On October 15, she will read at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, followed three days later by an appearance at the Ernest Morial Convention Centre in New Orleans, then two readings on October 19 at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Rowling, 41, will take questions at each of the readings and sign books.

For three of the readings, Scholastic will pick schools to send children. For the fourth reading, at Carnegie Hall, 1,000 fans will be chosen from a Scholastic sweepstakes, with each winner receiving two passes.


Harry Potter theme park gets go-ahead - May 31 2007
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has given the go-ahead for a theme park dedicated to the schoolboy wizard.

The park, expected to open in Orlando in 2009, will feature scenes from the best-selling books, including Hogwarts school and the village of Hogsmeade.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will offer fans a "one of a kind" opportunity to experience the environment of their favourite character, bosses behind the project said.

The park is a joint venture between Warner Bros Entertainment - producers of the Harry Potter films - and Universal Orlando Resort.

It will be located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park.

Rowling said: "The plans I’ve seen look incredibly exciting, and I don’t think fans of the books or films will be disappointed."

Barry Meyer, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros Entertainment, said: "Over the years we’ve received thousands of letters from fans around the world wishing they could visit Hogwarts and the wonderful locations described in each of JK Rowling’s beloved stories.

"Working with Universal Orlando Resort, we are confident that we’ll be able to provide Harry Potter fans with an incredible experience that upholds the richness of JK Rowling’s books and delivers on the authentic detail portrayed in our films."

Academy Award-winning production designer Stuart Craig, who has worked on all the Harry Potter films, will help design the park.


Rowling set for midnight book signing - May 24 2007
JK Rowling is to give a moonlight book signing to mark the publication of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.

The author will meet Potter fans at the Natural History Museum in London on July 21. The event will begin at midnight and last until dawn.

Fans can apply for free tickets via publisher Bloomsbury’s website, www.bloomsbury.com/jkrevent, with June 11 the deadline for applicants.

A total of 1,700 will be chosen. All will get a free copy of The Deathly Hallows and have it signed by the author.

The first 500 randomly selected winners will also be invited to attend a midnight reading of the book by the author.

"Ten years after publication of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone, the launch of this, the final book in the series, returns to where it all began: with a book, the author and her readers," Bloomsbury said.

This is the seventh and last instalment in the adventures of the schoolboy wizard.

Its publication is set to spark unprecedented scenes of Potter mania.

The author has said two characters die in the final book - and fans will be desperate to discover if Harry is one of them.

The Potter books have sold 325 million copies worldwide, have been translated into 64 languages and spawned five blockbuster films.