Enid Blyton has been named the United Kingdom’s best-loved writer, beating Harry Potter creator JK Rowling into third place and leaving literary giants such as Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens trailing. Blyton, creator of the Famous Five books as well as the Secret Seven, Malory Towers and Noddy, topped a poll of 2,000 adults for the 2008 Costa Book Awards.

There was an extremely strong showing for fantasy authors, with Roald Dahl, JRR Tolkien and Stephen King all making the top ten.

Philip Pullman, the author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, does not appear in the top 50. Other notable omissions include Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond series, the Winnie the Pooh author A A Milne, Iris Murdoch and the Bridget Jones’s Diary author Helen Fielding. The survey of 2,000 adults was commissioned by One Poll, the internet market research company, to mark the 2008 Costa Book Awards.

The United Kingdom’s top ten authors

1. Enid Blyton
2. Roald Dahl
3. JK Rowling
4. Jane Austen
5. William Shakespeare
6. Charles Dickens
7. JRR Tolkien
8. Agatha Christie
9. Stephen King
10. Beatrix Potter

The release of the new Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has been delayed until the summer of 2009. The movie was originally set for release this November and will mean a two-year break between the movie adaptations of books five and six in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter fantasy series.

The sixth instalment of the teenage wizard’s adventures was intended to have its Royal premiere on November the 17th. The Hollywood writers’ strike has been blamed for the delay.

The Bromsgrove Standard recently ran a story on a local boy with a rare allergy to daylight. Fantasy writer JK Rowling sent him the entire signed set of Harry Potter books so that they can be auctioned for the charity, which supports him and others with the same condition.

David Jones, who will be nine year’s old next month, is a massive Harry Potter fan and he received the box set after his mum Kate wrote to JK Rowling to tell her about David and the Xeroderma Pigmentosum that he suffers from.

David spent an hour and a half writing a heartfelt letter to Ms Rowling before he sat down with his mother and began to work their way through the stories together.

David has already had an eye operation and work on his teeth because the lack of light he gets means the enamel on them is not as resilient as most people’s. Harry Potter is David’s hero and has helped him through these difficult times.

The signed books sent by JK Rowling will be auctioned through ebay in November to raise funds for the XP Support Group, which as well as raising awareness of XP, organises ‘Owl Patrol’ holidays in a specially converted building, St Katherine’s in Parmoor. There, the youngsters are safe and free to run around and take part in activities, such as football and bungee running.

For more on XP, and the Harry Potter box set auction, log onto: www.xpsupportgroup.org.uk.

JK Rowling biography

Harry Potter fans will be delighted with the news that researchers in Berkeley, California are working on something being called metamaterials. Metamaterials are designed to bend light waves around them and maybe the invisibility cloak moves another step towards reality…

Researchers say they are quickly closing in on new types of materials that can cast a cloak of invisibility around objects, fulfilling a fantasy that is as old as ancient myths. Unlike those tales of fictional invisibility, the real-life technologies usually have a catch. Nevertheless, limited forms of invisibility might be available to the military sooner than you think.

The newest research papers depict how metamaterial could be fabricated to bend light in precisely curved paths around the object to be hidden, so that an observer would see right through it - or more accurately, right around it - to the other side.

Theoretically, the metamaterial could work like the helmet of invisibility celebrated in Greek myth or the invisibility cloak that came in so helpful for Harry Potter in JK Rowlings’ novels.

Harry Potter “Theme Park within a Theme Park” will be revealed in 2010. Fans to be immersed in the Adventures of the World’s Most Popular Wizard.

Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Orlando Resort are partnering to create the world’s first fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment based on the bestselling books by JK Rowling and blockbuster feature films from Warner Bros.

Envisioned as a “theme park within a theme park” and titled “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” the new environment will become part of the experience within Universal’s Islands of Adventures theme park at Universal Orlando Resort.

Inspired by JK Rowling’s compelling stories and characters – and faithful to the visual landscapes of the films – “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” will provide a “one-of-a-kind” opportunity to experience the magical world of Harry and his friends. The fully immersive, themed land will enable guests to visit some of the most iconic locations found in the books and the films including the village of Hogsmeade, the mysterious Forbidden Forest, and even Hogwarts castle itself.

“The plans I’ve seen look incredibly exciting, and I don’t think fans of the books or films will be disappointed,” said JK Rowling.

Expected to be revealed in 2010, the new environment will feature immersive rides and interactive attractions, as well as experiential shops and restaurants that will enable guests to sample fare from the wizarding world’s best-known establishments. Also debuting will be a state-of-the-art attraction that will bring magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in an exciting way that guests have never before experienced.

The Academy Award-winning production designer Stuart Craig, who has worked to bring the world of Harry Potter to life in all of the feature films to date, leads the creative design for the area to ensure it remains faithful to the look and feel of the films.

“Our primary goal is to make sure this experience is an authentic extension of Harry Potter’s world as it is portrayed in the books and films,” said Craig. “I am very excited to be working closely with the Universal Orlando team to bring the area to life.”

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Universal Orlando Resort - the official site featuring announcements, gallery and FAQs.

FAQs

When will the Wizarding World of Harry Potter open?
2010

Where exactly will it be located?
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be located at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme parks in Orlando, Florida. A portion of what is currently the Lost Continent will be devoted to the new environment, as well as an undeveloped area that is currently not in use.

How big will it be?
The new environment will be comparable in size to other islands within Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Will the new environment be based on a specific book or film?
Inspired by JK Rowling’s compelling stories and characters - and faithful to the visual landscapes of the films - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be a fully immersive experience that will draw from all of the books and movies.

What are the key elements to the new area?
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is not just a single attraction. This new themed environment will provide fans with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience the magical world of Harry Potter and his friends, and to see some of their favourite locations from the books and films such as the village of Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and even Hogwarts itself. The area will feature attractions, experiential shops and restaurants.

Will I be able to go inside Hogwarts castle?
The new land will be anchored by the most recognizable landmark in Harry Potter’s world: Hogwarts castle. Fans will get to experience some of their favourite locations both within Hogwarts and around the castle grounds.

Read the complete list of frequently asked questions here - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF), the charity which brings you The Royal Film Performance(tm), is delighted to announce Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as The Royal Film Performance(tm) 2008.

The Royal and European premiere screening of the sixth instalment of the Warner Bros. Pictures Harry Potter film franchise based on the beloved novels by JK Rowling, will take place on Monday 17th November 2008 in the presence of member of the Royal Family.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is directed by David Yates and produced by David Heyman, the producer of all of the Harry Potter films, together with David Barron. Screenwriter Steve Kloves, who scripted the first four instalments of the film franchise, is adapting the screenplay based on the book by JK Rowling. Once again heading the cast, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are reprising their roles as young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, who are facing new challenges and dangers in the wake of Lord Voldemort’s return. They will be reunited with returning Harry Potter cast members, including Helena Bonham Carter, David Bradley, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Natalia Tena, Julie Walters and David Thewlis, as well as Evanna Lynch, Matthew Lewis and Bonnie Wright.

Two award-winning actors are joining the film’s all-star cast in their first Harry Potter film: Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent as Potions Professor Horace Slughorn, and award-winning actress Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy, mother to Draco Malfoy and sister to the evil Bellatrix Lestrange. Additionally, several young newcomers will be making their feature film debuts in the film: Jessie Cave as Lavender Brown; nine-year-old Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Tom Riddle at age 11; and 16-year-old Frank Dillane as the teenage Riddle, who is already on the path to becoming the evil Lord Voldemort.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films production, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be released on November 21, 2008, by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

David Murrell, President of The CTBF said:

“We are delighted to have Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince premiering at our most prestigious fundraising event, The Royal Film Performance(tm). The Harry Potter series is a perfect example of great British filmmaking and we are grateful to Warner Bros. for its support. With its help we are going to make this event a spectacular fundraiser for the CTBF and continue our lifeline of support for people behind the scenes in the world of film, television and cinema.”

Josh Berger, President and MD of Warner Bros, UK, said:

“We are honoured that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, one of the most anticipated films of the year, has been chosen as the 61st Royal Film Performance. Directed, filmed and produced in the UK with a hugely talented, and largely British cast and crew, it is particularly fitting that this Warner Bros. film will help raise funds to support those from the British film and television community most in need.”

David Heyman added:

“I am delighted that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been chosen for this year’s Royal Film Performance. We have always endeavoured to remain true to Jo Rowling’s vision in recreating the magic of her world and we have been overwhelmed with the continual support of audiences. And thus, we are thrilled that our film is being honoured in this way and will help to raise money for such good causes.”

For the first time in the history of the Harry Potter films, premiere tickets will be available to purchase. Please contact The CTBF fundraising department Tel: +44(0)20-7439-2966 or email: events@ctbf.co.uk.

All money raised from the event will go directly to the CTBF, which supports industry employees and their families who have fallen on hard times.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince book review
JK Rowling biography

JK Rowling has announced her first book to hit the shelves since Harry Potter’s final outing - a series of fairy tales. The 43-year-old wrote The Tales of Beedle The Bard after she completed Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows. The book contains five stories and will be released on December 4.

Voldemort is and growing stronger as is his following and dangerous times are ahead for our hero and his friends. Dumbledore enlists Harry’s help, to convince his old friend and retired professor Horace Slughorn to return to his old teaching post at Hogwarts.

Read the full Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince book review
JK Rowling biography

The Guardian.co.uk question whether the retailing the final book about the boy wizard at such a low price risks devaluing JK Rowling’s entire series for generations to come

Asda’s decision to sell Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for the absurd price of £1 may end up doing a great deal more damage to J K Rowling than the unauthorised Harry Potter compendium, which she recently went to court to try to block, ever could. Discounting of the Harry Potter novels has always been taken to the extreme, but had previously remained within the realms of commercial feasibility. Asda has brought it to the level of the remainder bin.

Source: Guardian.co.uk

Read the complete article here - http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/07/is_this_the_end_for_harry_pott.html

JK Rowling has been an important figure in helping the British film industry enjoy its best year, earning a record £1.65 billion around the world. The population of the UK flocked back to the cinemas is 2007; July was the best month of cinema-going in forty years! Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix pulled in an incredible £1.65 billion worldwide showing that the fantasy genre is extremely strong. According to the statistical review, 60% of people in the UK went to the cinema at least once last year, while almost one in five people went once a month or more.

JK Rowling biography