Rowling and illustrator Mary GrandPre. Harry Potter Reading Club members can also expect invitations to additional special events and contests.

About Scholastic

Scholastic Corporation is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology and related services and children’s media. Scholastic creates quality books, print and technology-based learning materials and programs, magazines, multi-media and other products that help children learn both at school and at home. The Company distributes its products and services worldwide through a variety of channels, including school-based book clubs and book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, on-air, and online at www.scholastic.com.

About Pottermore

Pottermore.com is a free-to-use website, partnered by Sony, that can be enjoyed alongside the Harry Potter books. It is the only place to read new Harry Potter content by J.K. Rowling, and is the exclusive retailer of the Harry Potter eBooks.

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A whole slew of stellar books was released in these past few months, with many more on the way. Readers of all kinds should keep an eye out for these books; everyone will find something they can enjoy.

Books already released include The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King, the latest chapter in his epic The Dark Tower series. Though it is the eighth book in the series, it takes place between the fourth and the fifth volumes. Those wanting something more in the realm of science fiction than fantasy, however will be right at home in Kim Stanley Robinson’s 2312.

Known for his legal and crime thrillers, John Grisham has already had two books released in 2012. The Accused is a thriller novel written for adolescents while his other book, Calico Joe, is a departure from most of his other work, as it is about baseball instead of Grisham’s typical subject matter. In addition, John Grisham will have yet another book released this year on June 25 called The Litigator.

For those who want more action, look for Stephen Berry’s The Columbus Affair and James Patterson’s  11th Hour, the fifteenth book in the Women’s Murder Club series.

Be on the look out too for In One Person by John Irving, best known for his novel The World According to Garp.

If you are more interested in historical settings, check out Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel, the second in a planned historical fiction trilogy set in Tudor England during the reign of Henry VIII. The first book in the trilogy, Wolf Hall, won the Man Booker Prize.

Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison also recently published a new novella entitled Home.

As for works not yet released, June 4 will welcome The Kiss of Death by Laurell K. Hamilton, the latest in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series.

Fans of Hamilton will likely enjoy E.L. James’ 50 Shades of Grey, which originally began as Twilight fanfiction, now being released for the first time in a single box set the following week.

The sixteenth volume of the Walking Dead graphic novels by Robert Kirkam should be in stores by June 18.

Due out later this year is the paperback edition of G.R.R. Martin’s A Dance of Dragons. The latest in the fantastic A Song of Ice and Fire series, fans of the new HBO scared off by the hardcover copy’s price should take note. 

Odd Apocalypse by Dean Koontz and Zoo by James Patterson will also be released sometime later in the year.

Two novels no reader wants to miss out on are also set to be published. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling marks her first novel since Harry Potter. Meanwhile, Michael Chabon, after years of experimenting with genre fiction, is returning to his roots with Telegraph Avenue, writing about ordinary families with the same narrating skills that won him the Pulitzer.

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Osaka, Japan - Universal Studios Japan, in partnership with Warner Bros. and Universal Parks & Resorts, announced that they will be bringing The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Japan, marking the global expansion of this wildly popular themed entertainment experience that started at Universal Orlando Resort nearly two years ago.

The announcement was made by Glenn Gumpel, President and CEO, Universal Studios Japan; Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products; and Michael Silver, President, Global Business Development, Universal Parks & Resorts; as well as James and Oliver Phelps, who played the roles of Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter film series.

Governor of Osaka Ichiro Matsui was the guest of honor at the announcement, which also hosted more than a hundred excited fans dressed in Harry Potter attire who screamed with delight when the announcement was made.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan is the result of the creative teamwork and efforts by Universal Studios Japan in conjunction with Warner Bros., which produced and distributed the Harry Potter films, and Universal Parks & Resorts, which oversees Universal Studios theme parks, hotels and resorts throughout the world.

It will be as magnificent and as impressive as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.  Just as in Orlando, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan will faithfully and authentically bring to life the stories created by J.K. Rowling in her books and captured on screen in Warner Bros’ films.

“I was delighted to experience and enjoy the attention to detail, creativity and superb craft that went into the first Wizarding World in Orlando.  I am equally delighted that the same level of expertise and enjoyment will translate to the new park in Japan,” said J.K. Rowling.

“Harry Potter, the most wonderful and amazing story of our time, is coming to Universal Studios Japan.  USJ is thrilled to be chosen to make the Harry Potter experience come alive for the people of Japan.  USJ is committed to being the world’s best Theme Park and by bringing this brilliant story to Japan and creating a fantastic experience is yet another validation of that commitment, “said Glenn Gumpel, President and CEO of USJ Co., Ltd

The themed area itself will be a fully immersive environment for the entire family that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life and is faithful to the visual landscape of the films, including a majestic Hogwarts castle which will serve as the centerpiece of the land.

“Harry Potter continues to captivate generations of fans around the world and we are delighted to announce this partnership with Universal Studios Japan that will allow us to bring the magic of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Asia,” said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

“Harry Potter allows fans to step into the magical world created in the books and witnessed in the films.  We think this is the perfectly timed next step in bringing the magical world of Harry Potter to life for even more fans. ”

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan will be similar to the spectacularly themed land at Universal Orlando Resort and will include Hogwarts castle, Hogsmeade and multiple themed attractions.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan will be created with the same commitment to authenticity and the same high level of talent and resources, including the creative leadership of Stuart Craig, Production Designer for the entire Harry Potter film series.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an entirely new level of themed entertainment that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life in incredible ways.

It will forever change tourism, not only in Kansai but throughout Japan.  We are thrilled to be bringing one of the most powerful themed entertainment experiences of our time to Universal Studios Japan, marking the global expansion of this incredible phenomenon, and we are confident that guests will want to return again and again to fully experience all that this fantastic environment will have to offer, ” said Michael Silver, President, Global Business Development, Universal Parks & Resorts.

In June 2010, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort opened and became an instant, unprecedented hit.  Since then, Warner Bros. and Universal Parks & Resorts announced that the themed area would be coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, and also that the Orlando location would be significantly expanded.  No specific details on either of these plans have yet been announced.

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Fanfiction, just as the name describes, is fiction that is written by a fan to satisfy imaginative curiosity and devotion. Anything that has a fan base has Fanfiction being written for it. The current strongest example of Fanfiction at this time would be Harry Potter. With more than 500,000+ stories based on the Harry Potter universe, it has become a thriving hub of fandom and fan expression.

Written in more than 36 languages and with some stories reaching a 500k word count, this is a powerful force not to be taken lightly. Writers of Fanfiction may change the story to suit their own interests, but one thing that remains unyielding is the respect for the original author or creator.

Often including an anonymous username, a standard disclaimer exists for each story and usually becomes an ode to the original creator. Fanfiction writers often pay homage to their favorite creators in lengthy paragraphs before a story begins. This not only sets the stage for the changes that a Fanfiction author makes, but also legally covers the new writer from infringement issues.

One aspect of Fanfiction writing that is vastly different from the regular publishing medium is that there are rarely editors at the beginning of a first chapter publishing. Often, first chapters are published with only the editing done by the writer. The Fanfiction is in its most raw form here, and even veteran Fanfiction writers need a beta. A beta reader helps catch mistakes in grammar, formatting, and spelling.

Successful writers and editors of Fanfiction are often also writers and editors of some kind in real life. Many Fanfiction authors grow to become published writers of original fiction. Thus, Fanfiction helps their development as writers. Conversely, there are also published authors that sometimes publish Fanfiction to experiment with different plots or even gauge fan responses.

The mind of a writer, regardless of traditional fiction or Fanfiction, is a curious mind, so it is not surprising to see either of the aforementioned actions developing. Yet, beyond the edits and the changes, the act of writing is very much like a conventional authorship. The path to writing a Fanfiction is the same and is actually often filled with just as much research as a traditional writer. The research a traditional author does is usually specific to their niche of writing.

Science fiction writers will research science, and military fiction writers will research the military. A Fanfiction writer, on the other hand, has another layer of research on top of that. Fanfiction itself builds on a world that is already formed, so research into the rules and history of that universe is also a key aspect to developing a good Fanfiction story.

In the case of Harry Potter Fanfiction, there are writers who know nearly as much about Harry Potter as J.K Rowling herself. It may be hard to believe, but every interview, every piece of literature and movie that is publicly visible is taken into account for the vast database that is compiled for Harry Potter research.

The same process is true for Fanfiction on virtually any other entertainment medium that the human race has invented. In some cases, there is even Fanfiction created by Fanfiction authors that spawn their own Fanfiction. A complex case of Fanfiction life that imitates Fanfiction art imitating original fictional writing.

Fanfiction on Harry Potter, specifically, has grown into its own subculture, with websites that come up with data on Harry Potter through scientific knowledge and educational guesses based purely on a world created by one person. That is the power of Fanfiction, to influence lives and to build on worlds that fans love so much they cannot help, but write more about it. The media is not blind to it, so there have been authors and actors interviewed about Fanfiction based on their characters, created or portrayed.

Only recently, Ralph Fiennes from the Harry Potter movies read a few lines of Fanfiction on a nationally broadcasted program during an interview on Bravo TV. Thus, as an extension for another aspect of writing, technology has now allowed us in the last decade to shape and change the way stories are spread between different cultures.

Other notable Fanfiction topics that have developed a large following are the Japanese Anime Naruto,  the Twilight literary series, Marvel’s X-Men, Star Wars, and Glee, just to name a few. Written in more languages than most major universities teach and with more growing acknowledgement, Fanfiction is sure to grow stronger, so long as there are worlds created by others to further expand and connect the imaginations of everyone.

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For the first time the Harry Potter books by author J.K Rowling will be sold as e-books in October of this year.  Rowling has also expressed that the series will be available in the form of audiobooks on a website called Pottermore.  The author claims to have been “hoarding” the fresh material for quite some time (BBC) and the fans, the imaginative writer says, have been an immense motivation for this means by which to reach Harry Potter material. It’s a manner in which the author trusts she can “give something back to the fans” who have propelled the series to its grand success (BBC).  With the series having sold a stunning 450 million prints around the world, the series in the form of e-books will be available in numerous languages.

With the e-books being published by Rowling’s Pottermore Publishing, the Pottermore site will become live on the very famous Harry Potter’s birthday of July 31st.

The author has revealed the material that will make its way to its new online home are “details that didn’t make it into the book”, whereas other material is “new stuff in response to things fans have asked [for] over the years” (BBC).

The site includes features that will thrust old fans and lure new fans into an online world centered on wizardry; the site will include gaming, an online store and the prospect of social networking. Those who visit the site will be intrigued by the chance to be sorted in a Hogwarts’ school different houses and shop in Diagon Alley for magical merchandise.

To help drive the online magical world forward, one million users will be chosen before the sites October opening date in order to cultivate the site.

While Rowling has expressed that she has acquired “closure” with the character of Harry and will not be creating an 8^th book, this site is sure to submerge old and new fans alike into an enchanting realm of magic (BBC).

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