July 24, 2007 4:03
Rowling Speaks!
To Meredith Vieira. Rowling is on the Today show tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday, and on Dateline on Sunday. NBC has released a partial transcript (transcribed with touching fidelity, I might add), which I'm slapping in below. No bombshells, but it's always great to hear the source speak. (Thanks to Jim Poniewozik for the hook-up.)
RE: THE RELEASE OF THE SEVENTH INSTALLMENT
VIEIRA: It's finally done.
ROWLING: I know.
VIEIRA: How does that feel?
ROWLING: Incredible.
VIEIRA: Incredible good? Incredible bad? A little bit of both?
ROWLING: At the moment-- it feels great, to be honest with you. It feels-- it's a really nice place to be. Yeah. Feel a big sense of achievement. I mean, I am sad. But I've been sadder. I need to be off...writing, I felt-- devastated.
VIEIRA: Really?
ROWLING: Uh-huh. Yeah. For about a week. I was hard to live with for about a week after I finished this book.
VIEIRA: Because-- because you realized it was over or because, I mean, you killed off some of the characters, too. I'm sure that was--
ROWLING: I think-- I think the whole thing. It was this amazing cathartic moment. The end of 17 years' work. And-- that was-- that was just hard to-- hard to deal with for about a week. And it was-- and it's very much tied into things I've done in my life for 17 years that brought back a lot of memories of what had been going on in my life when I started writing. So, yeah.
VIEIRA: Because when you started you were not in the same place you are now by any means.
ROWLING: No. And, in fact, when I started actually I was in a bad place. And then they-- then, you know, life has its ups and downs. So, I mean, Harry's been with me as a result. I think it was that feeling more than any other that I wouldn't have that world to retreat into again that was painful.
RE: HOW FAR BOOK SEVEN WAS FROM HER ORIGINAL VISION:
ROWLING: It's really close, particularly the last third of the book is as I always wanted it. It really is. The only exception would be the one character appears in that last third. And I thought that character was gonna die in Book Five when I started writing.
VIEIRA: Who was that?
ROWLING: Mr. Weasley. He was the person who got a reprieve. I-- when I sketched out the books, Mr. Weasley was due to die in Book Five.
VIEIRA: So what happened there? Why did he get the reprieve?
ROWLING: Well, I swapped him for someone else, and I don't want to say who for the people who haven't-- read. But I-- I made a decision as I went into writing Phoenix that I was gonna reprieve Mr. Weasley and I was gonna kill someone else. And if you finish the book, I expect you probably know and someone else who is a father.
RE: THE TOUGHEST PART TO WRITE
VIEIRA: Overall, the loss of which character brought you to tears?
ROWLING: Definitely the passage that I found hardest to write of all of them in all seven books and the one that made me cry the most is Chapter 34 in this one. But that was-- and that was partly because of the content—and partly because it had been planned for so long and been roughed out for so long. And to write the definitive version felt like a-- a huge climax.
VIEIRA: And can you tell us what was in 34?
ROWLING: It's when Harry sets off into the forest. Again. So that's my favorite passage of this book. And it's the part that when I finished writing, I didn't cry as I was writing, but when I finished writing, I had enormous explosion of emotion and I cried and cried and cried.
RE: WHAT SHE'S LEFT OUT OF PAST BOOKS AND THE FUTURE OF HARRY POTTER
VIEIRA: Were there other things that you left out that-- you wish you could have put in?
ROWLING: There have been all through the books, not just in this book. I've said before that-- Dean Thomas had a much more interesting history than ever appeared in the books for me. And you-- you just see glimpses of it. But to write it really would take us into prequel territory. And that does take us into Star Wars territory. And that's not really a place I'm -- I'm planning to go. [Oh, come on in! You'll get used to it. -- ed.] But-- yeah, so there's always been bits that I knew about characters that didn't make final cuts because they weren't that relevant. And I've said-- on my website I think I said that in a way I had to sacrifice Dean's back story for Neville's back story because, ultimately, Neville's back story was more central to the-- to the climax of the books as I knew it would be.
VIEIRA: We've also had a lot of e-mails-- from people that-- who have read the book now and have questions so I wanna go through some of them, set the record straight. Okay. Number one, 19 years later, who's the headmaster of Hogwarts?
ROWLING: Well, it would be someone new. McGonagle was really getting on a bit. So someone completely new. But if I ever do the encyclopedia, I'm promising I will give details.
VIEIRA: You're gonna do that, aren't you?
ROWLING: I think I probably will. But I'm not going to do it tomorrow. (LAUGHTER) 'Cause I'd really like a break. So you may be waiting--
VIEIRA: You mean you haven't started that yet? (LAUGHTER)
ROWLING: Well, in a way I suppose I have because the-- the raw material is all in-- in-- in my notes. But-- I wanna take a break from publishing for a little while. It would be a-- you know, I've still got a young family.
VIEIRA: Do you-- do Ron and Hermione or Harry ever return to Hogwarts in any capacity?
ROWLING: Well, I can well imagine Harry returning to give the odd talk on-- on defense against the dark arts. And-- I-- and, of course, the jinx is broken now because Voldemort's gone. Now they can keep a good Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher from here on in. So that aspect of the—of the wizarding education is now provided for.
RE: ROWLING'S THOUGHTS ABOUT THE RELEASE OF HER FINAL BOOK
VIEIRA: Is it-- ending this series for you, is it a relief, or is there a sense of mourning? Or maybe a combination of the two?
ROWLING: Definitely both.
VIEIRA: Yeah?
ROWLING: Whole bundle of emotions wrapped up into one. Immediately after finishing writing, I was very...The first two days were terrible. Terrible. And--
VIEIRA: In what way? Tell me what you did.
ROWLING: Just-- I was incredibly low. I think what-- what-- what is probably hard for people to imagine is how wrapped up the 17 years' work is with what was going on in my life at the time. So it all-- it all merges into one. But I was-- I was mourning the loss of this world that I had written for so long and loved so much. I was also mourning the retreat it had been from-- from ordinary life, which it has been. And it forced me to look back at 17 years of my life and remember things. And it was very linked to my mother dying, which happened-- because, you know, a huge—this big long passage from my life is now rounded off. So inevitably you think about what was happening at the beginning of that passage. Inevitably, you're thrown back in-- you know, I went through the birth of three children. I went through different country. I went through two serious bereavements. Breakup of a marriage. And-- and then lots of happy memories, you know? My-- the birth of all three of my children and so on. But, you know, it threw me back into all that. I kept thinking about all of that. The first two days were tough. But the whole of the-- week after finishing writing, I was quite low. And then after a week, suddenly I felt something different. I woke up on kind of Day Eight and-- felt actually quite light-- light hearted and thought I can write whatever I like. And the pressure's off. And it's not as though Harry's gone-gone from my life because he'll always be in my life. And-- yeah, I did. I woke up after about a week and thought, "Oh, what an upside." You know? It's-- there is relief. Of course there's relief. All through, even through the depressed phase, this is my favorite book and I think it's my best book of the series--
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Reader Comments (30)
Aha! So Mr. W. got the reprieve. Is she implying that Lupin took the hit for him?
Posted by Church | July 24, 2007 4:53 PM
I would think so, Church. Don't know how I feel about that... I adored Lupin. But I loved Mr. Weasley too.
Well, I'm just glad it wasn't a decision I would have to make! I'm definitely going to have to tape this interview, since I'll be at work.
Posted by Kit | July 24, 2007 4:55 PM
"But if I ever do the encyclopedia, I'm promising I will give details"
Yoo-freakin-hoo!
Posted by Matt S | July 24, 2007 5:13 PM
I agree, Matt S, I agree.
Posted by Daverus | July 24, 2007 5:20 PM
I wanna learn more about Dean Thomas! And Luna Lovegood! And Viktor Krum! And everybody else!
Waah!
*on serious HP withdrawal here folks, sorry. But really, I'm ok with the series ending that way.
Posted by chryssie | July 24, 2007 5:23 PM
Dude. Withdrawal doesn't even cover it. I read DH *twice* in the first 28 hours after release, and have since started book 1 again.
I will buy a Hogwarts encyclopedia the instant it becomes available.
But I agree, the series' ending was perfect as is. I stand in awe of J.K. Rowling and her massive achievement. If ever I am one tenth the writer she is, I shall be quite content.
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* LONG LIVE HARRY POTTER!!!*
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Posted by Jenna Judd | July 24, 2007 7:10 PM
Jo, if you read this THANK YOU a zillion times. You have created such a world for us.. it's amazing. I'm counting the days for the encyclopedia.
Posted by Juli | July 24, 2007 7:19 PM
If Hermione doesn't become the first Muggle-Born Minister of Magic, I'll eat my Sorting Hat.
Posted by Kat | July 24, 2007 7:49 PM
The cover of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows shoes Harry and Voldemort in which scene? I wasn't the final battle cause that was in Aragog's area and Hogwarts. Is it possibly Hogwarts like ripped apart?
Posted by EMMAFAN! | July 24, 2007 8:45 PM
Emmafan, I think the cover of the book is supposed to be in the final battle scene in the Great Hall. It looks like it's outside because the ceiling is enchanted to look like the sky. Although I think the cover is misleading.
The book was wonderful. I did wish the epilogue had info on more of the characters' lives, but I'm willing to wait for the encyclopedia.
And I think what Jo was implying is that she traded Mr. Weasley's death for Sirius' in Book 5.
Posted by Brooke | July 24, 2007 8:54 PM
She said that she traded Mr. Weasley for another father in book seven, which would be Lupin because Ted Tonks wasn't that large of a character. And I officially hate cover art. It ruined three scenes for me in the book. Oh no Harry is going in to the forest and he is going to let Voldemort kill him, oh no wait he doesn't die because the scene on the cover of the book hasn't happened yet. Damn you cover art!!
Posted by Jill | July 24, 2007 10:21 PM
Cover art CAN ruin things if you take it too seriously (I try not to... probably why I had such a heart attack when I recognized the Deathly Hallows symbol).
Thank goodness there will be an encyclopedia. While I don't need answers to feel complete (and depressed), it would be good to have some (example: the veil). But JKR can take her time, she's had to deal with Potter related stress for 17 years. She deserves a break.
(Also, Dean Thomas' back story is, I think, on JK Rowling's website. You have to solve some puzzles, but it should be there. It also might be on the Harry Potter Lexicon page but I have yet to check.)
Posted by Michelle | July 25, 2007 1:46 AM
You can check out Ms Rowling's site for Dean Thomas' back story. It was quite lovely. I happen to feel lucky that I browsed through that before I read Book 7, so I felt a little "in-the-know" when Dean told the others his reason for going on the run. Ms Rowling wrote some stuff there that one wouldn't normally read in the books (like the Weasley twins' birthday; though I guess anyone would KNOW when, given their personalities). ;)
I honestly can't wait if Ms Rowling would finish a Hogwarts/Wizarding World encyclopedia. I'd be one of the millions to sign up for that! =)
@KAT--I love what you said--eat the Sorting Hat. Haha.
Honestly, I've even been using from HP lexicons in everyday life already. When I wanted to suddenly disappear out of embarrassment over something, you'd hear me mutter "I need to Apparate." Or when I'm already too lazy to pick up some stuff, I've thought of doing a Summoning Charm. Sigh. I'd definitely miss Harry's adventures. HP's world is simply... magical. =)
Posted by Michiko Baylosis | July 25, 2007 4:21 AM
Looking forward to the encyclopedia. Take a good break Ms.Rowling you deserve it. Thanks for a great series.
Posted by koops | July 25, 2007 5:07 AM
As much as I like mr.Weasley, much mor eI love Remus.. pity that he had to take the fall for him.. :(
especcially since Teddy lost both of his parents..
But the day when the "probably will write" will turn to "Yes, I am writing", will be a really good day.. ^_^
Posted by Keta | July 25, 2007 5:27 AM
If you want to get Dean's back story: go to JKRowling.com and hit the hair brush that will take to to it. Hit the tab that says EDITS and you will find it there. It's okay not that great.
Posted by jim | July 25, 2007 5:46 AM
Alas, us working people will have to view the interview on the net. But from the transcript, seems that MV isn't a huge Harry Potter reader. It would have been nicer if JKR was interviewed by say a diehard fan, don't you think?
Posted by Anon | July 25, 2007 9:10 AM
Anon, hopefully there'll be another interview with Muggle.net and/or Leaky Cauldrin (gina?) like she did before. That was a great interview. Though, I imagine it would be awhile before that goes down (give everyone a chance to read and digest the book/series).
From Jo's above comments I'm figuring she's either put Harry to rest and will never be seriously tempted to write about him again (except hopefully the encyclopedia) or will feel compelled to write another book in five to ten years.
I don't really see a situation where she'll be like 'what the hell, let's write another' It'll either be a 'I've done that and don't need to do it again' situation. Or a 'I just can't give this world up' kind of thing.
Of course, I'm currently in a 'if I was smart I wouldn't be posted on blogs till I'm fully awake' kind of thing.
Posted by Matt S | July 25, 2007 9:30 AM
Teddy loses both parents to battle with Voldemort. Sounds like someone wlse we all know and love.
Posted by char | July 25, 2007 11:51 AM
Why was Teddy on the Hogwarts train?, he was 19 and should have been out of school.
Posted by Swimner | July 25, 2007 12:06 PM
Thanks to all the people who replied re that Dean Thomas' background comment!
@Swimner - i noticed that too, and a friend suggested that he may be just sending Victoire (who we assumed is Bill & Fleur's kid) off to school since they're "together" and all. This theory was actually backed by the other commenters on the other blog posts.
Posted by chryssie | July 25, 2007 12:20 PM
Could Teddy be the new DADA teacher? I seem to remember a precedent for one catching the train with the kids. Granted, 19 seems young, but perhaps we'll get some backstory with "Teddy Lupin and the Mysterious McGuffin" (due out July 19th 2011.)
Posted by Church | July 25, 2007 1:07 PM
The book said that he was there to see her off. It said nothing about him getting on the train as well.
Posted by Dessa | July 25, 2007 1:27 PM
How can you not love this woman, what a mind filled with wonderous intellegent imagination.
She has managed to create a different world to share with people of all backgrounds and ages.
A much needed escape for many of us.
Posted by Julie | July 25, 2007 2:27 PM
I absolutely adored this book!! What an amazing end to such a brilliant series! And even though it was so magical and far-fetched, it even felt real, JK is such a brilliant author that it made everything seem so believable...
And now we all have End-Of-Harry-Potter-Blues..if you read this, JK, I'm definitely not the only one who hopes we hear from you again! But yeah..JK should take a well deserved break and we all hope you'll be writing this encyclopedia :)
Posted by Kirsten | July 25, 2007 3:48 PM
I want to know if Hermione's name in the book was a typo or a change!
Also, Gellert Grindelwald, was supposed to have been dead according to an interview JK gave in 2005.
Posted by Jaded Dragon | July 26, 2007 2:03 AM
I remember that interview too, JD. She could have mis-interpreted the question somehow.
Something struck me this morning: Molly fought to kill. That's something Harry should keep in mind in case he ever wants to turn down Christmas at the in-laws.
Posted by Daverus | July 26, 2007 8:14 AM
Wow. I can't believe she swapped Lupin for Mr. Weasley! It absolutely crushed me when Lupin died. I would rather have had Mr. Weasley die ten times over than Lupin. I mean, the poor guy had one happy moment in his tragic life with the birth of his son, and then *WHAM* dead. And off-screen no less.
Posted by Shan21 | July 26, 2007 9:25 AM
Swimner, Teddy wasn't on the train. He was kissing his girlfriend, Victoire.
And with the French name, the fact that James calls her "our Victoire," and her probable age (still at Hogwarts, but being seen off by her boyfriend), I am certain that Victorie is the daughter of Bill and Fleur.
Posted by Winky | July 26, 2007 1:07 PM
J.K. has accomplished an amazing quest and done what no other living author has done in my recolection. Nearly every one is reading. She has touched the lives of countless millions in our life time, and this saga will out live all of us, throughout history.
We have been most fortunate to have grown with her over the past years. Her ability to write has increased exponentially, as well as your understanding of characters, plots, and sheer volume of trivia that it took to accomplish this monumental task.
As a civilization we owe her a great amount of appreciation and thanks for stimulating out imagination, and our love of reading about her characters, after all, imagination and love probably are the greatest powers in the universe. Long live JK and all of you who took the time to make your lives better by reading her books.
Posted by Denny | July 26, 2007 2:26 PM