Earlier today J.K Rowling and Robert Galbraith revealed the cover art for Career of Evil. Little Brown also revealed the publication date: October 22, 2015 for the UK and the 20th for US readers.
When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman’s severed leg.
Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible – and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.
With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them…
Career of Evil is the third in the highly acclaimed series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. A fiendishly clever mystery with unexpected twists around every corner, it is also a gripping story of a man and a woman at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives.
Last week Robert Galbraith and J.K. Rowling revealed that Galbraith’s much anticipated third novel centering around detective Cormoran Strike has been completed. The book is titledCareer of Evil, which is also the title of a Blue Oyster Cult song, and will be released this Autumn.
The Today Show shared a preview of an interview with J.K. Rowling on this morning’s episode. In the interview she discusses her charity, Lumos, as well as the usual “I not going to say I definitely won’t” response to writing another Harry Potter novel. The full interview will air on NBC’s Today Show, Monday morning.
Rowling was in New York to launch Lumos USA as part of the NGO’s global mission to bring light to the lives of eight million children living in orphanages and institutions around the world. In launching Lumos USA, Patron J.K. Rowling said:
“Children need families, and families need their children and I believe it is entirely possible, with concerted effort, to help to transform the way the world cares for disadvantaged children. We owe this to the eight million children living in orphanages around the world, most of whom do have parents and families who, given the right level of support, could care for them at home.”
Some more information on the charity is as follows:
After a decade working with governments in Central and Eastern Europe to help them to close down State-run institutions for children and create new services that support vulnerable children to stay with families, Lumos is now also working to address the use of largely privately-funded orphanages, which is increasing in many parts of the world. Lumos has recently begun to work in the Latin America and Caribbean region, focusing on Haiti, where more than 30,000 children live in orphanages, at least 80% of them NOT orphans.
Encouraging reform of the funding that supports orphanages is a key part of Lumos’ work. It has played an important role in influencing the way that European Union aid is now spent – to support community services for children and families, not to build or renovate institutions and orphanages. Lumos USA will build on this advocacy activity by working with US Government departments – including the US Agency for International Development – and bodies such as the World Bank to promote a similar funding principle. The right of children to live in families is one of the core principles of the US Government’s Action Plan on Children in Adversity.
To celebrate the launch of Lumos Foundation USA, Lumos is raising funds to reunite children with families. For the next month, Lumos USA will run an online sweepstakes giving every eligible US resident who donates over $10, the opportunity to win one of four generously donated prizes: two signed copies of J.K. Rowling’s ‘Very Good Lives’; a VIP trip for four to Universal Orlando Resort to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter; and tickets to Comic Con in San Diego in July 2015.
Pls RT: Children need families, not orphanages! Why I believe we can end the institutionalisation of children http://t.co/s1pVQtHyf0@lumos
Today Bloomsbury has released a J.K. Rowling Bibliography chronicalling the years of her career from 1997 – 2013. Fans in the US can pre-order the book on Amazon. Philip Errington, Director for Children’s Books within the Department of Printed Books and Manuscripts at Sotheby’s, wrote the book over 5 years. Always J.K. Rowling have interviewed Philip and chatted about the process of creating the book.
Has J.K. Rowling seen your bibliography? If so, what was her reaction?
I have kept J.K. Rowling and Neil Blair, her agent, fully informed of progress over the five years it has taken to write the bibliography. They have seen various drafts at several important moments. J.K. Rowling described the book as “slavishly thorough and somewhat mind-boggling”. That’s possibly the highest praise for which a bibliographer could wish.
Did you work closely with J.K. Rowling’s agents and publishers?
Yes, I had the delight of trawling through many archive boxes at Bloomsbury. When someone packs material in a box and sends it off to storage it’s frequently an exercise in reclaiming desk space. They don’t imagine future researchers will sit in a corner sifting through the piles of paper. That was tremendously rewarding. But also the opportunity to ask others to access information has been invaluable. The staff at The Blair Partnership have been exceptionally helpful in trying to uncover precise facts.
What drew you to compile a bibliography of J.K. Rowling’s work?
I work within the book department at Sotheby’s and regularly sell collectable editions of Rowling’s work. One day a well-respected book dealer complained to me of the lack of a Rowling bibliography. Gossip was being claimed as fact and there was no reliable point of reference. As my academic background is in bibliography and I had worked with J.K. Rowling on a major project previously, I thought researching her bibliography would be an interesting project. I was rather amazed at how receptive everyone was to the proposal.
What do you find most interesting about J.K. Rowling’s work?
That’s a tricky one. Personally I find the plots staggeringly well-constructed. Each Harry Potter story works as a separate book, but there’s also the entirely consistent plotting across all seven books. It’s little wonder that the author has now turned to detective fiction for the ability to construct, take apart and analyse a plot is, I think, a crucial part of her writing.
Can you tell us one surprising or little known fact about the publishing history of Harry Potter?
One of the big facts is the number of hardback and paperback copies printed of the first edition of the first book. Both were published on the same day with 500 hardbacks and 5150 paperbacks. In the past there have been stories of a total of 500 hardbacks and paperbacks. I’m also delighted to describe what appears to be the first appearance in print of any Harry Potter. Most people would assume this would be the proof printing, but no. Bloomsbury published a volume of forthcoming highlights in early 1997. The complete fourth chapter of Philosopher’s Stone was included.
What is the most interesting item associated with J.K. Rowling that you have had in your hands?
That’s a very easy one. I’ll take off my bibliographer’s hat and wear my Sotheby’s one. In December 2007 Sotheby’s was approached to sell a handwritten copy of J.K. Rowling’s The Tales of Beedle the Bard. I was responsible for the cataloguing and later accompanied the book to the United States for exhibition. The text was unpublished at that stage and every page was in the author’s distinctive handwriting; it was quite an object. When the hammer came down after a fierce bidding war, the result of £1.95million was a world record for a children’s book and also a modern literary manuscript. But more important it was to benefit a wonderful charity – now called Lumos. I had handled an exceptional piece but also played a small role in helping the charity.
What do you think will most interest Harry Potter fans in your bibliography?
The basic facts. There will also be those who want to work out if they have a rare edition. All the information to tell is in the bibliography. A bibliography is, of course, a guide to an author. But who knew that there are four issues of The Daily Prophet which were published by Bloomsbury for the Harry Potter fan club and each of these was written by J.K. Rowling. There’s also a section in the bibliography entitled ‘Books and Pamphlets with contributions by J.K. Rowling’ as it’s worth remembering that the author has published other material outside her own books. Indeed, this section has twenty entries. Where would you need to look to find a letter written by Jo (aged 45) to her 16 year-old self? Or, perhaps, telling us about great books to read aloud? Of course, the bibliography doesn’t include these texts – but the book does identify the canon.
BBC have announced the premiere date for ‘The Casual Vacancy’ television series based on J.K.Rowling’s novel of the same name. It will air on BBC ONE on February 15th at 9PM.
The BBC TV adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s global bestseller The Casual Vacancy will begin on Sunday 15th February 2015 on BBC One, and will air in three one-hour episodes over consecutive Sundays.
The cast for the BBC and HBO mini-series includes Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan, Julia McKenzie, and Abigail Lawrie.
BAFTA Award winning actor Michael Gambon (“Quirke”, “The Singing Detective”) is set to play Howard Mollison, owner of the Pagford delicatessen, with Julia McKenzie (Notes on a Scandal, Shirley Valentine) playing his wife Shirley. Howard’s son Miles is being played by Rufus Jones (Bill, “W1A”) with his wife Samantha Mollison being played by Keeley Hawes (“Line of Duty”, “Ashes to Ashes”). Rory Kinnear (Skyfall, “Penny Dreadful”), who recently won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for his role as Iago in Nicholas Hytner’s production of Othello at the National Theatre, is to play Barry Fairbrother, Keeley Forsyth (“Coronation Street”, “Emmerdale”) is playing Terri Weedon with newcomer Abigail Lawrie cast as her daughter Krystal Weedon.
Monica Dolan (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, Sightseers), who won a BAFTA Award for her portrayal of Rose West in Julian Jarrold’s “Appropriate Adult”, will play Tess Wall with Simon McBurney (Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy, Last King of Scotland) playing her husband Colin Wall. Richard Glover (A Field in England, Sightseers) has been cast to play Simon Price alongside Marie Critchley (“In The Flesh”, “Emmerdale”) playing his wife Ruth Price. Michelle Austin (Secrets & Lies, Another Year) will play Kay Bawden.
A paperback edition designed to tie in with the miniseries of The Casual Vacancy is available now.
Taking place on 18th April 2015 at the ExCel London, MuggleNet Live! 2015: Expo Patronum is a unique fan event being hosted by MuggleNet. With confirmed guest including Warwick Davis, Harry Melling and Chris Rankin, the event will include talent panels from the film series’ cast, signing events and an interactive expo involving leading members of the Potter community. The event will be supporting Lumos, the charity established by J.K. Rowling, in various fundraising activities throughout the day.
MuggleNet Live! 2015: Expo Patronum will be the first event of its kind for the website, bringing fans together to celebrate the Potter series past, present, and future. To be hosted in the Excel Centre Platinum Suites, the event will host guest panels, signings, photo booths, and exciting exhibitions featuring cast and crew. As well as discussing the series, the event will be an opportunity for fans to discover more about the current projects that the talented cast and crew are working on. Special guests currently include Potter actors Warwick Davis (Star Wars, Doctor Who, Willow), Jessie Cave (Pride, Glue), Anna Schafer (Hollyoaks, Glue) and Chris Rankin (Atlantis). More guests and programming details will be announced in the upcoming months.
Commenting on the event, Emerson Spartz, CEO of Spartz Inc. and founder of MuggleNet.com, said: “The MuggleNet Live! convention is situated at the perfect time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future with Harry Potter cast and crew members, and the entire Wizarding World fandom and its wider community.”
This is far from all the exciting features of the convention. More guests and activities will be announced in the coming weeks so be sure to keep up with the Expo on Facebook, Twitter and their website! This Sunday at 7pm GMT the staff will be hosting a Google Hangouts session to answer any questions fans have about the event.
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