Even Madonna attended the premiere with her nine-year-old daughter, Lourdes - however, she admitted she had never read any of JK Rowling’s books. She confessed: "I’ve haven’t read any of the books. Lola [Lourdes] has though. I’m here as her date." Hollywood stars Kate Beckinsale and Rob Lowe were also there with their children, while fans were delighted to see the film’s stars Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall) and Timothy Spall (Wormtail) walk the red carpet, which was presided over by a fire-breathing dragon.

JK Rowling hand written chapter on display - Aug 2005
A handwritten draft of Chapter Six of Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone is soon to go on display in The Seven Stories Centre in Newcastle. The Harry Potter authors work will be on display alongside legendary children’s authors such as Roald Dahl and Phillip Pullman.
By Fiona Comley

Sixth book is finished! - Dec 04
JK Rowling has announced that her sixth book ’Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ will be published from Jul 16, 2005.

JK decided to announce the fact she has finished the sixth book in the series on her website, speaking directly to her many fans. "I have a great feeling of release in being able to talk freely about the fact that the book is finished; as you can imagine. But finally sharing it with you was wonderful: much more fun than wrapping presents and tidying the house before the family arrives, which is what I am supposed to be doing." The early announcement means that JKR’s book has shot to the top of Amazon’s Hot 100 books chart, despite the fact that we still have to wait another six months before it goes on the shelves. Pre-orders have ensured its No 1 position already - JKR must be thrilled, not to mention Bloomsbury, her publishers!
www.jkrowling.com

J.K’s statue - August 04
Edinburgh city council are considering erecting a statue of J. K Rowling.

Councillors are compiling a shortlist of famous figures who they feel deserve a place in Edinburgh’s history books. The list so far includes the Harry Potter author, Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Louis Stevenson among others. While many people feel that Rowling deserves to be honoured in such a way others would prefer to keep with the tradition of waiting until a person has passed away before erecting a monument.

Baby magic - August 04
J.K Rowling is pregnant with her third child, but doesn’t stop Potter planning.

The Edinburgh author has announced that she is expecting a baby next year but promises fans that the pregnancy won’t interfere with progress on the sixth Harry Potter book "I don’t foresee any baby-related delays or interruptions" she commented. Rowling also announced on her website that she may write an eighth Harry Potter book for charity, the book will be an ’encyclopaedia’ featuring outtakes from the main seven books.

Potter predictions - June 04
J.K Rowling has told press that the director of the latest Harry Potter film has ’predicted the future’.