On either side of the stage were two podiums, the fronts of which looked like book spines, with the author’s names on them. There were two video screens above the stage, and two to either side to project videos and the event. Before each author came onstage to read a smaller stage was brought out for them to read from. Stephen King’s featured an electric chair (which he was afraid might go off) and two tall potted plants. John Irving’s had an old-world feel, with a high backed armchair, fireplace, desk lamp, and large globe. JK Rowling’s had a red upholstered throne flanked by two floor candelabras (like floor lamps only with candles).
Video introduction.
Intro to the writers: Whoopie
The writers are “equal to or greater than any of the supernatural forces of nature in their books”
“If that little wizard boy would have just asked that poor girl to the prom…” (meaning Carrie)
“I think I know why they [the HP fans] are screaming. I think all the Stephen King fans are whispering to them all the many ways Harry could die”
Tim Robbins introduced Stephen King, mispronouncing the Shawshank Redemption (which he stared) in many unique ways.
Short video.
Stephen King reads a story of a pie-eating contest in which a lot of people throw up, from Different Seasons, The Body (movie Stand By Me).
Stanley Tucci introduced John Irving.
Short Video
Irving reads from A Prayer for Owen Meany, a story of casting the church Christmas pageant, in which a boy unwittingly volunteers for the angel throws up in dismay.
Kathy Bates introduces JK Rowling.
She said she felt “like Ed Sullivan as he’s about to introduce the Beetles.”
She credited Rowling with “turning an entire generation of children into wild, screaming, frenzied fans of books.”
Bates noted how important this is in an age when computers and video games rule, and that the children have become not just readers, but re-readers as the wait for the next installment of the series. Even after the movies came out, the children continued to read, and read even more. “The magic she [Rowling] conjures turns children into readers for life.”
Short video. As yesterday, Jo in the video showed a notebook with the history of the death eaters, and a yellow folder containing the final chapter to book seven.
Jo enters the stage to music from the first Harry Potter movie.
Acknowledging the other authors Rowling said the felt “like Herman’s Hermits having to go on after the Stones and the Beetles.” (The Rolling Stones and The Beetles are iconic bands, while Herman’s Hermits, though good and popular in their time, are not nearly as legendary.) However, she did maintain that she had the best shoes—the snake sandals from Tuesday night.
She told the audience that while the video was playing she noticed they liked Snape. “You people never give up, do you?”
She said she didn’t know the theme was going to be puking, or she would have read something about Puking Pastils.
Question 1: If you could bring one character to life other than Harry, who would it be?
Rowling: Hagrid. “Although it’s a really tricky one.” “I think we’d all like a Hagrid in our life, liability that he is.” “I think if I met a Fundamentalist Christian” I’d say, talk to Hagrid.
Question 2: When Dumbledore told the Dursleys that Harry would be staying only one more summer with them, there was an odd flush on Petunia’s cheeks. Does this mean she has a love for Harry and the wizarding world that we haven’t seen?
Rowling: There’s “a little more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye.” We’ll find out in book seven.
Question 3: [from an adorable little boy, painstakingly reading the long question] You said two main characters will be dying, possible Harry too…[I don’t remember how this segued into Dumbledore] Is Dumbledore really dead? Because he is such a powerful wizard…
Rowling [head in her arms, heart wrenching in her breast] Grahmn Green said that every writer had to have a chip of ice in his heart. She can’t answer …We “shouldn’t expect Dumbledore to do a Gandalf.”
Question 4: [follow up to Q3, asked by Salman Rushdie] Until book 6, Snape was unlikable, but essentially good. Dumbledore always vouched for him. Now, he’s a villain, and we “cannot, or don’t want to believe this.” His theory is: Snape is good, therefore Dumbledore is not dead. It’s a ruse Snape and DD did to put Voldemort off guard, so that in the final battle between Harry and LV, Harry will have more allies than he knows. What we need to know for this theory then is, is Snape good or bad?
Rowling: Your opinion is right… “I need to be more explicit—Dumbledore is definitely dead.” She apologizes to Dumbledoreisnotdead.com…We have the five stages of grief. “I’m helping you get past denial. I’m not sure what next stage is—it might be anger so…” moving on past the questions.
Q&A with all the authors.
Q1 to SK
Q2 to JI
Q3 to JK: Asked by a librarian, what’s next after HP?
Rowling: “I thought you were going to attack me for Madame Pince.” Sorry. “My escape clause is if they’d had a good librarian” half the plots would be gone. The answer is usually in a book. She answered that she had a half-finished, much shorter book for children, to work on.
Q to SK: What books scare him.
King: He was not prepared for the depth of scary things in Harry Potter. Especially the Death Eaters.
Rowling: “I scared Stephen King.”
Q to JK: What is a question fans haven’t asked and should ask?
Rowling: “Oh god. I—how can I answer that? I think I can think of a couple of things that would give away the end of book 7.”… “This after I believe I changed my mind on the title of book 7”…in the shower before coming. She thought she knew what is was and then thought, oh, that would be a good title too. She apologized for not being able to answer.
Q to all: What five of your characters would you take to dinner and why?
Stephan King is a bit bemused since most of his characters you wouldn’t take to dinner.
Jo immediately says Harry, “to apologize”, Ron and Hermione naturally follow, then she’s stumped—“the thing is I know who’s dead.” SK tells her that doesn’t matter. Well then Dumbledore, and Hagrid. (Suggestions from the audience included Ginny and others.)
