No Harry E-Book Planned

While anticipation for the seventh and final instalment in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series heat up, the rumour mill begins to swirl. For instance, while there have been whispers that young Harry won’t make it through the book, this seems to be more speculation than inside information.

The e-book rumor, however, is another matter. Neil Blair, a lawyer for Rowling’s agent, made a formal announcement that there will be no e-book version of the Harry Potter books. At least, at present none are planned. According to Associated Content:

Piracy was a major factor in the decision, but not the only reason that Blair gave; he also cited Rowling’s personal preference for printed volumes over electronic publications. Rowling has publicly stated her partiality for writing and reading works on paper rather than on-screen. In interviews, Rowling repeatedly confirms that she wrote the entire Harry Potter series longhand, and that she prefers her readers to “experience the books on paper.”

The publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in the series, also marks the 10th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone, first published without much fanfare in 1997. To date, the first six books have sold over 325 million copies.