We are today (21st December 2022) at the darkest part of the year for the Northern Hemisphere: the winter solstice. The shadows are long and the golden days of Summer seem a long time ago. Now is the perfect time to push your stool a little closer to the fire, and warm your hands on a mug of tea the colour of creosote. Beatrice Groves, Research Lecturer and tutor at Trinity College, Oxford, and author of Literary Allusion in Harry Potter, has written a Hogwarts Professor Guest Post: The Winter Solstice and Beira, Queen of Winter. [Read more…]
Rowling OKs Legacy Boycott (Sort Of)
December 17, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Deeply disappointed @jessiegender doesn't realise purethink is incompatible with owning ANYTHING connected with me, in ANY form. The truly righteous wouldn't just burn their books and movies but the local library, anything with an owl on it and their own pet dogs. #DoBetter 1/2 pic.twitter.com/LqANqab8Km
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 17, 2022
And as for this, I'm appalled. This individual actually advocates reading the books because "nobody needs to know". All fine and dandy until you get drunk and accidentally quote one, sonny. "I never did it in public" won't save you when the police see your Hufflepuff socks. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/QTQOTfpjtA
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 17, 2022
Yes, it’s hypocritical of me to enjoy it when The Presence takes down with acid sarcasm people whose opinions I think are beyond satire when I recoil at her attacks on people who I think are beneath her notice, famous, nobodies, and infamous. I stand by my position that JKR would be better off if she entered another Twelve Step program or abstinence corner for her social media issues. @JessieGender really isn’t worth the time of a writer of her quality, even to earn the high five laughs and cheers from those, myself included alas, who agree with her about a Hogwarts Legacy boycott (and about the comedy of transgressive fandom activists still with attachment issues about Harry Potter books and movies).
I am, however, in light of her stands against the Iranian mullahs and for women’s safe spaces, having to reconsider my belief that the world would be a better place, too, if she just focused on writing her novels. The Beira’s Place website describes her, in language Rowling either wrote or approved, as “author, campaigner, and philanthropist.” That “campaigner” sobriquet I think is new as an aspect of her public identity, almost certainly revealing how the world’s most famous author-philanthropist now understands her legacy.
I was delighted to learn yesterday that Rowling’s new novel is nine Parts in length and that she is working on Part Seven’s chapters. While I wish that Robert Galbraith’s down time was spent playing Minesweeper as she did back in the day rather than trolling twitter, the breaks she takes seem to be fostering rather than diminishing her creative flow. [Read more…]
Rowling’s New Twitter Header – and News of Book 7
December 16, 2022 by Leave a Comment
J. K. Rowling has updated her twitter header in the run up to Christmas. This time it is a partial image of a decorated Christmas tree. The last time she did this was in December 2015: All J. K. Rowling’s Twitter Headers.
Christmas trees are important to Rowling, so it is always worth paying close attention to hers, and this time there is an unusual decoration attached.
The decoration is in the form of a suffragette or member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), dressed in the Union colours of purple (for loyalty and dignity), white (for purity) and green (for hope). The colours also have the hidden meaning GWV – Green White Violet – Give Women Votes!
The suffragette colours have also been used by women organised to oppose attempts to reduce or remove protections for women’s sex in UK law, for example the Scottish Feminist Network. The decoration itself can be picked up online from quite a few places, particularly London based museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Hot on the heels of changing her header Rowling revealed that she is about two thirds of the way through writing Book 7 of the Strike series.
Following up this with the revelation last night that this means part six of (presumably) a nine part book.
Ink Black Heart Cartoon Imminent?
December 15, 2022 by 5 Comments
Look how amazing this is! @matt_walton1, that's made my day! #TheInkBlackHeart https://t.co/6ahpYVesw8
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 14, 2022
Beira’s Place – J. K. Rowling’s Latest Project
December 14, 2022 by 2 Comments
On Monday 12th December J. K. Rowling announced the launch of a new project : Beira’s Place, which provides support, advocacy and information for women survivors of sexual violence aged 16 and over in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The launch occurred precisely at 09:00 GMT with a simultaneous tweet from the new twitter account @beirasplace and a re-tweet from Rowling.
In addition to Rowling’s personal charity Volante, Lumos, and the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, we have her latest project: Beira’s Place. Find out more after the jump:
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