News has been very slow... but, now, at last, a real newsworthy story!

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has written an 800 word prequel to the Harry Potter books, dealing with one episode. The short-piece features Sirius Black and James Potter, and is set about 3 years before Harry's birth. The piece will be auctioned off for charity, with the proceeds going to English PEN, the writers’ association, and the Dyslexia Society. The piece, along with short-stories by several other writers, will be available for everyone to buy in August. In a news entry on her website, Rowling wrote:

After playing around with a number of different ideas I decided to write a short (for me!) excerpt from a prequel to the Potter series. It is about 800 words long and the action takes place around 3 years before Harry is born.

Although I did feel a bit like a relapsing addict as I sat down to write – the words poured from my pen with frightening ease – I am NOT working on a prequel. Indeed, I’ve written that clearly at the bottom of the card itself. I just thought that this was the best way to make money for two extremely worthwhile charities.

The good news for Potter fans who will not be able to bid at the auction is that you will be able to read the short story (along with amazing contributions from Doris Lessing, Margaret Atwood, Tom Stoppard, Irvine Welsh, Sebastian Faulks, Axel Scheffler, Lauren Child, Nick Hornby, Neil Gaiman, Lisa Appignanesi, Richard Ford, and Michael Rosen) by purchasing a book of facsimiles, which will be available in August. The proceeds from this book, too, will go to the charities.

To update you on the other two major stories of the month: Filming of HBP has been completed. A new picture of Draco, Snape and others at Slughorn's party is available on The Leaky Cauldron website.

The other thing hogging the headlines is the JKR & WB case vs. HP Lexicon website's Steve Van der Ark & RDR books. It is bringing up some interesting debates on copyright. If you're interested, you can follow the case on The Leaky Cauldron website at this link:

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/archives/category/389

Warner Bros. have announced the details of what is to be a two-part finale in the Harry Potter film series. David Yates, director of the 5th and 6th Potter films, will also direct the screen adaptation of the 7th and final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Warner Brothers President Jeff Robinov announced today in a press release:

It has been an honor for our studio to be entrusted with bringing J.K. Rowling’s extraordinary book series to the screen, and we have always felt a great responsibility to be true to her vision. In concluding the film franchise, we recognized that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is packed with vital plot points that complete the story arcs of all of its beloved characters. That said, we feel that the best way to do the book, and its many fans, justice is to expand the screen adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and release the film in two parts. We could not imagine the final chapter of the film franchise being in better hands than those of David Yates.

Steve Kloves will resume his post of screenwriter, while David Heyman and David Barron will again produce. This marks the first time that the entire cast and crew will remain the same over the course of more than 2 films (Chris Columbus director the first two Potter films). Part one and Part Two of Deathly Hallows will be filmed at the same same time (a bit like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy). Filming begins in February 2009. Part One will be released in November 2010, while Part Two will be released in May 2011.

In an interview with the Edinburgh Student Newspaper, Harry Potter author JK Rowling talks freely about life after Harry Potter, progress on the Harry Potter Encyclopedia, Dumbledore's sexuality (and the response to that announcement last year) and the issue of banned books. She also touches on her experiences fighting depression and discusses her future book projects. It's a fascinating article, and well worth a look: View article in PDF format.

Happy New Year everyone! So comes to a close 2007, the most eventful year in Potter history. The year had many highlights - new films and plays featuring the actors from the Harry Potter films breaking free from their type-cast status; the release of 5th film and most importantly, the release of the 7th and final Harry Potter book, Deathly Hallows. Join me in raising your butterbeer tankards in a toast to JK Rowling, Harry Potter and to all of us, Potter fans around the world. Cheers!

A reminder that the documentary, directed by James Runcie, entitled "JK Rowling... A Year in the Life" will screen in the UK on December 30th, on ITV 1, from 7pm until 8pm. The documentary is an extraordinary project, providing a rare glimpse into the life of Jo Rowling and of the effect her books have had on people all over the world. ITV have released a number of preview clips from the documentary, which you can view at The Leaky Cauldron website.

Meanwhile, on her website, JK responds to the auctioning of Beedle the Bard in the news section. There is also a fascinating sketch of the Weasley, Potter, Lovegood and Malfoy family trees behind the door that usually bears a 'do not disturb' sign. Click the eraser on Jo's desk to reach the room with a closed door, then click the door handle. Major Spoiler Warning: do not proceed unless you have read the 7th and final book, Deathly Hallows.

Finally, fan website The Leaky Cauldron has a wonderful, informal interview with JK Rowling on their radio show Pottercast. She answers many popular questions during the interview. To visit or download, visit the Pottercast website.

CBBC Newsround are reporting that the roles of Hogwarts students Cormac McLaggan, Blaise Zabini, Katie Bell, Romilda Vane and Marcus Belby have been filled for the 6th Harry Potter film, Half-Blood Prince.

Gryffindor student Cormac McLaggan will be played by actor Freddie Stroma. Malfoy's Slytherin ally, Zabini, is to be played by 18-year-old Louis Cordice. Georgina Leonidas has been cast in the role of Gryffindor chaser Katie Bell, who also features because of a curse. Katie's friend Leanne will be played by Isabella Laughland. The role of Gryffindor student Romilda Vane, who has her eye on Harry and causes havoc with her love potions, will be taken up by Anna Shaffer. Finally, Ravenclaw Marcus Belby will be played by Robert Knox.

To see pictures of some of the actors cast, and for more information, visit CBBC Newsround.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is due for release in cinemas on November 21st, 2008.

Amazon.com have published a set of reviews that gives fans a wonderful glimpse into the fairy-tales penned by JK Rowling in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. They have been reviewing each of the stories individually, accompanied by pictures of the hand-written scripts and by the author's illustrations. Check this link daily, as they will be completing the full set of reviews over the next few days: Amazon reviews.

JK Rowling's hand-made copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a set of short stories mentioned in the 7th Harry Potter book, Deathly Hallows has been auctioned at Sotheby's for a record sum of 1 million, 950 thousand pounds. The book was bought by Amazon.com. The company plans to take the book to schools, so that children can see it and to make some of its contents available to all Harry Potter fans. They don't plan to make any money from this venture. Let's hope they stick to their word! More details on the way.

Warner Bros. have released the first official picture from the 6th and penultimate film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It depicts Harry holding his old Potions book and the Marauder's Map. Click here to view it.

Earlier this week, the Order of the Phoenix DVD was released in the United States. Accompanying it was a brand new behind-the-scenes segment from the 6th film. It includes snippets showing Dumbledore and Harry, Ginny and Harry and Draco, and also interviews with the cast and crew. You can view it on YouTube here

On her website, Jo Rowling has announced details of a documentary, to be screened in the UK on December 30th 2007 on ITV1. Jo notes that the film-makers followed her around for 12 months, recording the moment that she finished the 7th and final Harry Potter book, her handing over of the book to the publishers and her experiences over the next few months, including the release of the book to the public on July 21st and her tour to the United States in September. The documentary also includes footage of several Deathly Hallows release parties around the world. The film-makers shot footage of a release party I attended at the Reader's Paradise bookstore in Kloof Street in Cape Town, South Africa. I and several Harry Potter fans were interviewed. We have heard from the film-makers this week that the documentary will indeed including some footage of the Cape Town release! The documentary is likely to be screened all over the world in due course - details of the South African screening as soon as we get them ... in the mean time, get your relatives or friends in the UK to tape it for you or wait to see it on YouTube!

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has updated her website with a number of new entries relating to her experiences writing the Harry Potter books and to characters and talking points within the books. There is a fresh news post and a new diary entry, where Jo discusses the past few months in her life and also mentions an upcoming documentary that follows her over the course of a year. In the Extra Stuff section, there are entries on Harry and Dudley and the Elder Wand. In the FAQ section, there is new information on Lord Voldemort. Enjoy!

According to the actors in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the 6th film, currently in production, will be slightly lighter in tone than the 5th film, Order of the Phoenix. In an interview with Canada's Edmonton Sun Newspaper, Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron) said they were looking forward to the comic aspects. Dan Radcliffe (Harry) said he would miss the "morbid stuff" and was looking forward to the 7th film, Deathly Hallows, which would be "epic". The article notes that the script for Half-Blood Prince was written before the release of the 7th book and has not been changed much since then. You can see the articles/interviews in two parts: here and here.

Melissa, manager of The Leaky Cauldron fan website was lucky enough to get to look at and page through the original charity copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. The short book of wizarding fairy-tales, handwritten and illustrated by JK Rowling, is one of 7 copies the author has created. Six of the copies are thank-you gifts for people Jo has chosen and one is being auctioned for charity via Sotheby's. The book will not be published. Among the fairy tales is "The Tale of the Three Brothers", which is featured in Deathly Hallows. Jo writes of the fairy-tales:

These wizarding fairy-tales have much in common with their muggle counterparts: they exist to express human hopes and fears, and to teach a lesson or two. There are, however, a few important differences: witches tend to save themselves, rather than waiting for a man to do it, and young wizards are warned, not against the dangers and temptations of the outside world, but of their own magical powers.

Melissa of The Leaky Cauldron writes that the fairy-tales "may not tell us more about Harry’s world but do inform the moral laws governing it."

The Leaky Cauldron has a great deal of detail and description relating to the book; it's well worth a look - click here to read their article.