J.K. Rowling

[lallybroch]

That does make more sense, that two more characters will die instead of just two, but the deaths so far have been relatively gutless and the Death Eaters have been so inept, that only two additional deaths would not be out of the realm of possibility. Here's a summary of the interview where she made those comments (with a link to video). Some new, non-plot related highlights:

- For the first three books, she says she was in denial about her success and fame "like a rabbit caught in headlights." Although she found them "cool," she says it was also peculiar to see casual references to Harry Potter in the press.

- Her daughter Jessica has dealt magnificently with the effects her mother's fame has had on her, such as kids at school pestering her for the title of upcoming books.

- Richard suggested dating was tricky because some people might only show an interest in her because of her wealth, but she said it was being a single mother that made it hard.

She'll be staying in the Hamptons this summer, so New Yorkers might see her out and about.

[abbynormal]

Wow, I couldn't disagree more that the deaths so far have been gutless. Sirius and Dumbledore were two of the most beloved characters in the series.

[Deleted]

You beat me to it, Abby. I even thought that Cedric's death was shocking because he was a kid.

[twodollars]

Yeah, the deaths haven't been gutless at all IMO. Sirus and Dumbledore are beloved characters and Harry's major parental figures throughout the series. And I know I was shocked when she killed Cedric at the end of four. I wasn't expecting any children to die in the series, since it was intended for children.

[incognito]

I guess I just don't get how one could think that children were safe simply because the series is intended for children (<--I don't mean this in a snarky or condescending way at all, so apologies if it comes off that way). Plenty of children's books have children die. IIRC (because I haven't actually read the books), the popular Shadow Children series had children die as well.

I didn't find Cedric's death shocking at all (but I guess that's already been established. ) ) As for Sirius, I never liked him, but that's a UO I know. Dumbledore...saw that coming a mile off (well...not re: who killed him, but his death in book 6, yeah). That really takes the shock off things, unfortunately.

EDITED TO ADD: Actually, the only way I found Cedric's death surprising at all was that I thought a much more central character to the story would die (because of how JKR was hyping it up). I even had the gall to think it'd be one of the trio. Or the Weasleys, or Neville.

I just read the full article with her quotes about killing off two people, and she's going on again about how she has to show that there is evil involved, blah blah blah. The annoyance has returned full force. Grrr...

[Deleted]

Yeah I thought Cedric's was surprising because the first two books seemed fairly light hearted. My daughter read the first two in kindergarten - so I gues she was in 1st or 2nd grade when she got to GoF. It was kinda good knowing in advance that something might freak her out.

[lallybroch]

I think her pattern with the deaths has been too predictable. For the past three books, it's been the one big death in the last few chapters. Since she discloses that someone will die before the book is ever released, it just leads to people racing through the story toward the end to see if their favorite has made it. I guess it wouldn't be easy to off someone in the middle, but who ever said it had to be one character per book? She had dozens to choose from and plenty would have still been left for book seven. And there are shocking twists besides death. This story is supposed to depict some huge war and the villain is supposed to represent the worst kinds of evil, but in the present, have the bad guys even offed ten characters who weren't glorified extras? That's what I mean by gutless, though that's probably not the right word. By kiddie lit standards I guess she's been very daring, but so many people like to argue that HP is much more complex and far reaching than that. A year ago, I would have agreed, but not anymore.

I posted this in the book thread months ago, but here's JKR as a brunette on her (first) wedding day. I still can't get over the groom wearing polka dots.

[kostgard]

I love that wedding picture - she's in black (going through some sort of goth phase?), not smiling, and he looks like a Grade-A Tool. No surprise that one didn't last.

[Deleted]

Random J.K. Rowling story: a little girl who is a friend of our family has been battling a brain tumour for a year now. She is a fan of the books and to get her to take her meds, her mom couches them in Harry Potter themes: take your Polyjuice potion, Bertie Botts beans, etc (she's three). One of the nurses wrote J.K. Rowling and told her about this. Out of the blue arrives a handwritten letter telling the girl to be brave, because the most magical potions make you feel the worst, with two stuffed owls to watch over the girl and her sister - but, they are magic, even though they look like toys.

So the mom wrote J.K. Rowling a thank you note, and then arrives another letter reminding the little girl that she's thinking of her, and describing what her and her sister's patronus are.

Sniffle.

[slanderous]

Awww! That's a great story, and I totally believe it of JK Rowling.