J.K. Rowling To Oprah: Harry Potter May Not Be Over, After All

By Christine Fenno Posted Oct 2nd 2010 10:44AM

Oprah Winfrey cast quite a spell over 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling, luring the reclusive novelist onto her show for an interview that aired Friday. And if you thought Rowling would confirm Harry's retirement, well, the British writer had other tricks up her sleeve.

"I could definitely write an eighth, a ninth book," Rowling said, tantalizing fans of the beloved wizard series. "I think I am done, but you never know."

The sit-down occurred in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the two talked about how the 1990 death of Rowling's mother left the writer with a well of grief -- and inspiration.

"The books wouldn't be what they are if she hadn't died," explained Rowling. "I mean, her death is literally on every other page in the 'Harry Potter' books."

She added, "At least half of Harry's journey is to deal with death, what it does to the living, what it means to die, what survives death....If she hadn't died, I don't think it is too strong to say there wouldn't be Harry Potter. The books are what they are because she died."

The author, 45, also revealed what it was like to end the seventh (and presumably last) novel in the franchise, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows':

"It was a bereavement, it was huge," she told Oprah. "Initially I was elated, then I cried like I had never cried before."

Now married to anesthesiologist Dr. Neil Murray, her second husband, Rowling says -- despite a fortune Forbes estimates at $1 billion from book sales plus film and merchandise royalties -- she often still feels like the nearly homeless single mom she once was. "I do still worry" about money, she said.

And who but Oprah Winfrey would understand better the startling sensation of struggling to make a paycheck before suddenly striking it rich -- and very famous?

"I really, really never" saw it coming, said Rowling. "I was so unprepared for it, and this was the thing that I think I really have never spoken about: I was a writer. I had no one near me, either professionally or personally, who could in any way help me when I had questions, like, 'What do you do when the press is searching through our trash?'"

And the Independently Mega-Wealthy Women's Support Group was born.

Tags: harry potter, j.k. rowling, jk rowling, oprah winfrey

Comments

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Friday 12 November

By AshleyKidd(:

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She is a very talented women . Harry Potter Books are the only books that i've ever actually read word by word . & im 15 years old . I love harry potter books and movies just wish it was just like the books . & Twlight ? Okay one . In the fourth series of Harry Potter Edward was actually in it as Cedric . So if your A so called fan and you didnt know that your a pozier to all Edward . God has blessed this lady with so much . Good Job jk. Rowling . (:

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