More Harry Potter on Pottermore – coming soon

Pottermore, a new online Harry Potter experience

Pottermore, a new online Harry Potter experience

Pottermore was announced tonight by Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling, promising via a YouTube video,that it will be a new “online reading experience”.

In the video, Rowling says that Pottermore is “the same story, with a few crucial additions. The most important one is you.” I’ve embedded the video of Rowling’s announcement below.



Said Rowling:

“I wanted to give something back to the fans that have followed Harry so devotedly over the years, and to bring the stories to a new digital generation. I hope fans and those new to Harry will have as much fun helping to shape Pottermore as I have. Just as I have contributed to the website, everyone else will be able to join in by submitting their own comments, drawings and other content in a safe and friendly environment – Pottermore has been designed as a place to share the stories with your friends as you journey through the site.”

In addition to whatever this online experience will be, Pottermore will also be the exclusive place to purchase Harry Potter digital audio books, and be the first place to buy Harry Potter e-books.

Wired UK, reporting from the press conference in London, say that the books will be DRM-free, bearing only a digital watermark to identify the e-book purchaser.

J.K. Rowling will also be participating in Pottermore, and be sharing additional information that she has been “hoarding for years about the world of Harry Potter”. Again at the press conference it was revealed that Rowling has already written 18,000 of additional material on all things in the Harry Potter universe.

In the new website, the storyline will be brought to life with sumptuous newly-commissioned illustrations and interactive ‘Moments’ through which you can navigate, starting with the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s (Sorcerer’s) Stone. On entering, you choose a magic username and begin your experience. As you move through the chapters, you can read and share exclusive writing from J.K. Rowling, and, just as Harry joins Hogwarts, so can you. You visit Diagon Alley, get sorted into a house, cast spells and mix potions to help your house compete for the House Cup.

Pottermore will open to everyone in October, but some people registering early, from July 31 on the Pottermore site will be able to start taking part early. How many people that will be is not specified. Don’t be fooled by the ‘Submit your email button’ on site, at the time of writing no email addresses are being collected. f course it was only today that Pottermore was announced so pop back and keep trying, I’m sure it will be switched on shortly.

Pottermore video announcement