Vault #12: Harry e Seus Fãs
Hey guys! Harry, A History has just debuted in its Portugese translation in Brazil, and I spent last week speaking to such passionate, excited Brazilian journalists because of it. And nothing, lately, has made me happier than my Brazilian publisher Rocco's Harry e Sues Fãs blog - not because it's a blog about my book or anything like that, but because of how intently they get it.
The blog is only partly about the book, and only minimally about me. They've been interviewing fans, featuring them on the page every day, sharing stories and memories about their time in the Harry Potter phenomenon. That's what the book is about - the book is nothing without it. It's so wonderful to see the core messages of not only Harry, A History but the fans themselves translate seamlessly over so many borders. Every time I look at it I get a very specific type of smile on my face that I don't think can be replicated by anyone who doesn't know how this feels, to be a big part of this kind of shared experience. Even if I don't understand a word - and even if Google Translate has come up with some very funny English renditions of the text - it is inspiring.
When I started hearing from the Brazilian fans of my book and of Harry itself, one of them Twittered me with a very excited message - they HAD TO KNOW how I got the information that was on page 384 (I think it was 384?) of my book. I had no idea what they were talking about or what, in the Portugese edition, page 384 was. I prodded and they told me they were from Potterish.com (who, along with ClubedoSlugue.com and a host of other Portugese-language sites have been so unbelievably supportive of this book and I'm so grateful), and they were part of the group that was standing outside Jo's Deathly Hallows signing, the ones who waited until dawn for her to leave the museum, and the ones who were rewarded with a brief, private signing from her car window. When I told this person that Jo herself told me the story, I thought they were going to have a heart attack (as I certainly would have if it were me right after the first time I'd met her) - so I thought, what better way to celebrate Brazilian publication than a new Vault entry with the full snip from that moment? (And true to form, Rocco has snagged reports and pictures of the encounter and published it on the blog. Thanks guys!)
Thanks to all, as always, for your patience with my less-frequent updates. I think I will have at least one very cool announcement regarding the book in what I hope will be the near future. How's that for vague? Don't blame me, Jo taught me everything I know.
Roll the interview clip! In this one we discuss several different book releases, a little bit on Carnegie Hall, and, of course, the moment Jo met Brazil.
MA: For five, you just showed up at Waterstone's?
JKR: Yes. ...That was a really weird launch actually. Very strange. Yeah, I didn't really want to do that again.
MA: What was weird about it?
JKR: What was weird about it was the kids had absolutely no idea who I was when I stepped out from behind the curtain! I'd put up my hair ... and they really definitely didn't know who the hell was this woman who had stepped out from behind the curtain to hand out the books ... so [laughs] that was a bit of a bizarre moment for everyone concerned! It was very funny. But it was weird because I didn't really get to read or anything. I just handed out books. And it was all very controlled, very tightly-controlled, limited people ... and on seven I was really trying to make it more uncontrolled...but that did turn out to be a little bit unrealistic.
MA: They would have queued a full day for the chance...
JKR: Yeah, I think so, but in a way, wouldn't that have been nice?
MA: Yeah.
JKR: You know - in a way. And if you say to me well what if it had been 24 hours? Well, do you know what - I would have stayed for 24 hours.
MA: Your hand would have fallen off!
JKR: No - you know it's not your hand actually, it's your shoulder.
MA: Really? Hah.
JKR: Yeah, my hand is not a problem. But my right shoulder of the American tour - although believe you me, it's hardly a big deal - you get a little bit sore in the shoulder because you're constantly doing this. You're lifting your arm on and off books all the time, and after a while your shoulder starts to feel a little sore.
MA: 2000 arm raises.
JKR: Exactly.
MA: And then over a week - 10,000!
JKR: It was 10,000.
MA: You must have a very developed deltoid from all the signing.
JKR: My right arm is so much stronger than my left arm.
MA: How many books would you say you've signed over the years?
JKR: God, I don't know. At a wild guess, something like 50, 60,000? I don't know.
MA: That night, was there anything specific that anyone said to you behind the scenes? I know you had moments with Evanna.
JKR: was great having Evanna there. I met some people I'd been writing to for a while, some I'd met before and some I hadn't. I kind of would have liked to invite all the cast along. Evanna... I'm always kind of protective. I thought what's going to happen when she turns up? I do think for Dan, or Rupert ... it really wouldn't have been a smart idea for them to come along. For their sake, not for mine. But yeah, Evanna was very keen to come along and I was so delighted to see her. I adore her, I really do. I met people I'd been writing to for a long time ... it was lovely. It just felt so right, and I think you can tell. I've looked back at footage of the night and I remember feeling so happy to be there. And that's how it should be ... you should be really happy to be there. I was thrilled. I loved them all. There was one moment when I came very close to crying. I looked out over the sea of little faces before I started reading. We have this sort of informal question and answer session off camera and this wave of emotion crashed over me and I thought, this is the last time. And I could easily have bawled my eyes out at that point. I had to exercise a lot of self-control to keep myself on track. But I will always remember that as the best, the very best launch ever and Carnegie Hall - the second Carnegie Hall event - as the very best Q & A I ever did.
MA: That was wild.
JKR: It was just ... perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better audience, I couldn't have asked for a better venue and I felt happy and free that I could just talk about it all and never once have to answer a question with, "I'm afraid I can't tell you that, you'll find that out in book five." It was great - so wonderful, so freeing.
And then as we drove in the dawn - at seven a.m. we left the Natural History Museum, and outside, just on the off-chance that they might see me drive by, were a gang from Potterish.com from Brazil who had come over to get their copy of the books - they hadn't gotten into the event, they were standing there with a Brazilian flag, they all had a copy of the book and they'd all been sitting out on the pavement reading it, and then the car drew up and they started to jump, jump, jump, jump up and down and my driver went to put his foot down and I knew who they were, I could tell. So we unwound the window and signed some stuff and had a quick chat and that was again a perfect way to end. It was such a great night. I loved it.
Brazilian fans, I hope you enjoy the book! And I hope to meet you one day!
Hi, Melissa!
This books is incredible! I am really enjoying it(I haven't finished yet) and every page that I read it gets better. I can't believe you made all of that - no doubt, of course. If I'd gone crazy just to be part of a fandom, imagine if I met Jo Rowling!!
I'm 14 and just when I was 12 (and finished it all in ONE month). I watched all the movies and grew up with Harry and his friends in a totally "intimate" way, like a real friend of mine. However, i wasn't connected to the Potter muggle-world during this time, so, with this book, I learned a lot of things new. Like the PotterWar and the Wizard Rock, for example. Thanks for beeing my teacher, Melissa.
Tough, I cried so hard when SPOILER Dumbledore died in the books END OF SPOILER even without reading them like you did. It means Harry Potter was (and is) really part of life.
Once again, the book is fantastic and it is as addictive as the official Potter books. I can't wait to reach the end of it *-* \o/
You are a great writer and should write more books. I'd totally buy it!
Congratulations
PS.: I'm Brazillian and... is it my English good? I have studied it for 3 and a half (so far) and I didn't use the Google Translate \o/.
I'm Brazilian as well. I'm reading the book right now and I have to tell you that it brought me tears and happy memories. Thank you so much, Melissa <3
Hi Melissa! Your book is amazing! I'm from Brazil too and, although I have grown up with the Harry Potter books and has always been a great fan, I wasn't much of an internet person by then.
I lived in my own little world of Harry Potter and it was so nice to read about what happened out there! Your book taught me a lot of things about the fandon like ships, Wizard Rock, spoilers, etc... and I just loved it.
I love Harry Potter so much, is like an old friend of mine. I still jump and scream when I hear something about the series. Knowing that JK remembers us, Brazilian fans, is so nice I can't even describe it! Thanks for this post.
Keep with the good work! :D
Hey Melissa! I'm from Brazil and i've just got your book as my birthday gift ! I've just started reading your book but i can feel it will be a great one ! Thanks for sharing this kind of stuff with us ! hope to see you soon in Brazil, or who knows in Orlando? (i'll be there in july 2011)...if you wish, keep in touch !
Hi Melissa! I simply have to write something here after us, Brazilians, we are privileged with a vault ... I'm in tears to hear the words that Jo used to tell about her fans in Brazil.
I'm from São Paulo and had read your book in English, now I'm reading in Portuguese, my language! When it launched in 2008 (along with Beedle) I could never imagine that they would translate your book, ... is so good to read a book that speaks so intimately to me (as it must do for all who were inside the phenomenon of Harry), because I was involved in fandom for many years here in Brazil, we also do events for HP, we have many fanfics, fanart , wizard rock, etc ... I also started reading the series in August 2000 (as you), but I was 12, now I'm 23 years old and I've read every book of Harry 13 times each - I am obsessed with everything about the series, especially the site of Jo, wich I did my personal translation into Portuguese in 2005. It's very good to say that Harry, Ron and Hermione (and the whole gang) has millions of fans in Brazil – and Leaky is very dear to Brazilian fans too!
I also have much gratitude for Jo because she changed my life, and she changed my life for the better! I love her!
Thank you Melissa because of a book so full of good memories, Harry Potter is already part of half my life today - I'm the generation that had 9 / 10 years in 1997. It's a fun read that brings me “saudades” (a word that only exists in Portuguese, which so-so means that we miss something, but it is deeper than that).
Big kiss!
Praty
Hi Melissa! I'm also brazilian and I'm now reading your book thanks to the recomendation of a friend (Frini), and I'm very much in love with it.
It was fantastic to remember the details and to learn the little things I didn't know. I begun reading Harry Potter in 2000, the first 3 books arrived in Brazil months apart and I was 12, I never knew how much the books would bring me and the people I would get to know because of it.
When the first and second movie came out, I went to watch it alone, none of my school friends liked harry potter and I didn't know people who did. I went online looking for people when I finished the goblet of fire, now 10 years later, there are about twenty of us: friends, sisters, boyfriends and all, that stick together throught it all.
Thank you for remind me how it all came to be.
It's a wonderful book and I'm forcing my boyfriend to read it. He, who never read HP and does not understand why I cry everytime I watch dobby's scene in deathly hallows part 1, is finally starting to get it.
Thank you!
Hi Melissa! I simply have to write something here after us, Brazilians, we are privileged with a vault ... I'm in tears to hear the words that Jo used to tell about her fans in Brazil.
I'm from São Paulo and had read your book in English, now I'm reading in Portuguese, my language! When it launched in 2008 (along with Beedle) I could never imagine that they would translate your book, ... is so good to read a book that speaks so intimately to me (as it must do for all who were inside the phenomenon of Harry), because I was involved in fandom for many years here in Brazil, we also do events for HP, we have many fanfics, fanart , wizard rock, etc ... I also started reading the series in August 2000 (as you), but I was 12, now I'm 23 years old and I've read every book of Harry 13 times each - I am obsessed with everything about the series, especially the site of Jo, wich I did my personal translation into Portuguese in 2005. It's very good to say that Harry, Ron and Hermione (and the whole gang) has millions of fans in Brazil – and Leaky is very dear to Brazilian fans too!
I also have much gratitude for Jo because she changed my life, and she changed my life for the better! I love her!
Thank you Melissa because of a book so full of good memories, Harry Potter is already part of half my life today - I'm the generation that had 9 / 10 years in 1997. It's a fun read that brings me “saudades” (a word that only exists in Portuguese, which so-so means that we miss something, but it is deeper than that).
Big kiss!
Praty
Hello, Melissa! I am Brazilian. I'm from Salvador, Bahia. Loved the book! ♥ I just reread it and I am very moved! Harry Potter is part of my life! "Harry, A History" brought me great memories, reading the book I felt totally at home. Harry Potter is present in various moments of my life, HP is like a real friend. There isn't enough words to say how much HP is important to me. I'm forever grateful to JK Rowling for having offered us this wonderful story.
I'm 20 years old, I grew up reading Harry Potter, I feel as if this universe is part of me. Even today when I read the books by JK Rowling feel the same thrill of the first page read.
Sorry for my English, I had to use the help of friend Google Translate
Congratulations for your book, it's fantastic! You're a wonderful writer! Thanks for share the love you have for the world created by JK Rowling brilliantly with fandom ! *-*
The magic continues!