J. K. Rowling's Extract for Prince Charles' Birthday Book

J.K. Rowling chose her favourite part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which she says that it may possibly be her favourite part of the entire series, and wrote about it in Prince Charles' Birthday Book for his 60th birthday.

Here's a little of what she wrote:

"The destinies of wizards and princes might seem more certain than those carved out for the rest of us, yet we all have to choose the manner in which we meet life: whether to live up (or down) to the expectations placed upon us; whether to act selfishly, or for the common good; whether to steer the course of our lives ourselves, or to allow ourselves to be buffeted around by chance and circumstance. Birthdays are often moments for reflection, moments when we pause, look around, and take stock of where we are; children gleefully contemplate how far they have come, whereas adults look forwards into the trees, wondering how much further they have to go. This extract from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is my favourite part of the seventh book; it might even be my favourite part of the entire series, and in it, Harry demonstrates his truly heroic nature, because he overcomes his own terror to protect the people he loves from death, and the whole of his society from tyranny."

View the Guardian's report here. The book can be purchased and the royalties will go to Prince Charles' Foundation for Children and the Arts.

J.K. Rowling's Charity to Publish 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' !

It's her and Harry's birthday, but J.K. Rowling is giving us and charity a very special gift.

This morning, Scholastic announced that Jo's children's charity, the Children’s High Level Group (CHLG), will be publishing The Tales of Beedle the Bard !

Jo said: "There was understandable disappointment among Harry Potter fans when only one copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard was offered to the public last December. I am therefore delighted to announce that, thanks to the generous support of Bloomsbury, Scholastic and Amazon (who bought the handwritten copy at auction) – and with the blessing of the wonderful people who own the other six original books - The Tales of Beedle the Bard will now be widely available to all Harry Potter fans. Royalties will be donated to the Children’s High Level Group, to benefit institutionalised children in desperate need of a voice. The new edition will include the Tales themselves, translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger, and with illustrations by me, but also notes by Professor Albus Dumbledore, which appear by generous permission of the Hogwarts Headmasters’ Archive."

Scholastic predicts the books will generate around $8 million in sales; money which will of course be going to CHLG and unprotected and powerless children and teenagers around the world which live in unacceptable conditions and institutions all over Europe.

Happy Birthday, J.K. Rowling and Harry !

J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter both celebrate their birthdays today, and we all wish they're as magical as possible!

Have a great time, guys!

Also, Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon in the Harry Potter films) celebrates his birthday today as well. Happy Birthday!

Edinburgh's "The Balmoral" Hotel offers 'J.K. Rowling Suite'

"The Balmoral" Hotel in Edinburgh offers the room in which Jo finished writing Deathly Hallows, renamed, with the author's permission, 'J.K. Rowling Suite'. The cost is £965 per night, as The Telegraph reports.

The suite is number 552, and representatives of the hotel say that since the suite was aired on ITV1’s JK Rowling: A Year in the Life documentary last December, “wealthy fans from across the world have stayed there, specifically requesting the suite.” A hotel source told the Telegraph that the 180-square-foot room is exactly the same as when JKR wrote there, including the writing desk she used “as well as the queen-size bed in which she slept. ” (Though she used the room as an office, and returned home at night.)

The hotel also has on display the marble bust of Hermes on which J.K. Rowling wrote “JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (552) on 11th Jan 2007.” You can see a picture here. The bust was originally removed from the room, but has now been replaced and sits in a glass case.

The room also now has a brass plaque on the front door and a brass owl instead of a door knocker.