Harry Potter hoopla
Well, I don't imagine I'll ever have a book come out where the cover gets as much scrutiny as the recently unveiled covers of Harry Potter. Admittedly you never can tell, but I just don't see my writing as ever reaching this kind of popularity (in fact, that's not really my goal in writing--it's not lack of confidence that makes me say that, but simply a different type of approach to writing--would you expect a new cover from McKillip or VanderMeer, LeGuin or Beagle or Wolfe to get such a reaction?).
Still, I'm looking forward to reading the new book. And if you want to brush up a bit on the series as a whole, I have a perfect recommendation for you. My cousin Steve runs one of the main Harry Potter websites out there, the Harry Potter Lexicon. You won't find a lot of speculation about the new book there, but an incredible amount of information on the books that are already out as well as a collection of essays about the world that are fun to read. The people involved in the site are far more into the series than even most fans, so you'll find all kinds of things you missed if, like me, you only read each book once.
Yeah, Harry Potter is a far cry from the books I usually mention here and recommend, and a far cry from anything I write, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it for what it is.
Well, I don't imagine I'll ever have a book come out where the cover gets as much scrutiny as the recently unveiled covers of Harry Potter. Admittedly you never can tell, but I just don't see my writing as ever reaching this kind of popularity (in fact, that's not really my goal in writing--it's not lack of confidence that makes me say that, but simply a different type of approach to writing--would you expect a new cover from McKillip or VanderMeer, LeGuin or Beagle or Wolfe to get such a reaction?).
Still, I'm looking forward to reading the new book. And if you want to brush up a bit on the series as a whole, I have a perfect recommendation for you. My cousin Steve runs one of the main Harry Potter websites out there, the Harry Potter Lexicon. You won't find a lot of speculation about the new book there, but an incredible amount of information on the books that are already out as well as a collection of essays about the world that are fun to read. The people involved in the site are far more into the series than even most fans, so you'll find all kinds of things you missed if, like me, you only read each book once.
Yeah, Harry Potter is a far cry from the books I usually mention here and recommend, and a far cry from anything I write, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it for what it is.
Comments
And, hey, should have linked to my post on the cover art speculations! :) Speculating Runs Amok Due to Artwork on Various Harry Potter Covers
Mir
And you know, it was noticing your post that got me thinking about this, that sent me over to the Lexicon (which I hadn't visited in a long time). But then I forgot to link back. *shrug* Sorry ;)
The covers aren't even that great art, honestly. (I am not wild about the HP Americn covers.) It's just that the public has spent all these years obsessed about the outcome of these tales, year by release, and the culmination is at hand. We're all Holmeses, looking for the smallest clue to tell us if what we think will happen WILL HAPPEN! IT's not just a rousingly fun tale...it's a puzzle GAME and treasure hunt. haha
Mir
Mir, that's exactly what I'm saying--these other authors that are among my favorites (and whose ranks I aspire to someday) write a type of story that doesn't attract this type of phenomonon. And that's OK--I don't imagine myself writing that kind of story either.
But it does make it sort of fun to guess :)
Personally, I adore the Potter series. I'm so impressed with Rowling's ability to create her world and mature it (and her writing style) along with the characters and her core target audience that the Potter books have a place of honor (yep; first edition hardcovers from several countries) next to Tolkien and Lewis. I, too, will go to the midnight showing of movie five (with hordes of teenagers in jury-rigged Hogwarts robes) and I, too, have my advance copy of the final book reserved. I know I'll never write anything that falls into Rowling's category of success but I don't care. Her success gives me greater ambition to TRY and for a writer, I think that's key.
:)