Meeting Up After JKR at Radio City (August 1 and 2, 2006)

Meeting Up After JKR Aug 1 and 2

Gina R Snape - May 13, 2006 7:00 pm
Edited by Kip Carter Oct 3, 2006 12:28 am

Since it seems a number of people are going to see JKR at Radio City, I thought I'd create a thread to organise ourselves to meet up after the show.

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Finn BV - May 13, 2006 8:00 pm (#1 of 473)
Edited by Kip Carter May 13, 2006 11:13 pm

Gina, the only thing about this is I'm not sure what my mom would think about giving away my whereabouts online; telling people that I will be at a certain place at a certain hour. Sure, she will be with me, but it's something we'd have to discuss together.

Also, for the people who happen to have seats in the same row as I, Row N -- it would be really cool to meet, but we can't do this "planned" meeting thing. I am happy to "strike up" a conversation with somebody who happens to be sitting next to me, casually mention the Forum, and wouldn't you know, you're also a member of the forum. Or I could say that I know some people from the forum will be attending, which might make it sound more realistic, but online security is a big thing.

I know, and you know, that nobody here has any "criminal" intent, or something like that, but it's something you have to be careful on the Internet. However, if we can make some sort of coincidence thing happen, I'm all for that.

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Amilia Smith - May 14, 2006 12:37 am (#2 of 473)

Finn, would your folks be more comfortable if the meet-up were arraigned via e-mail? Or maybe in the chat room? That way your info wouldn't be left hanging out there for all the world to see on the net. Or is it more of a general "don't meet people you only know through the internet" thing?

Anyway, I hope you all have a blast. It sounds so fun! Am very jealous.

Mills.

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 14, 2006 6:43 am (#3 of 473)

I am taking Mare's advice and have printed out the Lexicon logo pic and will attach it to a keychain. I and my daughters will wear them visibly somewhere, perhaps on a wrist, or attached to my pocketbook. . .

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Finn BV - May 14, 2006 8:58 am (#4 of 473)



It's sort of a “don't meet people you meet on the internet” thing. But if HH11 and her daughters wear Lexicon things, I can go up to them and say, "Hey, you know the Lexicon?"

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 14, 2006 1:38 pm (#5 of 473)

Okay, Gina. Give us a where and when.

Finn: and one of us will reply, hey, aren't you that goldfish from Pepperidge Farm?

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Marè - May 14, 2006 2:01 pm (#6 of 473)

Finn, I think you can just keep track of this thread and maybe show it your mum? You don't have to reply that you are coming, but maybe you could convince your mum to come to the meetup and take a peep at the people.
If she sees that they are normal (eh?) or at least relatively harmless looking people with kids too, she wouldn't mind sitting and chatting with them?

But of course, your parents make the rules, so if it's no, than it's a no and I think if anyting, the mommies and daddies on this forum agree that keeping boundaries on your kids internet activities and meetups is a good thing. And your mother is allready pretty cool for going with you.

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HungarianHorntail13 - May 14, 2006 3:21 pm (#7 of 473)

I think the only reason my mom is letting me meet up with you guys is because she follows the thread. She's also going to be there, so that helps.

If we meet up at Starbucks or something, you can develop a craving for coffee. 'Oh look mother, all of my friends from the Lexicon are here! What a coincidence!'

My mom agrees with Mare, about what your mom will do when she sees we are normal. (That is, except for my mom .)

-Olivia

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Gina R Snape - May 14, 2006 4:10 pm (#8 of 473)

Do you want to make it a Starbucks? Radio City is relatively near Times Square and there are a few places we can go. The pity is that it's too late for dinner, or I'd suggest a restaurant. But a cafe or an ice cream place might do just fine.

I will scout around the area next Saturday after I finish teaching, and see what I can find nearby.

Finn, I would suggest your mother have a look at the forum to see we are "normal" people. *snicker* But also, to keep in mind we will be in a public place. If I were a parent I'd be wary of some adult saying "hey little boy...come over to the back of the theater" or something creepy. But going to a Starbucks or an ice cream place with a bunch of Potterphiles, and with parental supervision, is a pretty low risk situation in my opinion. At least, that's how I'd pitch it to them if you're really motivated to get them to agree. But yes, in the end they have the final word, as it should be.

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Finn BV - May 14, 2006 6:51 pm (#9 of 473)

I understand, I understand. Thanks for all your suggestions. I know, if my mom spent a week – or less – on the forum, she would understand that nothing's wrong. Still, you hear about so many cases of kids being lost due to people luring them on the internet. I feel that if the folks were to meet people on the forum, not know that they were members of the forum, like them, and them find out, things would be okay.

But, we'd still have to plan a meeting place.

So I'm thinking I break into casual conversation with somebody in row N: "Hi, I'm Finn." And we take it from there, and then we bring up the Forum. Still, we can't acknowledge overfamiliarity from the Forum, because that would be bad too. Since it is a coincidence the HungarianHorntails, Herm oh ninny, and I are all sitting in the same row, I think the best idea is to continue that coincidence, that we all know the Lexicon.

And your mother is allready pretty cool for going with you. –Mare

Very true.

I think things will be fine. As Gina said, if I were to be alone at the event, that would be another story, but if Mom is with me the whole time, I don't see anything wrong. We'll see how things go from there.

No matter what, I'll be excited just to know that I've met somebody else from the Forum (besides Steph ). We can always say hi back here!!

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Herm oh ninny - May 14, 2006 9:17 pm (#10 of 473)

Hey guys! OK, I talked to my sisters and they would love to meet up with some fellow potterholics! So count us in Gina! Just let me know when and where!

Finn, I totally understand you parents' concerns. I'm 27, and if I mention to my father that my sisters and I are going to meet up with some people from the internet after the show, he will probably try to lock us up in the closet!

So, I too will attempt to wear or have the Lexicon Logo somewhere visible on myself, as to give you a reasonable excuse to say Hi! LOL (Also, I will be wearing my green HBP bracelet from the book release party. Yup, I still wear it everyday! I know, obsessive, eh?)

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journeymom - May 15, 2006 9:02 am (#11 of 473)

All I can say is I am soooooo jealous. -journeymom, who resides 3,000 miles away in Sacramento. Hmph.

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haymoni - May 15, 2006 9:03 am (#12 of 473)

I know this thread is supposed to be about meeting up after the event, but I would really be interested in knowing which questions you are going to submit.

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 15, 2006 9:07 am (#13 of 473)

Good question, haymoni. I did not submit mine and am wondering how I go about submitting it when I finally decide on one.

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Gina R Snape - May 15, 2006 9:18 am (#14 of 473)

Oooh, yeah. Great idea Haymoni.

I will post my top contenders later when I get home, where my list currently resides.

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haymoni - May 15, 2006 9:51 am (#15 of 473)

It might help to list them - that way you won't have duplicates - at least amongst yourselves.

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HungarianHorntail13 - May 15, 2006 10:29 am (#16 of 473)

How do we submit our questions? Is it just randomly picked, or does she read all of them?

-Olivia

Edit: That's a great idea Haymoni!

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Gina R Snape - May 15, 2006 10:31 am (#17 of 473)

When you get your tickets, there is a website you link to with a form. There is no guarantee the authors will answer your question. But clearly they will answer some questions or Scholastic wouldn't bother with the submission form.

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Finn BV - May 15, 2006 11:29 am (#18 of 473)

Hmm, I'll start thinking of some questions when I get home. Good idea, haymoni.

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John Bumbledore - May 15, 2006 1:17 pm (#19 of 473)

I wont be going, as it is too far away from North Carolina, USA.

Oh, I have suggestions for strategies for question submission..

Do you get only one question per ticket? or is it two questions as I seem to remember?

If you are permitted to submit more than one question per ticket, then I suggest using the second question to submit a "me too" question that is the same as another attendee. If all questions are reviewed for selection this would be like voting for the most wanted answer.

If the questions are chosen randomly, then each duplicated question has a greater chance of being selected from the whole.

And wouldn't it be great if Jo' simply asked "How many of you here today are from (member of) the Harry Potter Lexicon Forum?

Wish I could be there. Have fun, everyone.

<)B^D˜ John Bumbledore

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Miss Black - May 15, 2006 1:33 pm (#20 of 473)

I'm going as an early birthday present with my Dad. He's not quite as ecstatic as I am (I'm jumping off the walls.). I'd love to meet some people after or something as long as its quick. I won't have much time to just hang around.

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HungarianHorntail13 - May 15, 2006 1:38 pm (#21 of 473)

Here are two questions I can think of so far:

Can a Horcrux feel his original owner's emotions?

Will Harry + friends see Fawkes again?

-Olivia

PS- Mom's thinking of her questions, because she just forgot them.

EDIT- John, that's true!

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Miss Black - May 15, 2006 1:43 pm (#22 of 473)

Dad kindly said I could use his questions.

So I have extras.

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haymoni - May 15, 2006 1:58 pm (#23 of 473)

That's a good idea on the 2nd Question, John.

But how to agree on the 2nd question...

Is anyone going both days???

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Miss Black - May 15, 2006 4:03 pm (#24 of 473)

I'm going the first.

I wonder was Dumbledore's wand core is? I'm not sure if she's answered that already.

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Finn BV - May 15, 2006 4:26 pm (#25 of 473)

I think Gina is going both days. And you can only give one question – she gets to give two since she has two tickets.

Miss Black, hope to see you there! DD's wand core question has not been answered. See the JKR open letter at the Lexicon.

My possible questions: What was Moaning Myrtle's last name? What house was she in?

How old are Moody and Tonks, and what houses were they in?

Those two are from the JKR open letter. I still need to think of some more.

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Gina R Snape - May 15, 2006 4:45 pm (#26 of 473)

Ok, here are my questions so far:

A. At the end of GoF, why did Snape flinch when Harry mentioned that Malfoy was at Voldemort's rebirthing party?

B. Is Spinner's End located in the Manchester area and is personality at a reflection of having grown up there?

C. Was it Snape that Bertha Jorkins saw in the greenouse, per the pensieve scene in GoF?

D. Are Snape's parents still alive?

E. What was Snape's relationship like with his parents and extended family?

F. Does anyone know Snape is a half-blood, and if so how did he survive so well in Slytherin house?

G. Why was Wormtail staying with Snape?

H. Why did Snape fiddle with the curtains at Spinner's End?

I. What is Snape's relationship with the Malfoys?

J. What is Snapes middle name?

K. Is Snape related to any of the marauders, from his mother's pureblood side?

L. Does Snape know about the horcruxes?

M. Was Snape friends with Regulus Black?

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Finn BV - May 15, 2006 5:00 pm (#27 of 473)

Gina, I'd have to nominate What was Snape's relationship like with his parents and extended family?

A good explanation of the curtains can be found at Ana Cis, "+ A Treasure Hunt: Looking for Literary Symbolism in HBP" #80, 13 Nov 2005 9:56 pm, so I don't think that's worth wasting a question on.

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 15, 2006 9:15 pm (#28 of 473)

Some good questions, Gina. I hope she gives a sufficient answer to whichever you choose.

Question I am considering:

*Can you give us a tidbit of information regarding DD's ancestry to tie us over until Book 7 comes out?*

Is anyone submitting questions to the other two???

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Chemyst - May 16, 2006 4:51 am (#29 of 473)

This might qualify more as fan fiction than a viable suggestion, but... I was out walking my beagle– she is not a big conversationalist, so to keep myself entertained I decided to solve Finn's problem:

Tell your mom that you've been thinking about college. See what her reaction is, and hopefully she'll be encouraging. Meanwhile, email Gina to find out if the college where she teaches offers any dual enrollment classes that let exceptional high school students earn college credit. If they do not offer that option, then say you've been thinking about commuting to a local college for a year before transferring to the Ivy League school of choice because it is usually that first semester away from home that messes up the GPA; or say you've been thinking about composing an Ode to the Aging Homeless for piano and need to do research. (Well, your excuse probably needs to be far better than that example.) The point is, you need to develop a plausible reason to check out the school where Gina teaches. Talk it up all during your vacation in Europe. By July, you'll make appointment for you and your mom to meet with a doctoral candidate and university professor (who also happens to have tickets to the JKR reading) about "career advice."


**hears her dog whining to be taken for another walk**

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haymoni - May 16, 2006 7:11 am (#30 of 473)

I think someone should ask Stephen King if HE has any questions for JKR.

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Finn BV - May 16, 2006 7:32 am (#31 of 473)

LOL Chemyst. This might work better if I were going into senior year of high school, not freshman. Thanks for thinking of me. I'm sure something will work out.

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Gina R Snape - May 16, 2006 8:10 am (#32 of 473)

Bwa ha ha ha ha ha. Chemyst, how ingeniously slytherin of you!

Well, Finn, I think it's safe to say a 13 year old might not yet be thinking about college. But if your parents know you are an avid HP fan and know you spend time on the forum, they will reasonably expect to find HP fans you might have online interactions with at the event. If your parents are paying any attention at all (and I gather from your comments that they are involved parents), then hoodwinking them might make them more upset than simply being straightforward with them and working on an agreement that will be beneficial to you and assure them of your safety.

Well, that's my two knuts worth.

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Catherine - May 16, 2006 8:37 am (#33 of 473)

If your parents are paying any attention at all (and I gather from your comments that they are involved parents), then hoodwinking them might make them more upset than simply being straightforward with them and working on an agreement that will be beneficial to you and assure them of your safety. –Gina[

I was going to "stay out of" this issue, but I do agree with Gina. I do not speak "as a host" here, only for myself. I would be disturbed if I thought that adults had colluded with my child to circumvent reasonable family rules--NOT that I am suggesting that anyone has done this here. It's just that there has been a quite a bit of publicity lately about adults contacting minors in inappropriate and often illegal ways by using the internet. I could see how, from a parental viewpoint, it might be icky to have what appear to be adult "strangers" socializing with my child.

There are months yet left to go before the reading and the subsequent get-together afterward for Finn's Mum to decide that she approves of Finn's attendance at the gathering, and I hope it works out well for Finn!

(I do not yet know if I will be able to attend, but my email address is visible to your Mum, Finn, should she ever decide she would like to contact an adult from the Forum.)

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Steve Newton - May 16, 2006 10:03 am (#34 of 473)

Gina, I came up with a question that JKR might answer.

Why does our Beloved Severus pick on Neville?

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Chemyst - May 16, 2006 10:05 am (#35 of 473)

Gina and Catherine are both right about the direct, honest approach being the best all the time. (Finn, I know you got from my fan fiction comment and your LOL response that I wasn't advocating a "real" plan, but for others who may read this, you may breathe freely, I wasn't corrupting a minor.)
Being very serious now: Keeping open, honest communication with your parents throughout your teen years is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. The more they can trust you, the happier you'll be.

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Lina - May 16, 2006 10:08 am (#36 of 473)

While I support Gina wholeheartedly (the truth is the best thing to say) and I totally agree with Catherine, I would add just one thing: if my kid were member of some forum, I would definitely read that forum, and if she were spending time in some chat room, I would check the conversation over her shoulder from time to time. And well, it would not be healthy for her to disagree...

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kaykay1970 - May 16, 2006 10:33 am (#37 of 473)

Well said, Lina, Gina and Catherine! And I will add that if my child wanted to meet up with someone on her anime site (which I do keep up with although I don't particularly like anime)I would tell her "NO WAY!!" But if we were to meet a group of them, with myself in attendance at a public place, say an anime convention, I might be more open to that...

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 16, 2006 11:01 am (#38 of 473)

I think Finn and others will get a good read on the situation and if it presents itself properly, will work out for all. (I suppose my glass is always half full )

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Miss Black - May 16, 2006 1:15 pm (#39 of 473)

-Is Wormtail pureblood?

-Is Dumbledore pureblood?

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Finn BV - May 16, 2006 3:11 pm (#40 of 473)

Thanks for all your advice. (Chemyst, should have made my acknowledgement of the joke more obvious, but thanks again. )

I'm thinking we'll just play things by ear. I certainly have never been one to lie to my parents, and I don't think now is any time to break this. What Catherine said about adults contacting minors in inappropriate and often illegal ways by using the internet is precisely the viewpoint taken by my parents. They let me use the Forum and give me free reign over what I do online, but when the virtual and real worlds clash, that's something else.

I'm still thinking that, if Mom's with me, there can't be anything that could even possibly be wrong.

When I arrive, we may bump into some of you, and we may not. If we do, we may acknowledge knowing each other from the Forum, or not. If we do, we may end up going out afterwards, or not — don't forget that my mom will have been working all day and might be too tired that she will just want to go home. But basically, it's that simple.

Catherine, thanks for the offer to contact my mom. I think I'll wait until the day is closer.

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Miss Black - May 16, 2006 3:43 pm (#41 of 473)

Dad won't be happy at all (cringe) if I drag him over to meet tons of people. I'm hoping I'll get into a random conversation with someone and find out they're in the forum. I'm just crossing my fingers that I'll bump into you. Which I probably will.

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Catherine - May 16, 2006 4:23 pm (#42 of 473)

Catherine, thanks for the offer to contact my mom. I think I'll wait until the day is closer.—Finn

No problem.

I'm in "teacher mode," after all, and that is what I do. If a parent of a minor member wished to discuss the environment here, I'm happy to offer my insights (limited though they may be! ) and also to let them know that every Host here strives to make a comfortable and safe environment for our members of all ages.

I will take this opportunity to say that it is not unreasonable for any participant of an internet group to be concerned about safety. I would encourage anyone on the Forum to think carefully about the personal information that he/she chooses to reveal. We are on the internet, after all, even if we are a private Forum.

So...stupid lecture over...back to regularly scheduled programming...

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Gina R Snape - May 16, 2006 4:26 pm (#43 of 473)

In response to Miss Black...didn't JKR already confirm that all 4 marauders are purebloods?

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Amilia Smith - May 16, 2006 4:41 pm (#44 of 473)

No, she confirmed that they were all in Gryffindor. She has also said that Lupin is a half-blood. Both quotes are from the World Book Day Chat.

Mills.

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HungarianHorntail13 - May 16, 2006 4:55 pm (#45 of 473)

Finn, you have only 8 more days of school left? LUCKY!! I get out on June 22.

Even if your mom doesn't let you meet up with us after RC, most of us are only a couple of seats away from you, which means we will still get to say 'hi'.

Here is another question I just thought of:

-Why didn't you cry when you killed Dumbledore?

Edit: Also, about us wearing tags that say 'Lexicon' on them, maybe we should put our screennames on them?

-Olivia

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Miss Black - May 16, 2006 5:44 pm (#46 of 473)

I get out June 22nd too. Thats a whole twenty days from now.

Ohhh... Tags would be good so we don't have to interview everyone asking about their screen name. And I'm never giving away my real name.

-Were Lily and Petunia twin sisters?

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Finn BV - May 16, 2006 6:13 pm (#47 of 473)

I want to ask something Aberforth/Regulus related, but I can't think of what…

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haymoni - May 16, 2006 6:51 pm (#48 of 473)

Finn - post a picture of your mum and then everyone will know whom to look for!!

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 16, 2006 6:53 pm (#49 of 473)

Finn, how about something in this manner:

Which character, other than Big V, knows the circumstances surrounding Regulus' death?

I won't be insulted if you nix my suggestion. I feel as though she would more likely answer questions that allow wiggle room, as well as give us something to toss around for the duration.

Edited for clarity.

Olivia, I like that question, as I, too, felt as though she did not react with the same emotion as she had with Sirius' death.

Marie, how are you feeling?? ***sending healing charms your way***

I suggested coil bracelets with hanging tags and my youngest daughter suggested lanyards w/Lex logo tags.

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Dobby Socks - May 16, 2006 11:08 pm (#50 of 473)
Edited May 16, 2006 11:59 pm

Gina, The ones I like the best that I think have a good chance at getting an answer are 1 & 4. I also like 2, 5, 9, & 13.

1• At the end of GoF, why did Snape flinch when Harry mentioned that Malfoy was at Voldemort's rebirthing party? I like this one

2• Is Spinner's End located in the Manchester area and is personality at a reflection of having grown up there? And this as well… since JKR lived in Manchester early in her adult life it might catch her attention or make her more willing to answer it. Also it may lead her into some other explanation of why Snape is the way he is.

3• Was it Snape that Bertha Jorkins saw in the greenhouse, per the pensieve scene in GoF? This could be pretty interesting.

4• Are Snape's parents still alive? Another good one

5• What was Snape's relationship like with his parents and extended family? This would probably require too lengthy an answer. But I like it anyway.

6• Does anyone know Snape is a half-blood, and if so how did he survive so well in Slytherin house? I prefer most of the others, but she might actually answer this question.

7• Why was Wormtail staying with Snape? I don’t think she’ll answer this.

8• Why did Snape fiddle with the curtains at Spinner's End? Probably no.

9• What is Snape's relationship with the Malfoys? I’m dying to know this. She may not answer, though. EDIT: Now that I think about it, she may not answer #1 either, for the same reason. I think she wants to keep us wondering about the Snape's relationship with the Malfoys.

10• What is Snape’s middle name? I see no reason why she wouldn’t answer this, unless she hasn’t thought about it. Ack!… I just realized the connection between Severus’ initials and the Nazi Party. *:hitting myself on forehead*: I’ll trust that it’s unintentional. Could be ship related. As in the SS Snape is one of DD's strongest weapons in his fleet. Lol.

11• Is Snape related to any of the marauders, from his mother's pureblood side? I’d probably ditch this one.

12• Does Snape know about the horcruxes? Again, I’d suspect she wouldn’t want to answer.

13• Was Snape friends with Regulus Black? Interesting. And possibly answerable. She might want to fan the fires of some speculation.

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Elanor - May 16, 2006 11:53 pm (#51 of 473)

I'm so happy for you guys who're going to go there!

Very good ideas about the questions! Here is one that I have think of (though I bet you don't really need more ideas, LOL!):

When was Dumbledore's birthday and why has it never been mentioned on your website so far when all the other main characters' birthdays were?

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Finn BV - May 17, 2006 5:19 am (#52 of 473)

Maria and Audrey, thanks for your suggestions! Both are excellent questions! I'm leaning a bit towards Dumbledore's birthday, because it would give factual information to the Lexicon, and I would be really happy about that!

Maria, I don't think I'll show my mom's picture, but I'll tell you to look for me. I'll let you know what I'm wearing as the days get closer.

Also, you wished Marie healing charms – wrong thread!

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Gina R Snape - May 17, 2006 12:42 pm (#53 of 473)

Thanks, Dobby Socks. Your replies were very helpful and insightful!

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Miss Black - May 17, 2006 1:01 pm (#54 of 473)

I'll be wearing jeans, a white button down shirt, and a Gryffindor tie. Not much help... I suggest someone makes *custom* Lexicon nametages we can print out and put our screen names on.

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 17, 2006 1:32 pm (#55 of 473)
Edited May 17, 2006 2:52 pm

Oh, yes, the healing charms - wrong thread. Sorry about that! Last night was rough. I suppose I shouldn't post when I'm preoccupied.

Maria, I don't think I'll show my mom's picture, but I'll tell you to look for me.

Finn, you lost me on that one.

Since it is in August, I haven't the foggiest as to what I will be wearing.

Edit: Thanks, haymoni - I thought I was losing my marbles. Finn, I think you mean haymoni.

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haymoni - May 17, 2006 1:54 pm (#56 of 473)

I think he meant me.

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Finn BV - May 17, 2006 1:55 pm (#57 of 473)

HH, I mean that I would like to keep my mom's privacy online – I won't show you what she looks like, as you requested. Instead, I will let you know what I will be wearing. Sorry for sounding confused – I've been doing that lately amidst exams.

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Catherine - May 17, 2006 2:00 pm (#58 of 473)

Oh, Finn, just stick on a picture of your avatar. That's how you "look" to me, anyway.

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Miss Black - May 17, 2006 2:01 pm (#59 of 473)

-Why did Voldemort kill Amelia Bones?

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Madam Pince - May 17, 2006 2:13 pm (#60 of 473)

Why don't you guys print out your avatars from the Forum? (Assuming you have one, that is, or that it's one you use often...) Then just stick it on a nametag and wear it! (Edit: Oops, Catherine just said that -- crossposted!)

When we had the Forum Gathering in Pennsylvania a couple years ago, Denise made neat nametags with the Hogwarts crest on them, I think, but that was different because they were distributed to us as we arrived at the park -- probably wouldn't work at JKR's thing where there will be lots of other people there.

There was a forum member who was probably about 13 at the time who brought her Dad along -- it was actually pretty cool. We had loads of respect for him that he was equally concerned about her safety and yet wanted to help her participate in something fun -- I think he thought we were all geeks/nuts, though. He sat very patiently while we expounded upon theories, etc. She said he only came because he collects collegiate memorabilia and didn't have anything from Penn State yet, but I think she was teasing! They did visit the Penn State bookstore on the last day, though!

Good luck, Finn, hope it works out! For what it's worth, my "mom perspective" is that if I even remotely suspected my son was trying to pull any wool over my eyes, then there would be no chance. But if he sat down and told me about it, then I would probably work with him.

I'm liking the Snape/Regulus Black question best. Also like the one about if Snape's parents are still alive, and Steve's idea of why does Snape pick on Neville. Haymoni has a good thought to ask Stephen King to ask Jo a question -- I bet his twisted mind has come up with all kinds of neat theories! Plus it would be a shame for he and John Irving to just sit there twiddling like I'm sure they will be...

Hope you guys have fun -- I'm sooooo envious!

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 17, 2006 3:02 pm (#61 of 473)

LOL Catherine!

Perhaps the girls and I will work on our "tags" Friday night. If we come up with one, either Olivia or I may post it as our avatar for the time being, though I'd hate to give up Dwight just yet.

For those interested in meeting, I have been told that there are diners, restaurants, coffee houses, etc., (i.e. a plethora of potential meeting places). Let us decide on a type (diner, etc.) and then we can list those nearest.

Will it be before or after the show?

Madame Pince, I think he thought we were all geeks/nuts, though.

Sounds like my husband.

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Gina R Snape - May 17, 2006 3:50 pm (#62 of 473)

HH11, the show starts at 7:30. Do you think people will have time to leave work and get to Radio City and meet beforehand? I worry that it will be cutting things close. Besides, we'll all want to rehash and obsess over the event afterwards!

But I will ask again, do people want a cafe or a diner? I will scout things out on Saturday provided it doesn't rain.

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 17, 2006 4:07 pm (#63 of 473)

I do not have a preference on either the location or the time. I was awaiting any kind of feedback.

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HungarianHorntail13 - May 17, 2006 4:10 pm (#64 of 473)
Edited May 17, 2006 5:37 pm

How long is the show?

Mom, how come we can't wear jeans too?

I guess the meeting place depends on how many of us there are, right?

Edit: Just a thought, but maybe we should make a few extra Lex. logo tags, just in case somebody loses their's.

I'll try to make a tag on Mirosoft Word sometime later.

-Olivia

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Catherine - May 17, 2006 4:29 pm (#65 of 473)

But I will ask again, do people want a cafe or a diner? I will scout things out on Saturday provided it doesn't rain. –Gina

That is incredibly nice of you. I would suggest that if anyone has a strong opinion, that he or she let Gina know.

It sounds like both ideas would work well--and while I do not have solid plans to attend at the present time (ooh, I love to use Rickman/Snape dialogue), I am personally fine with Gina making a decision based on location and convenience (both ours and other patrons') and any other factor that members deem reasonable.

I think that Gina's suggestion of meeting afterward seems logical--then there is no time constraint to arriving at the theater, and attendees can then nitpick and rehash to their hearts' content.

I'm still "negotiating" my attendance. My little brother *snort* is working in NYC for the summer, so I have a good excuse to descend upon visit him. I just need to make sure that I do not have to be at work that day--technically, my contract begins August 1.

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Miss Black - May 17, 2006 4:57 pm (#66 of 473)

I'll ask Dad if he knows somewhere we can meet as he lived in NYC for years.

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Gina R Snape - May 17, 2006 5:57 pm (#67 of 473)

Miss Black, I live in NYC and teach on Saturday mornings about 20 blocks away from the theater. It really will be no problem for me to have a look around after class. I might even sample the fare on offer if I find a coffee and foodie place.

Catherine, I hope you can make it!

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Finn BV - May 17, 2006 7:52 pm (#68 of 473)

Catherine, my Inner Eye tells me you'll be sick on August 1 and won't be able to make it to work…

Should I be wearing a Lexicon thing if I'm still not planning on coming to the afterward meet-up anyway?

BTW, Stephanie M. is thinking of coming, as is my science teacher from last year (not this year for those of you who remember the stories!), who is also obsessed.

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haymoni - May 18, 2006 6:25 am (#69 of 473)

Finn - wear the Lexicon thing. If I were going, I'd still want to know it was you whether you came to the afterwards thingy or not!

I am very jealous of all of you - obviously.

Why would any of you work on such a day???

Or maybe you need to take the NEXT day off, since you will be so tired thinking about all the theories!!

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Lina - May 18, 2006 1:39 pm (#70 of 473)

Finn, that's nice that you are so understanding to your mum, thinking that she might be tired in the night after a working day. Thank you also for reminding me that my kids might some day be crazy about something that is not Harry Potter related and that I should be understanding to them as I am to you now. Yet, if Finns mother won't feel like meeting the other HP geeks, those of you who will be in the same row can still check if Finn is really almost 14.

The question that I would like to ask Jo is
Why didn't DD introduce Quirrell as a new DADA teacher at the beginning of the Harry's first year at Hogwarts and if the first two books were shortened by the editor?

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Finn BV - May 18, 2006 6:41 pm (#71 of 473)

Thanks Lina. She works three days a week 8:30-5:30, and two days 8:30-2, and August 1 is the longer day, and she's always exhausted when she gets back to home. Being an architect, she's in meetings all day long.

And that's a really good question – we've sort of come up with ways to get around it, but I want to hear her answer. Ooh, so many options!

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HungarianHorntail13 - May 19, 2006 12:23 pm (#72 of 473)

I forgot, what time does it start and end?

Lina, I thought Quirrel had been working there for a few years, and took a year off to visit vampires or something. When he came back to Hogwarts, he had Big V with him.

-Olivia

PS- Gina, I don't like fruit, so please make sure there is something junk-food related.

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Miss Black - May 19, 2006 1:12 pm (#73 of 473)

FINALLY, I meet someone who doesn't like fruit too! I just... don't like it.

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HungarianHorntail13 - May 19, 2006 3:15 pm (#74 of 473)

YAY! Go non fruit eaters! *Junk food powered high five!* I don't like fruit and I'm proud of it!

WHY must Mom be into Organic foods??? :'(

-Olivia

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Miss Black - May 19, 2006 4:14 pm (#75 of 473)

JUNK FOOD FOREVER! Mom doesn't understand why I flinch when she eats an apple or says that peaches make me barf.

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 19, 2006 4:17 pm (#76 of 473)

My eyes, they burn!! I can't stand what I'm seeing!!!

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HungarianHorntail13 - May 20, 2006 7:30 am (#77 of 473)

Mom forces me to eat apples, and sometimes I just eat an apple to keep her happy. That means no screaming later.

-Olivia

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kaykay1970 - May 20, 2006 7:47 am (#78 of 473)

An apple a day keeps the "dragon" away! Why didn't someone tell Harry?!!

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 20, 2006 8:14 am (#79 of 473)

Olivia *sigh* don't you know it's futile to argue with mother Horntail?

Looks like you're ready to make your own riddle on Potty Games, kaykay.

Okay, trying to keep on topic with thread:

Gina, I am leaning towards a place that won't be looking to keep people moving through, as restaurants and diners often do. What do you think?

Should I be wearing a Lexicon thing if I'm still not planning on coming to the afterward meet-up anyway?

Finn, I believe you should only do what you feel your mother would allow. It would be neat to be able to spot each other at RCMH, especially since we will all be within 10 seats of each other. I won't approach anyone, as it would not be appropriate for an adult to approach younger people (is that the politically correct term ), however, I am sure that Priscilla and Olivia will make a great team and say hello (with me in tow) if they should "spot" a fellow Lex member.

LOL! Olivia just told me our seats are 3 apart and I think 3 from Her moh ninny. We are now practicing fake coughs in an attempt to put off anyone sitting between Lex members - perhaps they would be happy to switch seats.

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Miss Black - May 20, 2006 8:53 am (#80 of 473)

What seats do you all have? I'll be interviewing anyone with a lexicon thingie to see if I know them.

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Finn BV - May 20, 2006 9:13 am (#81 of 473)

Maria, that's what I was thinking. I don't think I'll wear it, but instead I'll be able to recognize you. And then we can say hi.

Miss Black, turns out the HHs, Herm oh ninny and I are all in Orch 2 Row N. Not sure about Gina.

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 20, 2006 9:27 am (#82 of 473)

Me. With braces - Finn

Ooh, Olivia will be wearing those by August! She is just learning this as I type it. Hehe.

I think Priscilla's suggestion of lanyards is a good one. We will probably go with that. Now, if we use our avatars, it won't necessarily put us in the Lexicon category, so I think Mare's suggestion of using the Lex logo is a good one. We can then say, 'hey, which one are you??'

Besides, people at the JKR outing would probably be wondering why I am walking around with a pic of Dwight Shrute around my neck.

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Herm oh ninny - May 21, 2006 12:13 pm (#83 of 473)

Gina, it doesn't matter to me where we meet. Café, diner, whatever works best is fine with me!

I was thinking about asking Jo how Phoenixes are created, or where they come from.

I think that all the Lex members should print out this picture and wear it! he he he

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Finn BV - May 21, 2006 3:10 pm (#84 of 473)

I got my ticket today, but I didn't see a URL on there. Gina, tell me, where do I go to submit a question?

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 21, 2006 3:14 pm (#85 of 473)

Try this, Finn:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

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Finn BV - May 21, 2006 5:57 pm (#86 of 473)

Ah, thanks Maria.

This is pretty cool, we can ask the other authors a question too. Not that I know anything good enough to ask…

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Die Zimtzicke - May 21, 2006 8:24 pm (#87 of 473)

Can't you make Lexicon T-shirts or something to wear?

I don't think I can go, but I would like to. I'll see. I have so many kids and too much going on that time of year as we finish vacations and start to ready for back to school.

If I had one question, I'd ask if Dumbledore's really dead. That's huge debate in the fandom. (I think he is.) I don't think Jo will pick any questions that are big ones, though. I think she'll pick the piddly ones that won't have a chance to accidentally reveal anything huge about the plot.

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Finn BV - May 22, 2006 8:20 am (#88 of 473)

She definitely wouldn't answer if Dumbledore's really dead. I'm using my question to ask something that she can answer that will still solve a minor enigma.

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Gina R Snape - May 22, 2006 8:20 am (#89 of 473)

Well I had a walk around the area and came up with a few possibilities.

Worst on the list is a McDonalds on 6th Avenue a few blocks down from Radio City. Unfortunately, everything else on 6th Avenue closes before or shortly after we get out. So our next option is to head closer to Times Square which means walking down a few blocks and over an avenue.

I found a deli/bodega type place on 44th St. between 6th Ave and Times Square with upstairs seating called the Times Deli, that had everything food and drink-wise but was a little grungy. Then there is a Cafe Europa on Broadway (west side of Times Square) at 43rd St. and a Starbucks on the corner of 43rd St. at Times Square that looked kinda smallish to me. The Cafe Europa is the furthest walk but will probably be suitable. The Times Deli I think will also be suitable.

Both of these places have fresh fruit and junk food.

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 22, 2006 8:59 am (#90 of 473)
Edited May 22, 2006 9:33 am

Both of these places have fresh fruit and junk food.

LOL! Gina, you are so thoughtful! It was very nice of you to take the time to scope out the area. ((Thank you!)) The last two you came up with sound great - I do not have a preference but if you do, please let us here on the thread know.

Maria

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Herm oh ninny - May 22, 2006 7:06 pm (#91 of 473)

Gina, any one of those places is fine with me!

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 24, 2006 11:07 am (#92 of 473)

Just thought of another potential question:

Can we find all of the horcruxes in the six books?

???

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HungarianHorntail13 - May 26, 2006 12:57 pm (#93 of 473)

Do we have to ask a question for each of the people? I don't know who the other two are....

Olivia

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Finn BV - May 26, 2006 8:01 pm (#94 of 473)

Olivia, don't think you have to, but go around and look for some Stephen King and John Irving fans. (BTW, sure you know who Stephen King is, at least. Most famous American horror novelist… ever.)

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 27, 2006 7:37 am (#95 of 473)

Sorry Finn, and anyone else who reads his books, I don't know who he is. Mom won't let me read 'scary' books. She won't even let me say 'bad' words, like idiot or dumb. She says it's because she doesn't want Trevor to repeat what I say. She doesn't want me to say it about someone either, although I don't. Forget about saying stupid. I think she thinks I'm still 5.

The books she does let me read don't appeal to me at all. (Except Harry Potter of course.)

Olivia

EDIT: Sorry, my mom never logged out, and I accidentally posted under her user ID.

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Catherine - May 27, 2006 5:06 pm (#96 of 473)

Not to derail this thread, (this should really go in the recommended reading thread) but some quite good films have been made from Stephen King's novellas. Stand By Me (from the story "The Body") and The Shawshank Redemption come right to mind. It is possible that these could possibly be enjoyed without reading some of his more "horror" genre works.

John Irving's novels do have some mature themes, but they are favorites of mine. I read them in middle and high school, and adored them, but that's a call that is best made in individual families.

Both Irving and King share JKR's ability to tell a fabulous story. They may be something for younger Forumers to "grow into."

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 27, 2006 5:18 pm (#97 of 473)

I didn't even think of that one (The Body), Catherine - thanks for pointing it out! I will have to do a quick reread on some but never entertained them. I haven't read "The Body".

I openly admit I should not attribute all of my experiences to the girls, because I am a *bit* of a bleeding heart.

Olivia, taking into consideration that your brother is half parrot, you need to curb your tongue around him, even if it is a remark well in context. I am sure Trevor will use it in the most improper manner rendering it unexplainable by me.

Am I on the wrong thread? Isn't this the "Family Squabbles" thread??  

To keep us on track, does anyone know what time it ends??

I was considering taking the Ferry over from Hoboken but never have done it before. Can anyone offer specifics?

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TheSaint - May 28, 2006 6:34 am (#98 of 473)

Don't forget "The Green Mile".

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Madame Pomfrey - May 28, 2006 7:36 am (#99 of 473)

Well..I certainly envy you guys who get to go to Radio City. Will the conversations with Jo be posted on this thread soon after or another thread?

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 28, 2006 9:42 am (#100 of 473)

Thanks, TheSaint.

Mme. Pomfrey, I am sure something will be posted somewhere before we even make it home from NYC - and we're only 20-25 min. away.

I was thinking of asking if Harry is a Horcrux - no retorts, Hollywand, or mike m. . .!

My reasoning is that she could just do what she did with the Snape/vampire question if it is far from the truth.

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Tazzygirl - May 28, 2006 1:57 pm (#101 of 473)

Make sure you all bring a notebook and a pen (a tape recorder would even be better!) so you can write down everything JKR says, and then you can post word for word...

Do we know if the fabulous people from Mugglenet and The Leaky Cauldron are going? JKR seems to be friends with them...

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Madam Pince - May 28, 2006 9:04 pm (#102 of 473)

Fantastic idea for a question, HH11! I second the motion for "Can we find all the horcruxes in the six books we have so far?"

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 28, 2006 9:38 pm (#103 of 473)

I don't know what they would let us bring in. Do you think they'll allow cameras?

Thanks, Madam Pince - it's good to know which questions are favored, as I am sure it will help with narrowing it down.

Maria

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Finn BV - May 28, 2006 10:02 pm (#104 of 473)

Cameras not inside, but outside yes.

I doubt they'd accept tape recorders either…

Too bad one of us isn't a stenographer. I'm thinking we all do our best to write down what we get, and then pool what we've gotten.

I'm thinking of asking either "When was Dumbledore's birthday and why has it never been mentioned on your website so far when all the other main characters' birthdays were?" or "Why didn't DD introduce Quirrell as a new DADA teacher at the beginning of the Harry's first year at Hogwarts if he couldn't have held the position the year before?"

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Tazzygirl - May 28, 2006 10:48 pm (#105 of 473)

They have little itty bitty taperecorders now. I have one. If anyone wants to borrow it, let me know! It's small enough to where you can hide it deep in a purse or pocket and no one will notice. Just a thought...

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Laura W - May 29, 2006 1:44 am (#106 of 473)

Too bad one of us isn't a stenographer.

Maybe one of you is, Finn. There are still people around who know shorthand. (Wish I did. sigh)

Laura

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Amilia Smith - May 29, 2006 3:57 am (#107 of 473)

Well, you've got a few months. There is still time to learn shorthand!

Mills.

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Laura W - May 29, 2006 4:22 am (#108 of 473)

Good one, Mills. (hee, hee)

But since I live 3,270 kilometers away from New York City, as the owl flies, and it would cost me many Galleons to get there - not even including ticket price -, guess I'll give it a pass. Looking forward to hearing back from all who go, though.

Laura

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Finn BV - May 29, 2006 6:40 am (#109 of 473)

Oh, Laura, I know people who know shorthand, I just was assuming that nobody going knows shorthand. (If I'm wrong, that would be great, of course!)

Mills, I took one look at a shorthand book and decided that there were better ways to spend my time. Although, boy, wouldn't it be handy?? I could type as fast as they spoke if I could bring my computer in. (Then again, I could just record it on my computer… )

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haymoni - May 30, 2006 6:08 am (#110 of 473)

I don't know how they can ban cameras when so many folks have camera phones.

If everyone takes notes, you should be able to get the gist of all the questions, but I will bet my wand arm that Melissa & Emerson will make all available.

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Madame Pomfrey - May 30, 2006 6:38 am (#111 of 473)

Thanks,H.H. I really like your “Is Harry a Horcrux” question, but it maybe one of those she will avoid such as Is Dumbledore properly dead and Who is R.A.B. ooh..I hope she gives loads of info for us to pick apart,26 months or so is a long time to wait for answers. Good luck to all of you going!I hope she answers alot of your questions.

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Gina R Snape - May 30, 2006 7:13 am (#112 of 473)

Haymoni, I thought of that too. The only thing I can come up with is that Radio City is rather large and mobile phone cameras do not have zoom on them. But it does say, right on the venue ad, that no cameras are allowed. :-(

btw, I will swing by the area again before August and see how I feel about the two places I mentioned. Who is going on the 1st and who is going on the 2nd? I am going both days.

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HungarianHorntail11 - May 30, 2006 8:01 am (#113 of 473)

Gina, both days - that sounds great, I wish we could do that! The HHs are going on the 1st. As stated before, anything you decide is all right with me. It is nice of you to do the "leg work" for us. Thanks again.

Okay, so some tidbits regarding DD's ancestry. That is not a lot to ask for after all - is it??? She gets to choose, so what is the big deal?? Okay, I have almost convinced myself! Thanks Mme. Pomfrey!!

I agree about the Harry/Horcrux question, besides, I think someone is bound to ask that question, don't you think???

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Madame Pomfrey - May 30, 2006 1:53 pm (#114 of 473)

Absolutely! More family trees would be great!

Gina, would you happen to have a Snape question in mind?

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Gina R Snape - May 30, 2006 6:31 pm (#115 of 473)

Madame Pomfrey, I have about a dozen in mind. But I have in fact narrowed it down.

Does anyone have questions for the other authors? Please post ASAP as I am eager to post my questions and be done with it.

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Laura W - May 31, 2006 2:17 am (#116 of 473)

haymoni wrote, "If everyone takes notes, you should be able to get the gist of all the questions, but I will bet my wand arm that Melissa & Emerson will make all available"

Not only that, but I don't have to be Trelawney to be able to predict that, with the particular three authors who will be speaking, *all* of the major media in the US - and some foreign press - will be there. Trust me on that!

We will all be reading and hearing the answers to the questions, as well as anything else that is said on the stage, on the tv networks, in the New York Times (book section probably), maybe on NPR, etc. Who knows, it might be even recorded or shown in part by the BBC - especially Jo, of course (smile). I have no doubt that the larger television and national newspapers in Canada will have their New York correspondents there as well.

Still, for an exact transcript of every single word that Jo utters, I would put my Galleons on Emerson and Melissa.

Please restrict your photo-taking to outside the venue. We are talking about copyright infraction here (unless any of you are with a legitimate news organization and have permission to photograph the performance - as Emerson and Melissa undoubtedly will), and I would really hate to see any of my new friends get into trouble.

I don't mean to sound like an insufferable know-it-all, but you have now ventured into an area I deal with all the time professionally. (will say no more, grinning mysteriously)

Just go and have a GREAT time, and write us on Lexicon Forum all about how much fun you had and how exciting it was and how Jo answered *your* question (Oh joy!) and how wonderful it was to meet each other in person and what you all did together after.

Laura

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Gina R Snape - May 31, 2006 7:30 am (#117 of 473)

Well I don't think people will get in trouble for taking pictures. More than likely, they will simply confiscate any cameras they find. But good advice nonetheless.

I definitely agree this will get major news coverage. TLC mentioned something about a possible live feed but no news since then. If that's going to happen, I imagine it will be announced very shortly before the shows, or it may be taped and shown afterwards. They had a live feed for Royal Albert Hall a few years ago, with repeat showings. So I'm hopeful for those of you who won't be able to make it.

btw, LAST CALL for questions to Stephen King and John Irving!

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Elanor - May 31, 2006 7:36 am (#118 of 473)

Gina, Stephen King is a HP fan, what about asking him a question about the HBP: about what he thinks of Snape's role in DD's death for example, or of Harry being a horcrux: Jo's reaction to his answer may be interesting...

What do you think?

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Gina R Snape - May 31, 2006 7:41 am (#119 of 473)

Ha ha ha ha ha ha. I'm not sure if he'd be amused or insulted! But I like the idea.

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geauxtigers - May 31, 2006 8:29 pm (#120 of 473)

I'm not going or anything I'm just wondering does anyone know if it will be on television? I'd love to watch it since I'm not going! That would also solve the word for word thing yall are looking for! Now that I think about it I guess it isn't going to be on TV, so do you think theres a chance they'd do it anyway?

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Dobby Socks - May 31, 2006 10:13 pm (#121 of 473)

Gina,

A little late on the draw, but here are my suggestions in case you’re still open (those with asterisks are my top picks):

Stephen King:

**** I’m aware of how problematic adaptations can be, especially if the author isn’t involved, but was there one, or a few specific things you can share with us that bothered you most about Kubrick’s version of The Shining?

----- Was there a specific image (or idea) that was the genesis for “The Langoliers”?

----- (Softball Question): Of all your novels and stories that have been made into movies, which are your favorites (and –optional—least favorites)?

----- Will we see more books along the lines of The Colorado Kid? That was such a delight from the pulpy cover art to the end.

John Irving:

----- I know you were pleased with Tod Williams’ bold screen transformation of A Widow for One Year into The Door in the Floor. What did you think of the casting? (I lost some Academy Award bets over all of the above.)

----- Which character in A Widow for One Year did you have the most empathy with or affinity for?

----- Who are a few of your favorite contemporary authors (besides J.K. Rowling and Steven King?)

**** I was thrilled to discover “A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound.” This is obviously the most fully realized Ted Cole work in A Widow for One Year, but will you be publishing more of “Ted Cole’s” children’s books? Please?

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Dobby Socks - May 31, 2006 11:56 pm (#122 of 473)

Alright All,

I’m exercising my right to double post since it’s a different subject. I like John B.’s idea that if a question is picked by demand or randomly, it will have a better chance to fly if duplicates are submitted. (Don’t know if that’s how they’re going to pick them though.)

I won’t be going (even though it’s an hour away – grrrr), but I have an HP friend in Manhattan who will surely go, and one in Louisiana who is notorious for impulsive lengthy road trips for just this kind of event. So both might show.

Also, I’m having a battle with my Slytherin self over buying a cheap ticket or two just to be able to submit questions. Much better odds than the lottery at any rate.

Anyway, my point is, if any of you’d like to share your final decision on your question I’ll try to get a duplicate submitted if I have an opportunity and if it sounds like a good question.

I have to say I’m partial to Snape questions, but I’m open to others too. For instance, I like “Have we already seen all the Horcruxes in the past six books?” My friend in New Orleans has just about disowned me over my stand on Snape so I could suggest some of these non-Snape questions to her should she decide to come up.

The cheapest seats were still available a week ago, but I haven’t checked to see if they still are. I don’t want to take seats from anyone, but since I’d be there if I could… ??? Hmmm…

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Finn BV - Jun 1, 2006 1:39 pm (#123 of 473)

Dobby Socks -- if you have nothing physically preventing you from going, and you wouldn't be missing too much at home, I'd go! But don't get a cheap seat, you won't be able to see anything. Take a $50 seat, it's not much for such a great cause and benefit!

I'll try to do your John Irving question, since I'll probably do Good Evans' SK question as she asked on the chat thread.

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Dobby Socks - Jun 2, 2006 5:23 pm (#124 of 473)

Thanks Finn Hope you are able to use it if nothing better comes along.

I doubt I’ll be able to physically make it to the event unless things turn around drastically in the next two months. So I’d feel guilty about buying a $50 ticket and letting a good seat go to waste.

And I cannot believe I forgot about the charity aspect (reading a 1400 page fan fic can apparently addle one’s brain for a bit.) Since I would not hesitate to donate money to Doctors Without Borders (even without getting to hear from three fantastic authors) I’m now feeling better about just scooping up a couple cheaper tickets. I’ll have to check the specifics.

Was Good Evans’ King question on the searchable chat thread? If so, I’ll go looking for it at some point. I have to say that as much as I love JKR, it would be a bit surreal to see S. King. Although I’d rather run into him in a pub in Maine (on a dark and stormy night of course.)

BTW, regarding the situation with your mom and the meet-up, I don’t think she’d mind as long as she was with you at all times.

Hope you all have fun. I’m just going to sit back, hope some reports are posted, and do the vicarious living thing.

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Finn BV - Jun 2, 2006 6:39 pm (#125 of 473)

Dobby Socks, see Good Evans, "# Chat and Greeting Thread for Members" #670, 1 Jun 2006 12:07 pm.

Hope you can make it!

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Madam Pince - Jun 3, 2006 8:22 am (#126 of 473)

Just was reading another thread and saw another potentially good question for JKR -- probably too late for Gina, but maybe others might want to try? (I can't take credit for the Q -- I think maybe it was wynnleaf?)

Regarding the Unbreakable Vow, who decides, or how is it decided when the vow is completed/fulfilled -- is it inherent in the "magic" of the vow like C.S. Lewis' "Magic From Before the Dawn of Time", or is it determined by an individual? For example, if Snape vows to give Bella an apple, and then gives her an orange transfigured to look like an apple, is the vow fulfilled because she thinks it's an apple? Or does he die instantly when she bites into it and discovers it's not an apple? Or does he have unlimited time to give her an apple at some undetermined point in the future?

Hmmmmm... that gets complicated but it's hard to put it into simple terms. It's very difficult to come up with a question that will be helpful to us, but one that we think she might actually answer because it doesn't give too much away! Aargh! (That's why I like the "Are all the horcruxes to be found somewhere in Books 1-6?" because it seems likely she could answer that without being too indiscreet.)

Another simpler question about the Unbreakable Vow might be "Were Fred and George accurate when they were describing the Unbreakable Vow to little 4-year-old Ron?" We have no confirmation that someone actually dies from an UV except Ron's say-so.

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Marè - Jun 3, 2006 10:00 am (#127 of 473)

Are all the horcruxes to be found somewhere in Books 1-6

I also think it is a great question because it would give us something to do. (Find the last horcrux)

And I think F&G were accurate because of Arthur’s reaction and the way the Snape thing was written.

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haymoni - Jun 5, 2006 5:55 am (#128 of 473)
Edited Jun 5, 2006 6:34 am

I would like to know if the big, blonde Death Eater at the Hogwarts battle is Otto Bagman.

I would also like to know if Madam Pince is Snape's mother.

Edit yet again - I'd like to know how Jo defines "The Dark Arts". Is the Jelly-Legs curse or Levicorpus considered "Dark Arts" or would it be something more serious like the Unforgiveable Curses, Sectumsempra or the Horcrux spell?

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Gina R Snape - Jun 5, 2006 6:40 am (#129 of 473)

So I walked by the area again Saturday and discovered there is a rather large Starbucks on 51st St and 7th Avenue, which is just two avenue blocks over from Radio City. I think this will be the easiest choice, as people just have to walk straight across 51st St. The Stardust Diner is across the street from the Starbucks, if at the last minute people feel particularly hungry.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Jun 5, 2006 7:57 am (#130 of 473)

Sounds great, Gina!

Now, as far as recognition - I wanted to take Mare's suggestion and maybe use either lanyards or spirally (?) bracelets using the Lexicon logo. As a matter of fact, Olivia is home today - I will ask her to play around with it and see what we come up with. I set up an account with Photobucket - we can always go from there. Also, maybe our avatars on the flip side. I guess I'd better change back to the dragon. I'm not trying to say everyone should do the same, but something recognizable would make it easier and perhaps less awkward. I can't envision myself approaching anyone if I was not certain he/she was a Lexicon member. **Now envisioning dozens of people standing around Starbuck's wondering who may or may not be from the Lexicon**

It seems so far away, but I'm sure it will be here before we know it.

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Gina R Snape - Jun 5, 2006 12:07 pm (#131 of 473)

Well I will change my avatar to a picture of me. Plus, I'll wear something HP related. So hopefully that will help.

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Madam Pince - Jun 5, 2006 1:44 pm (#132 of 473)

I would also like to know if Madam Pince is Snape's mother.

Me, too! Maybe one way to sort-of ask this question in a way that she might actually answer would be: "Are there any other characters we've already met whose names can be anagrammed around, like Tom Marvolo Riddle / I am Lord Voldemort?" Even a simple yes or no could give us something to chew on for awhile...

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HungarianHorntail11 - Jun 5, 2006 1:51 pm (#133 of 473)

Good idea, Gina. I'll do the same with the 3 HHs on my avatar. Though I have some good pics of the backs of Olivia and Priscilla's heads in my profile.

Plus, I'll wear something HP related. Ah, well, that might not narrow it down enough. (Envisioning hundreds of Hermiones, several Snapes, lots of Lunas, etc. Well, you get the picture.)

That's a good way to phrase it, Madam Pince.

ANOTHER EDIT: The people sitting behind us might not appreciate that, Madam Pince.

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Madam Pince - Jun 5, 2006 1:52 pm (#134 of 473)

Try pointy black hats. That ought to do the trick.

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Finn BV - Jun 5, 2006 3:14 pm (#135 of 473)

Well, I'm still not sure how you all are going to recognize me. At least I'll be able to recognize you! After all, if the HHs and Herm oh ninny are sitting in my row, we won't be that far apart, will we?

Gina, where are you sitting?

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Amilia Smith - Jun 5, 2006 4:07 pm (#136 of 473)

Are you kidding Finn? People recognize you all the time. Even when you are not actually there.

Mills.

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haymoni - Jun 5, 2006 4:45 pm (#137 of 473)

Finn, you are the adorable blonde 50-year-old - not a problem!!!

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Finn BV - Jun 5, 2006 5:07 pm (#138 of 473)

Hehe, Mills, I was thinking the same thing! Well, even if for some horrible reason I get sick or something and don't attend, you will all still have a good time with me!

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haymoni - Jun 5, 2006 5:20 pm (#139 of 473)

Hul-low!!

Too sick to see JKR in person???

You'd better cough up a lung or something!!!

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Finn BV - Jun 5, 2006 6:08 pm (#140 of 473)

LOL haymoni, just saying that if I didn't show up for some godforbid extreme reason, you would all still have a good time with me there!

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Miss Black - Jun 6, 2006 1:12 pm (#141 of 473)

Ohhh, I'll get my Gryffidor tie out!

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Good Evans - Jun 11, 2006 10:02 am (#142 of 473)

for ID'ing each other - when we met in London last year, for those that didn't know each other (ie me)I tied my gryffindor scarf to my handbag and left it conspicuously on the table. That worked, so I would advise the Lex Logo (which I think is a great idea) or your official house scarves / ties etc.

Have a great time all of you wont you, we will be thinking of you this side of the pond! Julie x

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Herm oh ninny - Jun 13, 2006 10:00 pm (#143 of 473)

Hey all! I just ordered the cutest HP black denim Hogwarts Book bag! I will be carrying it instead of a purse at Radio City. If that doesn't work, I could always just yell across our row "Anybody from the Lex here?" or "This is Herm oh Ninny. I'm looking for some Hungarian Horntails, a FinnBV, and a Mrs. Gina R. Snape!!"

EDIT: link to book bag [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

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Gina R Snape - Jun 14, 2006 7:39 am (#144 of 473)

Oooh, I like it!

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haymoni - Jun 14, 2006 8:17 am (#145 of 473)

Herm oh ninny - I saw the picture - where did you get the bag from??

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Herm oh ninny - Jun 14, 2006 7:16 pm (#146 of 473)

Thanks! I ordered it from this web site [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] My sister has ordered about 15 “I Love Lucy” purses and travel bags from this site. They just recently got in a Harry Potter section as well.

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HungarianHorntail13 - Jun 17, 2006 10:25 am (#147 of 473)

Lol Herm oh ninny!

Most of us sit close to each other though, so it probably won't be too hard to find each other, right?

Olivia

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Madam Pince - Jun 19, 2006 7:06 pm (#148 of 473)

There's a discussion on the PoA-Movie thread that made me think of this -- probably way too late already, but anyways....

That would be another question that somebody could ask JKR at the August New York City thingy that she would probably answer. "What was it that you said you saw in the movie PoA that startled you because it foreshadowed something? Can you tell us yet?"

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haymoni - Jun 20, 2006 11:01 am (#149 of 473)

I like that question.

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Finn BV - Jun 24, 2006 9:52 pm (#150 of 473)

I think I'm just going to have to hope that Herm oh Ninny and the HHs are close enough to me that we can just all get together like that. Steph M. and her sister are going, I think, and they look exactly alike except one is four years older than the other. With red hair like hers, and blond as mine, you shouldn't be able to miss us.

Before I left on my trip, I tried to submit the questions but it wouldn't work. Will try again now…

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Finn BV - Jun 26, 2006 8:00 pm (#151 of 473)

Has anybody else had a hard time submitting questions? I keep getting a note about technical difficulties.

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Stephanie M. - Jun 29, 2006 7:42 pm (#152 of 473)

I think I'm just going to have to hope that Herm oh Ninny and the HHs are close enough to me that we can just all get together like that. Steph M. and her sister are going, I think, and they look exactly alike except one is four years older than the other. With red hair like hers, and blond as mine, you shouldn't be able to miss us. –Finn

Yeah, we are going, except I don't remember which date we are going on. Maybe I'll wear a hot pink shirt with florescent green polka dots... if I find one...

Edit: Or I can find Finn and scream very loudly, "Hey Finn!! I can't believe that we are here! I can't wait to go onto the Lexicon later!!!" and he'll scream back, "Hey Steph! I will write everything on the Forum when I get home!" Maybe that will draw some attention to us, if you can't find us. I have no idea where I'm sitting either. I'll have to ask my sister.

I don't think my sister will mind me meeting you guys, but she might not be comfortable with going out afterwards, since she is only 18 and she feels some responsibility over me. If she came home and said to my parents, "Yeah... um... Stephanie sorta got lost when she met up with the people on the Forum... I couldn't find her once everyone left..." she'd probably get into a TON of trouble.

But I am fine with seeing you guys there, and I'm positive that my sister will be fine with it too.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Jul 3, 2006 9:35 am (#153 of 473)

What was it that you said you saw in the movie PoA that startled you because it foreshadowed something? Can you tell us yet?"

Madam Pince, I think if I was not so convinced it was the tower comment made by one of the twins after Harry fell from his broom, I'd be all for it.

Finn and others, I will be the one accidentally stepping on feet, dropping things and bumping my elbows. My daughters will be the ones rolling their eyes. (I'm a tad on the clumsy side. )

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HungarianHorntail13 - Jul 3, 2006 9:37 am (#154 of 473)

Madam Pince, I like that question! I think that what she was startled about was how Snape tried to protect to the kids when the werewolf/ Lupin was going to attack. Would that mean he's on the good side?

Olivia

Edit: Yes, just look for the big clumsy lady screaming " Excuse me, excuse us!" when we're late.

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Winky Woo - Jul 6, 2006 2:51 pm (#155 of 473)

I said to Mr Winky that I wish I could go as it would be fun to see if I could guess who you were in the audience? He asked me why I wasn't going! I said well for a start its about three and half thousand miles away in New York, he looked at me and said " And your point is?"

I know why I fell for him! To think I once thought I was a member of the Fans with Significant Others Who don't Understand Harry Potter thread. Oh well its a shame he's just a couple of months late!

Have Lots of fun and report straight back!

Love

Winky X

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Finn BV - Jul 6, 2006 3:49 pm (#156 of 473)

Winky, I think you should jump right on those words and say that you're off to buy tickets to the event and on a plane!! If life gives you opportunities to see JKR, make haste and get on the next train quick!!

I finally got my questions submitted through Customer Service with Scholastic after much technical trouble on their site.

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TwinklingBlueEyes - Jul 6, 2006 7:26 pm (#157 of 473)

What I'd like to know is who is going dressed as witches and wizards, and who is going as muggles.

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Finn BV - Jul 6, 2006 7:28 pm (#158 of 473)

**cries because he has no wizarding outfits and should go iron his hands for going underdressed as a Muggle…**

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haymoni - Jul 7, 2006 5:57 am (#159 of 473)

I'd like someone to ask what Hermione smelled besides parchment & grass during Potions.

It doesn't answer any big theory questions.

I just wanna know!

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Kneazle - Jul 7, 2006 9:25 am (#160 of 473)
Edited by Jul 7, 2006 9:39 am

haymoni - I'd like someone to ask what Hermione smelled besides parchment & grass during Potions.

It doesn't answer any big theory questions.

I just wanna know!

Something to do with Ron most likely. Like Harry and his about Ginny, though he couldn't quite place it at the moment.

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Finn BV - Jul 7, 2006 10:06 am (#161 of 473)

That's what I always assumed, Kneazle.

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haymoni - Jul 7, 2006 10:55 am (#162 of 473)

Obviously it was something to do with Ron - but what????

What is a "Ron smell"???

What is the thing that smells like Ron that she had to stop herself from saying it out loud?

Harry just smelled something flowery - it could have been any girl - but Hermione was about to say something that would definitely identify Ron. If it was Victor or any other boy, she would have just said it.

What is it????

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Dr Filibuster - Jul 7, 2006 11:31 am (#163 of 473)

Dungbombs? LOL! No, wait that's Fred & George.

Some kind of sweets from Honeydukes perhaps? Is his chess set wooden? Maybe that has a faint odour.

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Madam Pince - Jul 7, 2006 11:37 am (#164 of 473)

Oh, Sue, that's a good guess. The chess set is one thing that I associate exclusively with Ron.

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Holly T. - Jul 7, 2006 12:54 pm (#165 of 473)

  What is a "Ron smell"???



Spider repellent?

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Steve Newton - Jul 7, 2006 1:09 pm (#166 of 473)

You don't think he could have a flatulence problem, do you?

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TwinklingBlueEyes - Jul 7, 2006 3:35 pm (#167 of 473)

That was bad Steve. Maybe corned beef?

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Kneazle - Jul 7, 2006 9:50 pm (#168 of 473)

This is bad I'm going to be combing through my poor old dog eared copies looking for a "Ron smell" now! LOL

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Stephanie M. - Jul 10, 2006 12:02 pm (#169 of 473)

Maybe a used book smell? A Weasley sweater smell?

I'm going on the 2nd, and my sister and I were talking and she said that I should go down to Radio City on the 1st, and maybe see you guys before you go in (if there is a line to go in). I'll have to see, but it would be a pretty cool I idea if I could quickly see some of you before you go in.

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Finn BV - Jul 10, 2006 3:41 pm (#170 of 473)

That's a good idea, Steph. BTW, you know there is a Leaky Mug live podcast on the 2nd?

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Gina R Snape - Jul 10, 2006 3:46 pm (#171 of 473)

Finn, who did you contact at Scholastic regarding the questions? I am now having a problem!

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Stephanie M. - Jul 10, 2006 3:46 pm (#172 of 473)

Where is this Live Leaky Mug that you speak of? (And why don't I know about this?) LOL

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Finn BV - Jul 10, 2006 5:47 pm (#173 of 473)

Gina, I emailed Customer Service. They write back pretty quickly. However, for a faster response, also include your operating system, browser, etc., and if possible screenshots of the error page. I wrote them, they said they'd forward on the questions to the producer, and they wrote back saying that they needed information about the error, as they "tried to repeat the problem" on their own computers and it wouldn't occur. Gosh, why don't they just accept the questions? Anyway, yeah, to speed it up a bit, email Customer Service.

Steph, go to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and you can find the details there. Cool, Lexicon Steve will be there!! **waves even though he knows Steve probably won't read this**

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Stephanie M. - Jul 10, 2006 6:53 pm (#174 of 473)

***smacks hand on head*** I saw that over a week ago! And I didn't scroll to the bottom of the page! Thanks Finn! Maybe I can get off of work...

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Gina R Snape - Jul 11, 2006 2:24 pm (#175 of 473)

Oh man, what an ordeal. I contacted Scholastic. I've been trying for weeks to submit my questions, and kept coming up with an error message. I emailed customer support and nobody replied. So I decided to call. Someone told me "the deadline had passed" and I was like WHAT?!?! Um...NO.

Finally got through to a supervisor who thought I was talking about an in-house contest. You haven't seen my taurean abilities to push and bulldoze until I get my way. I'm normally quite docile. But merlin help the scholastic worker who gets in my way from asking JKR Snape questions! Eventually, she agreed to submit my questions for me seeing as how there was some script error preventing the site from working. In house, she had no problem. So here, for your edification, are the questions I submitted. Thanks to everyone who helped with ideas for all three authors.

For JK Rowling
1. At the end of Goblet of Fire, why did Snape's eyes fly across the room when Harry mentions that Lucius Malfoy was at Voldemort's rebirthing party?

2. Is Spinner's End located in Manchester and did Snape grow up there?

3. What is Severus Snape's middle name?

4. Are any members of Severus Snape's family still alive?

5. Was Snape at Godric's Hollow the night Voldemort killed the Potters?

6. From whom did Snape learn occlumency?

7. Do other Death Eaters or even other slytherins know that Snape is a half blood?

For Stephen King

1. Did you experience any paranormal activity while writing the Shining at the hotel where it was filmed?

2. Was there anything you were particularly pleased or unhappy about with Kubric's adaptation of the Shining?

3. Has writing for Entertainment Weekly affected your view of the publishing business and of critic reviews?

4. What about JK Rowling's wizarding world do you love the most?

5. Was there anything you were particularly pleased or unhappy about with the film adaptation of The Green Mile?

6. Was there a specific image (or idea) that was the genesis for The Langoliers?

7. Will we see more books along the lines of The Colorado Kid? That was such a delight from the pulpy cover art to the end.

For John Irving:

1. Which character in A Widow for One Year did you have the most empathy with or affinity for?

2. I know you were pleased with Tod Williams' bold screen transformation of A Widow for One Year into The Door in the Floor. What did you think of the casting? (I lost some Academy Award bets over all of the above.)

3. Who are a few of your favorite contemporary authors (besides J.K. Rowling and Steven King?)

4. I was thrilled to discover A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound. This is obviously the most fully realized Ted Cole work in A Widow for One Year, but will you be publishing more of Ted Cole's childrens books?

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HungarianHorntail11 - Jul 12, 2006 7:11 am (#176 of 473)

The first of three questions submitted to JKR by HHs:

Can we find all six of the horcruxes in the first six books?

I am hoping that if we have an incorrect count, or deviation of another sort, she would point that out.

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Gina R Snape - Jul 12, 2006 8:20 am (#177 of 473)

Oooh, that's a good one! Sneaky, sneak-ay.

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Kneazle - Jul 12, 2006 10:06 pm (#178 of 473)
Edited by Jul 12, 2006 10:22 pm

Okay according to MapQuest from my front door to Radio City is Total Est. Time: 19 hours, 11 minutes (driving) Total Est. Distance: 1196.31 miles; If I started walking....now, I might make it. I checked Ticketmaster and there are still $104.50 tickets available. I might be able to swing a couple but as for room and board??? Too bad I don't have an enchanted tent or cardboard box for that matter.

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Lexicon Steve - Jul 13, 2006 7:40 pm (#179 of 473)

* waves back **

Steve The Lexicon

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Finn BV - Jul 13, 2006 8:22 pm (#180 of 473)

Wow! Hi Steve!

I might sneak in for the podcast too, even though I'm going the night before. Hmm, decisions, decisions!

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Gina R Snape - Jul 13, 2006 8:30 pm (#181 of 473)

Hey, Steve. You coming out to NYC for JKR? If you did, we'd be seeing each other again at the same time as last year!

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haymoni - Jul 14, 2006 7:02 am (#182 of 473)

We were talking about a "Ron Smell" on this thread.

I'm going to post an idea on the Hermione thread.

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Finn BV - Jul 14, 2006 10:06 am (#183 of 473)

Rrrrr… Gina, no response in three days! But, I have no time to call them up. Maybe later this evening…

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Gina R Snape - Jul 14, 2006 3:54 pm (#184 of 473)

Poor Finn. Maybe wait until Monday. Friday afternoon is never a good time to get a hold of anyone, especially during the summer.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Jul 15, 2006 10:21 am (#185 of 473)

Try this site one more time, Finn. I sent one through as a "test" fully expecting it not to work, but it did. The result was that I only submitted one question - it was to JKR.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

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Finn BV - Jul 15, 2006 1:57 pm (#186 of 473)

WHOA! It worked! I don't believe it. But I'm still going to call them up and give them a hard time, and hopefully submit another question for each since you get one per ticket. Phooey. No response in four days from Customer Service.

Questions I asked:

Question for J.K. Rowling: What are Dumbledore's and Sirius' exact birthdays and how come they have never been featured on your web site like most of the rest of the main characters?

Question for Stephen King: What is your favorite film adaptation of your work?

Question for John Irving: Did you base Marian in "A Widow for One Year" on a real woman? That character fascinates me!

EDIT: Ooh, I'm really mad now. It's 4:12 PM Central Time RIGHT NOW, and Customer Service is open until 5 on Saturdays – says this both on their site and when you call them up. But they're not picking up now because I'm apparently not within regular business hours.

These are the other questions that I want to submit:

ROWLING: We learned in Half-Blood Prince that Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers last only one year before Voldemort's jinx takes its toll. How come, in Philosopher's Stone, Percy knows about Professor Quirrell, if he hypothetically didn't hold the job the previous year?

KING: Have songs ever influenced your stories? You use a lot of musical quotes in your books, often rock-oriented, and always appropriate for the chapter. Does the idea for the story come first, or the song?

IRVING: I’m aware of how problematic adaptations can be, especially if the author isn’t involved, but was there one, or a few specific things you can share with us that bothered you most about Kubrick’s version of The Shining?

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Gina R Snape - Jul 15, 2006 2:21 pm (#187 of 473)

Ooh, Finn. I like the Percy - Quirrell question!

Hmmm. Maybe they fixed the site. That's the link I'd been using.

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Dobby Socks - Jul 16, 2006 9:54 am (#188 of 473)

Thanks for posting that link HH11! I've been trying intermittently to submit questions since early June. I was supposedly on the right Scholastic page, but that form wasn't there. And it's the same link. Finn, I tried to e-mail you to ask about the specifics of the problems you were having (seemed like we were the only two), but it bounced back. So then I decided I'd just call customer service instead of posting here. But I get really lazy when it comes to phone calls. I'd already e-mailed Scholastic and hadn't received a response for over a month (if they've just fixed it, they were probably getting hundreds of e-mails from irate fans, which would explain the delay). My laptop is being testy again, so I'll post my questions in a bit. They're similar to Gina's.

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Finn BV - Jul 16, 2006 1:59 pm (#189 of 473)

Dobby Socks, Gina and I did our best to include all of your questions and others that were requested of us. So, it would not be a surprise to me if you had the same ones!

Good luck with Customer Service. I'll give them a call tomorrow.

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Gina R Snape - Jul 16, 2006 4:21 pm (#190 of 473)

Well I went back on the site and it worked. I posted two more questions (being very slytherin) .

Does Snape know that Wormtail owes Harry a life debt?

In the pensieve scene in GoF, was it Snape that Bertha Jorkins saw in the greenhouse? What did she see?

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Dobby Socks - Jul 16, 2006 4:27 pm (#191 of 473)

Yeah, I noticed Finn. Thanks. I did lean heavily on Gina’s list of Snape questions, though.

I posted one set of questions this morning, and have two left to go. But, of course, as soon as I posted the first three, my brain started flooding with other possible questions, mostly for John Irving oddly enough. He’s the author I would say I like least out of the three, but maybe that’s not true. So now I’m going a bit mad trying to locate my copy of “Owen Meany.”

My questions seemed to go through, but there’s no confirmation page or e-mail. So as far as I know they could be sitting out there in the rubbish bin of cyberspace.

Did you try that link, Finn? Are you still getting error messages?

_______________________________________________ By the way, how would everyone interpret the following:

The PDF on the main website states we will get to submit questions by e-mail, but describes the format as “an audience question and answer session.”

In the form they ask for your e-mail address for the purpose of “confirming your seat location if necessary.”

This sounds like they will e-mail you if your question is selected, then, on the night in question, locate the person in the audience, give them the pre-approved question, and have them read it.

What if the seat is empty or there’s a different person in it? Hopefully someone who’s willing to keep up a charade?

Can you tell I’m still trying to buck the system, and starting to feel a bit Alastor-Moody-ish?

I keep telling myself it’s my charitable donation for the year, so it doesn’t matter how it turns out. _______________________________________________

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Finn BV - Jul 16, 2006 5:35 pm (#192 of 473)

Dobby, it's working fine for me now. But I'm still going to go give them a hard time tomorrow, especially for not answering the phone in business hours…

I asked my mom the same question, because I wondered what would happen if they picked the King or Irving question, and the author asked me questions about their books which I had never even read?? But she answered that the hall is so big that it would be a nightmare trying to coordinate everything like that. Plus, they've got to keep it moving. So, I would imagine that they're just asking for the email because when you paid you gave an email, and they call it an "audience question and answer session" because, essentially it is: the audience, however, isn't asking the questions live. I dunno.

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Dobby Socks - Jul 16, 2006 6:37 pm (#193 of 473)

But I'm still going to go give them a hard time tomorrow, especially for not answering the phone in business hours…

Good for you. Maybe I’ll call too and ask why they didn’t answer my e-mail for a month and a half.

My non-paranoid brain was thinking along the lines of what your mom said. I haven’t been to Radio City since I was 5 or 6 years old, but from the seating chart it looks like it would be too unwieldy to be handing out portable mics to everyone (let alone locating the people.) And heaven forbid someone’s not near an aisle.

Gina: The Gryffindor who is an aspiring Slytherin wonders how you’re getting all these questions in. 7 tickets? I guess with questions submitted via supervisor over the phone, then extras submitted when the site started working. Nevermind – not hard to figure out. You should really be allowed a press pass for your “intrepid reporter” duties.

Questions that I posted earlier:

KING: What about JK Rowling’s wizarding world do you love the most? (I love how this is phrased… how can he resist?)

IRVING: Which character in A Widow for One Year did you have the most empathy with or affinity for?

ROWLING: Is Spinner's End located in or around Manchester and is that Snape’s childhood home?

Other JKR questions I’m considering… (The 2nd is too long, needs to be rephrased, and I’m not sure about the 1-10 thing. The 3rd is just a lark, so I doubt I’ll submit it. It’s something that’s been bothering me, but I can think of a half dozen scenarios where this could’ve happened legitimately).

1. Are any members of Severus Snape's family still alive?

2. We know that Snape is highly skilled at Occlumency and that he also has some aptitude for Legilimency. How much Legilimency skill does he actually possess (on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest skill level)? In practical terms, how would this differ from the skill of Dumbledore or Voldemort?

3. Why did Dumbledore let Snape go with the first half of the Prophecy when he could have attempted to obliviate him?

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Finn BV - Jul 16, 2006 7:35 pm (#194 of 473)

Dobby, #3 is good! She'd probably come up with an interesting answer if she can, but if she doesn't say anything, then you know you've come up with a good one! I can't say I find much to #2, but I would reword #1 and strongly go with that one: "Are any other members of Severus Snape's family, besides Eileen and Tobias, still alive?" That way, you can find out if Filch or Madam Pince has any remote possibility of being related to Snape (see Eileen Prince thread), and your original question: if they're not still alive, she would correct you. That's the best way I can think of saying it.

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Gina R Snape - Jul 16, 2006 7:44 pm (#195 of 473)

Dobby Socks, I would suggest not repeating the questions I already asked. I think she'll rule out answering questions no matter whether one or ten people ask it.

As for audience participation, I don't see it happening. Unless they set up mics in the aisles and have people line up, the place is too big to be passing around a portable mic.

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Finn BV - Jul 16, 2006 8:29 pm (#196 of 473)

… and knowing New York, people would just slip the mic into their purse and say it was last seen in the row behind them.

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Stephanie M. - Jul 16, 2006 9:53 pm (#197 of 473)

If I can take off work on the 2nd, I will be at the Podcast!

I am pretty sure that I will also drop by Radio City on the 1st so I can see some of you. (if I can find you guys).

(And yes, I did post that a little while ago, but my sister has been encouraging me to go meet up with you guys, except since I don't have tickets for the 1st, I don't think I want to be waiting outside all night long for only a chance to see some of you.)

Most of the questions that I wanted to ask have already been submitted. If you have any suggestions for me, that would be great! I was trying to submit a question a while ago, but it wasn't working, so I gave up. But now that it seems to be working, I have no questions.

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Dobby Socks - Jul 17, 2006 5:06 am (#198 of 473)

I would suggest not repeating the questions I already asked. I think she'll rule out answering questions no matter whether one or ten people ask it.

That makes sense, Gina. Coming up with Severus Snape questions she might actually answer at this point is a tall order unfortunately. I had a couple non-Snape questions in my notes that I haven’t seen anyone propose on here. And a couple Snape questions.

Finn: Thanks for your suggestions. #2 is just something I’m curious about. But also if she chooses to answer it and says he’s at least a fairly good legilimens, that would make the possibility that he and Dumbledore had a “silent conversation” on the astronomy tower more likely (although the theories I favor don’t need this option in order to work.) In my opinion, though, he is a decent legilimens. And there’s evidence to support that. He may not be able to break into an occluded mind, but that wouldn’t apply on the tower.

So, no, I guess there’s really no point in asking.

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Gina R Snape - Jul 17, 2006 8:08 am (#199 of 473)

Dobby, how many question slots do you have? I have a long list of questions on Snape and can give you a few.

Stephanie, someone emailed me yesterday offering tickets. If you still need, I can ask if they are still available.

We will be meeting at the Starbucks on 51st St and 7th Ave afterwards, both nights, so you are more than welcome to find us there.

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Stephanie M. - Jul 17, 2006 9:24 am (#200 of 473)

Well, I am going on the 2nd, so I will turn down the tickets, but I will definitely try to meet up with you guys at the Starbucks afterwards, if it's not too late (since I'm working the next day).

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Dobby Socks - Jul 17, 2006 1:59 pm (#201 of 473)

Gina,

I would so appreciate your sharing some of your unused questions. I have 2 Rowling slots open unless I decide to rework numbers 2 and 3 from my post last night. Or go with a non-Snape question which I’m not at all inclined to do. I actually have none open for Irving or King. Seems a lot easier to come up with questions when you only have a superficial familiarity with the author, rather than having read all her interviews and having spent a year immersed in theories! Wish I would’ve waited to submit the first 3, though, which I think were all repeats of yours.

And, LOL Gina. That was my e-mail you got last night. I wrote it just before I went to sleep, and added you and wynnleaf at the last minute (you both wound up in my address book since we e-mailed once.) And then I neglected to sign it. I woke up to an e-mail from wynnleaf that basically said, “Thanks very much, but I’ll be in the Midwest that weekend… and, by the way, who are you?” (I’m paraphrasing.) Sorry for the puzzling, anonymous e-mail.

I was thinking of offering one to Stephanie, but you beat me to it.

If you’re still interested, I think I’m going to hold them until tomorrow night, just to wait for my two friends who are most likely to respond. You’re the obvious choice though, since you live in NYC and seem to know a lot of people on the Lexicon and in the Larger World. And I’m really not expecting a positive response from the two people I’m waiting for. This will also give me a bit of extra time to post questions.

Thanks again…

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Gina R Snape - Jul 17, 2006 3:33 pm (#202 of 473)

I was wondering who that post was from! I was actually going to sign it "and who are you?" but I didn't. I recognised a few of the email addresses and figured it was someone here on the Lex.

Yes, I have a local HP group and know a few people who would be thrilled to bits at the chance to come. Plus I know someone in Philadelphia (a member of the Snapecast team) who might want to go as well.

Snape questions you might want to ask (in no particular order):

Why was Wormtail staying with Snape?

Did Snape ever know that Wormtail became the secret keeper instead of Sirius?

Why did Snape fiddle with the curtains at Spinner's End?

Is Snape related to any of the marauders, from his mother's pureblood side?

Does Snape know about the horcruxes?

Was Snape friends with Regulus Black?

Would you be willing to write in a character named Gina (even a throwaway line) as having dated Snape at Hogwarts?

Did Snape learn dark magic from his mother or another relative before arriving at Hogwarts?

What did Tobias Snape think of Severus' wizarding abilities?

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Finn BV - Jul 17, 2006 3:38 pm (#203 of 473)

I like the Regulus and the dark magic questions. And Gina, only you can ask the Gina question. But dated? Say that "Gina" is the spouse who we couldn't find out about – "restricted" – and you're still happily married, come on!!

I called up Customer Service, and the old softy I am didn't mention about not picking up during hours. However, I did go on in my best mean voice about not getting an email back from them. Now, to submit my second set of questions, I just need to wait for the producers ot email me, which the rep promised they will.

As you will see in my post about questions, I put a King question in an Irving slot, but I don't really want to ask that for King, since I like the one I put for him (about songs) better. So, I have an Irving slot open.

Steph, if you come, we can definitely meet up before. And bring your sister!

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Gina R Snape - Jul 17, 2006 4:01 pm (#204 of 473)

Well, Finn. I thought it would be more fun to ask about him as a youth, with the implication of things to come later.

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Finn BV - Jul 17, 2006 5:38 pm (#205 of 473)

Hehe.

*twiddles thumbs, waiting for Scholastic email*

EDIT: Woohoo, I got it! All is clear to submit another set of questions… so, I'll just wait until I hear a decent John Irving question.

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Stephanie M. - Jul 17, 2006 8:03 pm (#206 of 473)

I'm looking for more for Irving and King. I'll look through some old posts and see if I can compile a few more questions. I'll post which ones that I'll submit, and before I do, I'll wait for response from you guys to see if anyone has already submitted them.

**Goes to search for questions**

Finn, yeah I'll call you before hand because I'm pretty sure that I'll drop by. My sister works near there, so maybe we can both see you, and anyone else that you happen to find.

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Dobby Socks - Jul 17, 2006 10:58 pm (#207 of 473)

Gina,

Thanks very much. Now I just have to decide (always the hardest part.) I like the Regulus question, the dark magic question, the Tobias Snape question, and 2 others that I’m trying to figure out if she’ll answer (Wormtail / Horcruxes).

And, of course, “Would you be willing to write in a character named Gina (even a throwaway line) as having dated Snape at Hogwarts?”

I’ll e-mail you tomorrow night about the tickets. I highly doubt anyone else will want them (for various reasons), and the two I’m waiting for are very lax about checking their e-mail anyway.

Finn,

I’ll see if I can come up with another Irving question in the next day or two if you haven’t got one by then. One of my closest friends is an Irving fan, so if I have to, I’ll resort to asking her (I’m a bit stubborn.)

Stephanie,

I was just about to suggest 2 Rowling questions to you, but hadn’t read your post yet. I’ll dig around my brain (or my friend’s brain) for Irving questions for you, too. I’ve seen a King question or two posted, but I don’t remember seeing any Irving questions. My memory isn’t too fabulous though.

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haymoni - Jul 18, 2006 6:55 am (#208 of 473)

I'm not going and I'm not knowledgable about Steven King, but I'd like to know how he felt about "Stand By Me" vs. "The Body" when the movie first came out and how does he feel about it now.

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Dobby Socks - Jul 18, 2006 9:42 am (#209 of 473)

Here's an Irving question:

In A Widow for One Year, both Marion and Ruth have a flaw in their iris. What is the significance of this to you?

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Finn BV - Jul 18, 2006 9:52 am (#210 of 473)

Dobby, I think I'll go right ahead and take that Irving question.

I'm sure Steph can use some Rowling questions as well.

Okay, here is the second set of questions I submitted:

ROWLING: We learned in Half-Blood Prince that Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers last only one year before Voldemort's jinx takes its toll. How come, in Philosopher's Stone, Percy knows about Professor Quirrell, if he didn't hold the job the previous year? Why didn’t Dumbledore announce that Quirrell was a new teacher or was teaching a different subject?

KING: Have songs ever influenced your stories? You use a lot of musical quotes in your books, often rock-oriented, and always appropriate for the chapter. Does the idea for the story come first, or the song?

IRVING: In A Widow for One Year, both Marion and Ruth have a flaw in their iris. What is the significance of this to you?

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Stephanie M. - Jul 18, 2006 4:28 pm (#211 of 473)

Ugh! I can't submit questions! It says that "an unexpected error has occurred", and I've been getting that message all day.

I'll try again later. I also need to look for questions for my second set of questions.

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Finn BV - Jul 18, 2006 7:01 pm (#212 of 473)

Aha! Steph, that's what happened to me. Don't bother emailing them. Call them up.

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Good Evans - Jul 20, 2006 12:32 am (#213 of 473)

Finn - if you are asked your favourite of Stephen Kings books, just say "the stand" 99% of fans rate that his best / their favourite! (its about a plague that kills 90% of the American population and then there is an epic struggle of good and evil between the survivors)

Gina - rather than asking about Snape’s father - how about whether either of Snape’s parents are still alive? obviously we have the Irma Pince theory but we have no idea about "daddy Snape", other than he is/was a muggle. It would appear a quite innocuous question and might help!!

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Gina R Snape - Jul 20, 2006 6:31 am (#214 of 473)

Good Evans, the list of questions I actually submitted is here. Gina R Snape, "# Meeting up after JKR at Radio City 8/1 & 8/2" #175, 11 Jul 2006 2:24 pm And, you will see that I did ask about his family. The list I left for Dobby Socks were additional questions.

Speaking of Dobby Socks...darling you have made TWO members of the Snapecast team very happy. Shannon and Wendy and I will be sure to report our spin on the event in a future Snapecast episode. As for the Lex, have NO doubt that I'll be back to tell all. I am soooooooooooooooooooo excited. More so by the day. How 'bout you Finn? Others going? SQUEEEEEEEE

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Finn BV - Jul 20, 2006 10:11 am (#215 of 473)

Excited? Huh? Why should I be excited?     OF COURSE I AM!!!

Julie, thanks for that. "The Stand." Got it.

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Herm oh ninny - Jul 20, 2006 12:04 pm (#216 of 473)

Hey guys!

I decided to take a break from summer class lock down, and come check some threads. I am planning on submitting my questions for Jo sometime tomorrow or Saturday. The only problem is... I can't think of any really good questions to ask! I am allowed to submit 3 sets of questions, and I have only 1 for Jo. (I did have some other ones but I see that some of you have submitted them or similar ones.)The one question that I am submitting is:

Where do phoenixes come from? Are they re-incarnations of great wizards/witches? (I'm trying to somehow work that into one question!)

So, does anyone have any good questions that they would like me to ask Jo?

Also, I am not really familiar with the other two authors (I've see the movies Carrie and Stand By Me, but that's about it.) So if any of you are fans and have questions for them, let me know.

Excited? Excited? I am ready to burst! Is it August yet?

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Gina R Snape - Jul 20, 2006 1:26 pm (#217 of 473)

Feel free to scroll up and use any of the Snape questions I gave to Dobby Socks except the Regulus Black question.

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Finn BV - Jul 20, 2006 2:03 pm (#218 of 473)
Edited Jul 20, 2006 3:13 pm

Herm oh ninny, there is also the “What would you ask JKR?”   thread down below. And if you can't submit to the other two, oh well. At least you're giving to Jo. Ask around some of your friends, family, and especially teachers if they'd ask anything of the authors!

EDIT: One question which just arose on the Marietta Edgecombe thread is, what happens if a wizard fails to comply with a binding magical contract? For example, what would have happened if they hadn't listened to Crouch, Sr., and Harry hadn't competed in the Triwizard Tournament?

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Chemyst - Jul 20, 2006 4:17 pm (#219 of 473)

Where do phoenixes come from? Are they re-incarnations of great wizards/witches? (I'm trying to somehow work that into one question!)

How about–
Is a phoenix a reincarnation of a great witch/wizard; or if not, what is its origin?

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Stephanie M. - Jul 20, 2006 7:25 pm (#220 of 473)

Is anyone asking/asked: 1.) Who was the last Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who taught for more than a year?

(I feel like that is similar to some other questions.)

2.) What is the title of Book 7?

(I like that one! LOL)

3.) Was Snape in love with Lily? And if so, did she ever love him?

4.) Will we see more of Fawkes, or is he out of the picture?

5.) Will Professor McGonagall continue to teach Transfiguration, or will someone replace her?

6.) Does Harry own Godric's Hollow?

7.) Will Crookshanks be useful to Harry in Book 7? OR Will Crookshanks have a bigger part in Book 7 than in previous books?

(I think I'd need to revise this question because I really like the idea of asking about Crookshanks' role, but I need to figure out how I want to word it.)

Okay, I think that's enough for now. I'll figure out which ones I want to ask her. I also have to ask my sister if she has any questions because she is going with me, and she is also a Potter fan, so I'll just ask her if she has anything to add.

Tell me what you think about these questions. I came up with them pretty quickly, so I didn't get a chance to really see if anyone asked them or not. I'll go through old posts to see about Irving and King questions.

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Finn BV - Jul 20, 2006 7:41 pm (#221 of 473)

Steph, I've checked -- I don't think there are any Irving or King questions left except: I’m aware of how problematic adaptations can be, especially if the author isn’t involved, but was there one, or a few specific things you can share with us that bothered you most about Kubrick’s version of The Shining?

However, that could make Stephen King upset, since it appears he didn't like the movie in question. So, you can go through the old ones and double up the favorites of people, so that they may have more of a chance to be asked!

So about your JKR questions:

Number 1 would simply have her invent the name of the DADA teacher who taught the year that Voldemort approached DD about the job. Hehe about #2… Three and four are good, because I think the answer is obvious for the most part, but I'm curious to see what she has to say. I really hope she answers #5 -- that would be some good information! And… Godric's Hollow is not the house, it's the village the house was in -- so I doubt he owns the village. And LOL, I remember you saying you liked Crookshanks as the HBP. There you go again! PS: Word #7 like #3.

Definitely #5. Go with #3 and 4 next, in that order.

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Soul Search - Jul 21, 2006 12:17 pm (#222 of 473)

I'm thinking it is about time for JKR to give us the title of Book Seven and Radio City would be a good event to do it.

Now, it appears that there will be a number forumites there. I ask a forumite with a laptop and wireless access to post the title immediately to help those of us less fortunate who couldn't be there.

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Finn BV - Jul 21, 2006 2:02 pm (#223 of 473)

Soul Search, we'll do our best!

Steph, if you still have room, can you PLEASE ask something about Madam Pince: something incorporating how long she's worked for Hogwarts, and if there's more of her to come?

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haymoni - Jul 21, 2006 5:15 pm (#224 of 473)

Yes - something like:

There is currently a theory circulating around that Madame Pince, the librarian, is actually Snape's mother, Eileen Prince, and is in hiding at Hogwarts. Is this one of those theories that you can safely shut down, like Alice Longbottom's bubblegum wrappers and Snape being a vampire, or is there actually something to this?

Gosh - it's hard to remember who is Pince and who is Prince.

Did I get it right??? Is it really Eileen??

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Soul Search - Jul 22, 2006 7:45 am (#225 of 473)

Thanks Finn BV.

We who are less fortunate will greatly appreciate it. I may even plan to stay online when the talk is going on.

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Gina R Snape - Jul 22, 2006 11:48 am (#226 of 473)

Does anybody know if there's been any more news regarding a live internet feed during the readings on 8/1 and 8/2?

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Finn BV - Jul 22, 2006 11:48 am (#227 of 473)

I hadn't heard that news in the first place Gina, so I don't know.

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Herm oh ninny - Jul 22, 2006 1:14 pm (#228 of 473)

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

Chemyst- Thanks for re-working my phoenix question! That's how I will submit it

Haymoni- I love your Madam Pince question. I am going to submit it! Thanks!

Gina- Thanks for offering your list of Snape questions. I am going to use your Snape/Dark Arts question....or rather a version of it: Where did Snape's fascination with the dark arts come from?

Once again, thanks for all the suggestions!!

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haymoni - Jul 22, 2006 2:21 pm (#229 of 473)

Thanks for submitting it, Herm oh ninny.

With all this talk about what to ask, I've kind of lost the focus.

What is the purpose of this gathering of authors? I know it is a fundraiser, but are you supposed to ask questions about whatever you want or are these questions supposed to be about the authors themselves?

I just didn't know what the "instructions" were. I'm sure you will be fine with the questions you've asked, but it would really stink if you all got there and the questions they chose were about the authors' influences or how they feel they can contribute to society.

Not that we wouldn't want to know these things, but sheesh! What a let down.

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Lexicon Steve - Jul 22, 2006 10:28 pm (#230 of 473)

I'd like to ask her if the kind of detailed commentary we feature on the Lexicon is an annoyance to her or not. I'll keep writing it either way, but I'm curious what she thinks of the Reader's Guides.

I know that cameras are not allowed in the event. I don't know about computers, but I very much doubt that they'll be allowed either. I'll have my cell phone, of course, but aside from that, no hardware.

I'll be there August 1, row 15, center.

Steve

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 Finn BV - Jul 22, 2006 10:34 pm (#231 of 473)

Steve, please come and say hi to us! While it seems most of those attending will also go out for coffee or something later, some (like me) are bound to their parents and can't go out afterwards. Apparently, there are three different Forumers sitting in Orchestra 2, Row N, on the 1st. Hope to see you there!

And about your question – didn't Jo say when she gave you the fan site award that she admits to checking up on facts at the Lex?

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Gina R Snape - Jul 23, 2006 7:20 am (#232 of 473)

Steve! Glad you'll be there. I'll look out for you. You are welcome to come out afterwards, to the Starbucks on 7th Ave and 51st St. Some Lexiconers, and some I know from other Potter arenas, will be there.

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Mediwitch - Jul 23, 2006 7:31 am (#233 of 473)

Oh, you all are so lucky to be going!

Just a thought for those who haven't submitted your questions yet...watch out for questions Jo can answer with "yes" or "no"! She's cagey enough to give the monosyllabic answer and leave us thirsting for more.

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Chemyst - Jul 25, 2006 11:49 am (#234 of 473)

but it would really stink if you all got there and the questions they chose were about the authors' influences or how they feel they can contribute to society. – haymoni

I'd been silently wondering similar thoughts... but now that you brought it up, it is not hard to imagine that some King-lovin' intern who is way too "sophisticated" to read a kid's book gets asked to pre-screen the questions. Whereupon they summarily decide that all the 'trivial' things we'd want to know don't have enough 'universal appeal.'

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haymoni - Jul 25, 2006 12:46 pm (#235 of 473)

Well, if it was a King-lovin' intern, then said intern should know that Stephen King reads Harry Potter too.

But I'm still worried.

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Gina R Snape - Jul 25, 2006 1:38 pm (#236 of 473)

I'm worried nobody has gotten back to me regarding my questions. I assume this is true for others too, as no one has made mention of hearing back. Hopefully the authors will look at the questions and decide. But yes, I could easily see interns being put in charge of prioritizing the questions.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Jul 26, 2006 5:52 am (#237 of 473)

You're welcome, Dobby Socks. I am really glad the link worked for those of you who tried it.

Steve, taking into consideration the fact that there will be 4 Lex members and 1 MIT (Member In Training - Priscilla) within a 10-seat span, you'd be killing several birds with one stone (so to speak). Also, it would be nice to meet the person who put together the site. Of course, it will most likely be a bit chaotic.

Herm oh ninny and Finn, I am pretty confident we'll get to chat if not for a moment or two before things quiet down.

Gina, looking forward to meeting the woman who captured Snape's heart at Starbuck's.

Okay, so now I'm allowing myself to get excited. . .ever so slightly.

Maria

EDIT: Gina, I did not get the feeling after submitting the questions that there should be any type of follow up other than the confirmation page after submitting them.

(Olivia is laughing at your Snape Crisps. I now must make a trip to Trader Joe's for some.)

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Gina R Snape - Jul 26, 2006 6:53 am (#238 of 473)

HH11, I am looking forward to meeting you too. However, I did not capture Snape's heart at Starbucks.   He tends to shy away from muggle coffee houses.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Jul 26, 2006 9:20 am (#239 of 473)

LOL (envisioning Snape in a muggle coffee house) - I guess I should have proofread my post. I meant to say that I am looking forward to meeting you (the person who captured Snape's heart) at Starbuck's - not intending that you met him there.

Maria

Oh yeah and just for fun, I picked up some of your hubby's treats. They're not bad but yikes - the grams of fat - I guess they haven't heard of draining the oil on paper before packaging them.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Jul 28, 2006 7:07 am (#240 of 473)

I just posted a pic of Olivia, Priscilla and Terror I mean, Trevor in my profile. Gina, I know you will be at Starbuck's, not sure about Herm oh ninny, and Finn is a no. Is anyone else from the Lex going afterward?

EDIT: I tried to reduce the size to no avail (as you can tell) from Photobucket. Sorry it's so big.

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Stephanie M. - Jul 28, 2006 3:33 pm (#241 of 473)

I tried to submit:

5.) Will Professor McGonagall continue to teach Transfiguration, or will someone replace her?

3.) Was Snape in love with Lily? And if so, did she ever love him?

4.) Will we see more of Fawkes, or is he out of the picture?

7.) Will Crookshanks be useful to Harry in Book 7, and if he does, will he have a bigger part in Book 7 than in Prisoner of Azkiban?

I tried to submit them, but I keep getting the "unexpected error has occurred" warning pop up. I then called up Customer Service, and they said that they couldn't do anything about it, and that I would have to continue trying on my computer. I will call them back though, They haven't heard the end of me!

My sister came up with Irving and King questions, but if you guys can come up with anymore, I'll try to submit them.

Edit: YAY!! I got to submit 1 set of questions!! Except it says that I have to wait until I get to submit more questions for the other tickets that I have.

_____________________________________          

Finn BV - Jul 28, 2006 8:07 pm (#242 of 473)

Gina, do you still have extra tickets? Or know somebody who's offering them? Or are there still tickets left?

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Gina R Snape - Jul 28, 2006 8:08 pm (#243 of 473)

Finn, I have found takers for all of the tickets. However, I do believe you can still purchase tickets online.

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Finn BV - Jul 29, 2006 8:45 am (#244 of 473)

Thanks, Gina.

I read this here: Celebrity fans, including movie stars Sigourney Weaver, Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman, are expected to attend.

Wow! That would be cool!

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haymoni - Jul 29, 2006 10:43 am (#245 of 473)

Oh I am so jealous of you all!!

Just a few more days!

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Stephanie M. - Jul 29, 2006 1:22 pm (#246 of 473)

I got to submit my second set of questions! YAY

I submitted:

Will Professor McGonagall continue to teach Transfiguration, or will someone replace her?

Was Snape in love with Lily? And if so, did she ever love him?

Oh, I can't wait!!

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Gina R Snape - Jul 29, 2006 1:28 pm (#247 of 473)

Oh, my Finn. Thanks for posting that. It's really going to be so exciting!

And JKR will have a lovely time in the Hamptons. Where I assume she will be staying is a particularly secluded area that the very rich love to go. The beaches are gorgeous and there's lots of nature. I hope she makes it to some of the Long Island wineries, but I'm doubting she will as she might attract too much attention.

Anyway, I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Lina - Jul 29, 2006 2:05 pm (#248 of 473)

Is anybody going to ask how far has she come with the last book?

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HungarianHorntail11 - Jul 29, 2006 3:44 pm (#249 of 473)

I am a bit apprehensive about listing our questions to JKR, as I don't want to disappoint anyone, but here goes:

1. Can we find all of the six horcruxes in the first six books?

2. In an interview, you mentioned that Dumbledore's ancestry would be a profitable line of inquiry. Would you kindly give us a tidbit of information regarding his ancestry that would tie us over until Book 7 is released?

3. Was Professor Trelawney absent from Dumbledore's funeral because she has been abducted or was she simply not mentioned though she did attend?

I hope one of them makes it into the final group.

Maria

Great link, Finn - we can't wait!

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Lavandula - Jul 29, 2006 7:38 pm (#250 of 473)

HH11- question #2 and #3 are great.

I am so thrilled for all of you: Finn, Dobby Socks, Stephanie, HH11, Herm oh ninny, Steve and anyone else!!!!!!!!

Have a wonderful time. More of us would go if we could, so keep us informed of all the details.

Any more word on way to listen to this as it takes place?

Cathy

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Finn BV - Jul 29, 2006 7:39 pm (#251 of 473)

Lina, I think we're just hoping she'll volunteer that info – and besides, most of the people who are going who aren't as devoted as we are will probably ask something like that. She is doing two readings and a press conference, so hopefully some time she will mention that!

I think we should all relist the JKR questions that we submitted, one last time, so everybody can see the final submissions, and have them in one place.

My two Jo questions:

What are Dumbledore's and Sirius' exact birthdays and how come they have never been featured on your web site like most of the rest of the main characters?

We learned in Half-Blood Prince that Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers last only one year before Voldemort's jinx takes its toll. How come, in Philosopher's Stone, Percy knows about Professor Quirrell, if he didn't hold the job the previous year? Why didn’t Dumbledore announce that Quirrell was a new teacher or was teaching a different subject?

EDIT: Cathy, I doubt it will be broadcast live. I think you'll just have to wait for us, TLC and MN to report back!

EDIT 2: I finally got around to it – for those going who want to recognize me, photo in my profile.

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Mediwitch - Jul 29, 2006 8:54 pm (#252 of 473)

Nice questions, Maria and Finn!

Hope you all have a blast!

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Jewel - Jul 30, 2006 8:30 am (#253 of 473)

I must say that I am envious of everyone going to Radio City. Best wishes to you all, have a good time, and report back right away!

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Gina R Snape - Jul 30, 2006 6:58 pm (#254 of 473)

A friend of mine has a ticket to sell for Tuesday, August 1st. First Mezzanine Row A. $115

If anyone is interested, please let me know asap and I will put the two of you in touch with one another.

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Finn BV - Jul 30, 2006 7:03 pm (#255 of 473)

Too bad, my friend was looking for tickets but decided to give up, and now they aren't that interested.

TWO DAYS! EEK!

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Tazzygirl - Jul 30, 2006 9:06 pm (#256 of 473)

**Is wishing she knew how to Apparate**

Hope you all have a wonderful time!!

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Herm oh ninny - Jul 31, 2006 6:28 am (#257 of 473)

Hey All! I can't believe it's tomorrow!! I am so excited! Alas, I will not be carrying my new Hogwarts Book Bag because the rules for Radio City won't allow large bags and stuff like that When I get home tonight I will post a pic of myself. (Try not to scream in horror! ) My sisters and I are definitely going to Starbucks afterwards and are looking forward to meeting Gina, all the Hungarian Horntails, Finn (hopefully since he won't be at Starbucks) and anyone else who is going!

1 day left...1 day left <-----Doing a little happy dance

EDIT: Oops! I forgot Steph! I know you are going on the 2nd, but you had said that you might pop by, so I look forward to hopefully meeting you too!

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haymoni - Jul 31, 2006 8:40 am (#258 of 473)

I think you all should break into "Happy Birthday" when Jo walks on stage.

You could bring packs of notebook paper - just in case she ran out again or forgot to pack some while on her trip!

Could you imagine her being stuck next to a Forum Member on her plane ride over???

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Finn BV - Jul 31, 2006 8:45 am (#259 of 473)

ROFL, haymoni! That reminds me – I need to take a pad of paper to write down whatever she says!

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Kneazle - Jul 31, 2006 10:03 am (#260 of 473)
Edited by Jul 31, 2006 10:03 am

Mmmmmm.....Wormtail!

!Kneazle! GREEN with envy!! Just remember all of us poor smoes who couldn't go and have a latte for us.

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Gina R Snape - Jul 31, 2006 11:05 am (#261 of 473)

REMINDER FOLKS!!!!

We will meet at the Starbucks on 51st St. and 7th Avenue both nights, after the event. It is a straight walk west from Radio City.

Anyone who doesn't know what I look like can go here:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

or here (hair pinned up) [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I'll be wearing my Snapecast t-shirt on Tuesday and something else suitably slytherin on Wednesday.

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Dr Filibuster - Jul 31, 2006 11:48 am (#262 of 473)

Have a wonderful evening/evenings you lucky lucky New Yorkers.

The rest of us will be here waiting for your reports.

She's GOT to give us the title of book 7. Don't let her leave until she does. Use your best Slytherin techniques or even legilimens if you have to. You have been practising, haven't you?

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Gina R Snape - Jul 31, 2006 11:53 am (#263 of 473)

Heee. Indeed I have.

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Finn BV - Jul 31, 2006 2:52 pm (#264 of 473)

Of course, I'll do my best to see if we can meet up afterwards, but if not, have fun without me guys! Remember that I'm going to try to act spur-of-the-moment when I meet you all! And Gina, where are you sitting, anyway? Most of us are in Row N.

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Chemyst - Jul 31, 2006 4:03 pm (#265 of 473)

Maria,
 For your trip into NYC, I wanted to give you this Craving for a Starbuck's Coffee  Charisma & Finesse Charm to use when you meet Mother Finn:
Zap!   —     *  *  *  * *  *   swish & stir  


Use it wisely.

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haymoni - Jul 31, 2006 6:11 pm (#266 of 473)

Yes, please let Mother Finn not think we are a bunch of weirdos.

She can find that out later.

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DJ Evans - Jul 31, 2006 6:12 pm (#267 of 473)

I hope everyone that is going has the best time & will learn SO much. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't love to be right there with you all. Have a fantastic time & don't forget to tell us the tiniest detail. lol Personally I'm hungry for anything on HP right about now -- it's been so long since we've had anything new or it sure seems like it.

Later, Deb

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Finn BV - Jul 31, 2006 6:39 pm (#268 of 473)

LOL! Thanks for the concerns, Chemyst and haymoni!

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Gina R Snape - Jul 31, 2006 6:54 pm (#269 of 473)

Finn, I have a choice of seats for the first night. I will either be in Orch 4 Row G or Orch 3 Row M depending on what's better.

For the second night I will be in Orch 6 Row LL.

Which night are you going again? I've completely lost track of who is going when.

_____________________________________          

Finn BV - Jul 31, 2006 6:55 pm (#270 of 473)

Basically everybody is going tomorrow. Stephanie is going the 2nd.

_____________________________________          

Stephanie M. - Jul 31, 2006 7:43 pm (#271 of 473)

I will drop by before you guys get to go in tomorrow. I'll probably be wearing a skirt since I am working, but I'll post what I'm wearing tomorrow. I won't stay very long because I'm not actually going to see Jo tomorrow. And of course I'll be there on the 2nd with my sister, and I'm sure my sister wouldn't mind if we stop by the Starbucks afterwards.

I'm soo excited! You guys will have to give a very detailed message about everything that happens tomorrow, and I will bring a note pad on the 2nd.

_____________________________________          

Tazzygirl - Jul 31, 2006 8:33 pm (#272 of 473)

**Is holding Stephanie and Finn to their promises of bringing a notepad each to the readings** I want details, details, details!!!

_____________________________________          

HungarianHorntail11 - Jul 31, 2006 8:45 pm (#273 of 473)

Chemyst - LOL. I will do my best, but it's up to Finn, as we certainly don't want him to get into trouble with his mom.

I will have on a dark blue tank with black lace overlay, black skirt and toffee-colored shoes. Priscilla will have a white skirt and pink and white striped blazer. Olivia will be in khaki pants, and a white button-down shirt with a green tank underneath.

We are leaving for the city around 4p.m. in anticipation of traffic. We'll be taking the FDR to 63rd St. exit. As I am NYC-impaired, I sure hope I don't take a wrong turn.

Love the pics of you all - Gina, Finn, Herm oh ninny - look forward to meeting you and the other members! Glad to learn you could make it to Starbuck's, Herm oh ninny. Finn, the tags Olivia printed out are a bit small (3" x 1"). If we have time, she'll print out larger ones which we'll wear with lanyards.

Maria

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Herm oh ninny - Jul 31, 2006 10:51 pm (#274 of 473)

Hey guys! Here is a picture of me. Hopefully all of us in row N will convince the people sitting in between us to move so that we can all sit together!!

My sisters and I will be driving in early (around 3:30 to 4:00) and we are going to have dinner at Carmines. We plan on walking over to Radio City early, say 6:45 the latest. I can't wait to see you all! Well, off to bed. Tomorrow is a big day and I need my rest

EDIT: when I went to change my avatar, I noticed that my premium membership expires on JULY 13, 2007!! How weird is that? I will have to make sure I renew before going off to watch Order of the Phoenix!

_____________________________________          

haymoni - Aug 1, 2006 5:25 am (#275 of 473)

Have a great time everyone!

I hope Stephen King and the other guy aren't too offended by over enthusiastic Potties!

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Snuffles - Aug 1, 2006 5:40 am (#276 of 473)

Lol haymoni.

It will be like having a classroom full of Hermione's!

Have a good time everybody

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azi - Aug 1, 2006 6:58 am (#277 of 473)

I hope everyone has a great time seeing JKR! Remember to cheer the other authors just as loudly (they're probably just as good!)!

**Is going to be there in spirit**

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Elanor - Aug 1, 2006 7:52 am (#278 of 473)

Have a great time there everybody!

I'm sure Stephen King will understand, after all he is a fan too!

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Finn BV - Aug 1, 2006 7:55 am (#279 of 473)

John Irving seems like an old grump. Sorry! I can't imagine he's got a big fan following, but I suppose I'll be proved wrong…

Herm oh ninny, I still see the picture of your nephew (I think, nephew, right?). I don't see you. Unless that is you and you're about 3 years old!

I won't be getting there until 7:10 or so because of the times of the trains. I'm pulling into Grand Central at 7, and then Mom and I will meet up there, and then we'll walk over to Radio City.

I am so excited!!

_____________________________________          

Gina R Snape - Aug 1, 2006 8:26 am (#280 of 473)

Finn, the show "starts" at 7:30pm. You might want to hail a cab from Grand Central (if you can) so you don't have to rush in the heat. NYC is HOT HOT HOT today. It's already in the 90s and humid and will be up to 101F today.

_____________________________________          

Finn BV - Aug 1, 2006 9:14 am (#281 of 473)

I know – I took one step outside and I hopped right back in and turned the fans way up.

I'm thinking I might grab an earlier train, one that arrives at either 6 or 6:30. That way we have time to get there, and to see all of you!

_____________________________________          

HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 1, 2006 9:59 am (#282 of 473)
Edited Aug 1, 2006 10:36 am

Herm oh ninny, I don't see the picture either.

Finn, maybe you can print out a Lex tag and ask mom when you meet up if she'd mind if you wore it. After all, she'll be with you, so maybe she won't mind.

Just got back from running errands. We are going for a swim outside in an effort to tire Trevor out a bit.

Our neighbors just called us and said they just purchased tickets and are coming! We'll be meeting up with them in the city because her daughter is interning for MSNBC and doesn't get out until after 5p.m. I told her mom to have her try and get a press pass. Even if only she gets in, that would be neat! **fingers crossed**

I am hoping we don't hit traffic.

EDIT: Finn, do you think they'll allow cameras? I wanted to bring one for pics with the forumers but didn't think they'd allow them into the Hall. I certainly don't want to have to return to the parking garage to retrieve it, either.

LOL! Yes, parachutes are made much safer nowadays!

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Finn BV - Aug 1, 2006 10:11 am (#283 of 473)

Okay, confirmed, I'll be getting into Grand Central at 6:30.

Maria, I think you should recognize me anyway though – we're in the same row, you have a pic, and I'll be carrying a camera and a pad of yellow paper!

_____________________________________          

haymoni - Aug 1, 2006 10:15 am (#284 of 473)

So...have the sleuths figured out what hotel Jo is staying at yet?

Or is she going to fly in and fly right back out again?

_____________________________________        

Gina R Snape - Aug 1, 2006 10:17 am (#285 of 473)

haymoni, she is staying in Long Island, out in the Hamptons at a private rental estate. I hope she doesn't get caught in traffic!

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haymoni - Aug 1, 2006 10:19 am (#286 of 473)

I'm sure they can helicopter her in!!!

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Good Evans - Aug 1, 2006 11:06 am (#287 of 473)

so jealous, I am sure you will all have brilliant time!!

AS Azi says we will all be with you in spirit and channelling legilimens to get the answers from Jo's head !!!!

7.30 - ok that will be half midnight here - hmmn - how can I send sleep patterns??????

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Stephanie M. - Aug 1, 2006 11:13 am (#288 of 473)

I will be at my sister's office for a little while after work, so I will stop by around 6:30 ish depending on what work my sister is giving me (she said that she will put me to work).

I am wearing a ton of blue. A bright blue short sleeved shirt, tight light blue pants (that look white in the sun light, but they really are blue... so many people tell me that they aren't blue, but I can assure you that they are blue... ), big blue earrings, blue shoes, and a bright blue bag. So I think I'll be pretty easy to spot. I also have reddish, brownish, blondish hair that is half up, half down (with a little pinkish, maroonish clip holding half of my hair up).

Wow, that was very descriptive.

AHHH!!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR TONIGHT WHEN ALL OF YOU WILL BE THERE!!!!

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 1, 2006 11:46 am (#289 of 473)
Edited Aug 1, 2006 1:02 pm

Will they allow cameras? I'd really like to get a pic of the Lex members together.

EDIT:

Kristina, I made room in the bottom of my bag (the bag is not so big and the camera is not a slim one). If they find it, can they take it away, though?

PS: we'll be wearing lanyards with the beige HP Lex logo.

_____________________________________          

Tazzygirl - Aug 1, 2006 12:02 pm (#290 of 473)

HH- you can always do the 'put the camera at the bottom of the purse or bag and pile a bunch of purse-like or bag-like stuff on top'. I always just wrapped my camera up in a jacket or sweatshirt. Do you have a small, medium or big camera? Don't know if they'll be thoroughly checking bags though...

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Finn BV - Aug 1, 2006 2:21 pm (#291 of 473)

Last post on the forum before I see J. K. Rowling!! Ahhhh!! If anybody who's going still reads this, I'm wearing an orange striped Oxford shirt. Bye!

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Julie Aronson - Aug 1, 2006 4:54 pm (#292 of 473)

jealous...Jealous...JEALOUS!!!!!

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Stephanie M. - Aug 1, 2006 5:22 pm (#293 of 473)

AHHH!!!!

I'm freaking out!

I saw Emerson from MuggleNet, and a few other people, but their backs were turned, so I couldn't tell who they were. Melissa was somewhere, but I didn't see her.

I briefly saw Finn, and I was looking for everyone else, but there were 2 lines and I wasn't sure which line you guys would have been in. So I quickly searched for people, but couldn't find anyone else.

Again, I'm FREAKING OUT!

I can't wait for the reports back!

And I REALLY cant wait for tomorrow!

_____________________________________        

Ponine - Aug 1, 2006 5:26 pm (#294 of 473)

Hello?? :hello, hello: (echo) I feel like Cinderella who had to stay home while the others left for the ball.... :sniffles: I am so incredibly, insanely jealous of everyone who got to go... But I'm really glad that we are well represented, that they will tell us everything that happened, and that we are bound to get some good questions in... :toddles back to try that pesky apparition business one more time:

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Tazzygirl - Aug 1, 2006 6:18 pm (#295 of 473)

**joins Ponine in the Apparition practicing**

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Ponine - Aug 1, 2006 6:46 pm (#296 of 473)

**picks something off of the ground, panting and feeling slightly dizzy**

Is this your eyebrow, Taz?

_____________________________________          

Stephanie M. - Aug 1, 2006 6:57 pm (#297 of 473)

When are they supposed to get back?? I'm dying here! (But I guess it's a good thing that they aren't back yet because that means that they are asking a lot of questions!)

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Lavandula - Aug 1, 2006 7:11 pm (#298 of 473)

Where do we need to be to hear from them? I can't wait...

So many jitters and wishes for a successful evening!!!!!

_____________________________________          

Ponine - Aug 1, 2006 7:20 pm (#299 of 473)

I know, I'm waiting and waiting, and I need to do laundry really really bad...

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Lavandula - Aug 1, 2006 7:22 pm (#300 of 473)

I came in from painting (even though the lighting was bad this late at night) thinking it was time to hear from someone!!

Help us out here... Please.

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geauxtigers - Aug 1, 2006 7:31 pm (#301 of 473)

You know one day I will learn the proper way to apparate or do summoning charms... **ACCIO Book 7 title** Okay now the 3 D's...

I'm so jealous!! AHHHHHH! Its 10:30 in NYC, shouldn't someone be back by now? Or not, keep asking questions people!!

I keep getting really excited feeling everytime I refresh the forum....

**taps fingers waiting for a report....twitch fidget shake**

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virginiaelizabeth - Aug 1, 2006 7:46 pm (#302 of 473)

I must agree with everyone here, WE NEED A REPORT!!!!

**walks away trying to summon the whole Radio City building to Louisiana**

Didn't work........ I'll try apparation now **crack** nope didn't work either!

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Tazzygirl - Aug 1, 2006 8:10 pm (#303 of 473)

Thanks, Ponine! **tries to glue eyebrow back on** Apparition is definitely harder than it looks... I think I forgot one of the 3 D's.

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Stephanie M. - Aug 1, 2006 8:30 pm (#304 of 473)

I text messaged Finn about 20 mins ago, and he didn't respond. So he is either still in there with his phone off, or he's on a train back to his house.

But I also only texted him, "Ahh!" So he might not have responded because I didn't really say much. LOL

*shakes, twitch, twitch, twitch, screams, faints*

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virginiaelizabeth - Aug 1, 2006 8:33 pm (#305 of 473)

AHHH Stephanie you should call him!!!!!!!!!! Make him talk!!! hehe

EDIT: LOL I didn't read that completely!! **pours ice water on Stephanie to revive her**

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geauxtigers - Aug 1, 2006 8:38 pm (#306 of 473)

I don't think she can, it appears she has fainted!

I think you got the point by saying AHHHH!

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Finn BV - Aug 1, 2006 8:44 pm (#307 of 473)

Okay, okay… I'm back!

I'm a bit sad because I didn't get to meet up with the others. I briefly spoke to Gina and barely waved to the Hungarian Horntails.

I did my best… as I entered the row, I saw who I was sure were Maria and Olivia and Priscilla, and they waved to me, and I sort of waved back. Mom asked if I thought I saw somebody I knew, but I sort of said that I thought it was somebody, but wasn't entirely sure. Then I staged an incident where I said I remembered some Forum members would also be coming. Mom asked how they would know it was me, and I had to say I wouldn't know. So I asked her if I could go over to find out if they were from the forum, and that was nixed. Alas, I didn't think it wise to pursue the subject.

Then I was afraid they would come over and introduce themselves, and as much as I did want that, I didn't want it at the same time because that would be a bit awkward. So, I had to keep my face away from looking down the row.

I saw Gina in her Snapecast T-shirt, so I excused myself from my mom to go to the bathroom. I went out into the lobby where I saw Gina, we introduced each other, and I told her how any hopes of meeting up were, sadly, crushed. I also asked her if she could go over to Maria and family to tell her not to approach me, but I don't know if that happened.

They're probably just getting home now; the show ended at around 9:45. I completely understand my mom's decisions, but I just wish they hadn't gone that way.

Anyway, to the good stuff…… I saw J. K. Rowling and I am completely excited!!!

She read from Half-Blood Prince, the memory where Harry and Dumbledore see Dumbledore at the orphanage, telling Tom Riddle he has a place at Hogwarts.

The questions were rather disappointing… I wrote them all down though… (Of course, none of ours were asked so they were boring.) BTW, Merope is three syllables (Mer-oh-pee, not Mer-ope as some, including me, thought). This is just a paraphrase, but it includes all the details.

What would Hermione see in the Mirror of Erised? At this point in time, she would see the trio together, following Harry to wherever he needs to go, safe and unscathed. However, she might also see herself "entwined" with a certain other boy "who I think you can all guess." (This was the first time Jo had been asked this question.)

Can Muggles brew potions if they know the steps and have all the ingredients? No, you need magical ability, because at a certain point you have to use a wand. However, she agreed that Potions seemed the most "Muggle-friendly" subject.

Somebody asked about Draco redeeming himself. She laughed at girls' obsession of Draco, and said that basically anybody can redeem himself, though if a psychiatrist sat down with Lord Voldemort, he would call him a psychopath. Harry thinks, and Jo does too, that Draco would never have killed — here she paused and laughed that if she said the name of the character she wanted to, some "poor kid who was pages from the end of Half-Blood Prince would let out an anguished cry saying 'Noooo!'". It was quite funny. — well, Dumbledore.

Why does Ollivander use those three main wand cores, phoenix, unicorn, and dragon heartstring? They are, besides being Jo's favorites, the three most powerful substances for a wand. We will learn more about a wizard's relation to his wand in Book 7. (Audience: "Ooooooh!")

More in a sec as I catch my breath…

EDIT: Now all the authors were asked questions. Stephen King is scared of everything, ironically.

John Irving's The Fourth Hand was his wife's idea – they saw news of the first hand transplant, and she said that if he ever died and they performed a hand transplant, she would want to go visit his hand on whoever had it next. He thought this was creepy and so he wrote a book about it, I guess.

JKR used to resist going online about fan sites, but now she does a lot. She used to hate going to Amazon to see her books, because she would scroll down past all the good reviews and read the one-star reviews which panned it. She also mentioned how one day, when she Googled Harry Potter (audience laughed/groaned), she was amazed to see how much there was! She mentioned "the 'shipping debates" and explained what that was to the 18+ crowd. She said "There's 'Harry/Hermione' 'shippers" (all present in the crowd went crazy) and then she said, "You're still out there?" She mentioned the "Ron/Hermione" 'shippers and the entire audience clapped and shouted. Then she talked about the odd pairings, but said she wouldn't even go in to those. (Somebody up on the balcony called out somebody with Morfin, I think, and JKR commented on that. I think it might have been Snape, but I really couldn't hear. Then more people called out random pairings but she ignored them.

Stephen King writes his stories to find out the end, not because he knows them. He gets a plot and wants to see how it will turn out, so he has to write it.

John Irving rewrites all the time, and doesn't use a computer so that he can spend more time rewriting.

Last was a dad who thanked JKR for getting kids to read in the Internet age, and for giving his daughter a role model in studious, hard-working Hermione, and his daughter who asked something rather boring, I don't remember what. Nothing vital. More in a sec…

Overall, it was really fun, except that I didn't get to meet up with anybody. I did see Steph, as she said, but didn't see any MuggleNetters or TLCers, nor Lexicon Steve. Herm oh ninny was in my row, I thought, but I didn't have a picture of her so I didn't know what she looked like, and we didn't end up making any contact.

The celebrities were GREAT. There was Whoopi Goldberg to introduce the whole thing, Kathy Bates to introduce Stephen King, somebody who I don't know and whose name I couldn't hear to introduce John Irving (sorry!), and Jon Stewart to introduce JKR! He joked that he was here because he had kids. One was five months old, and has been waiting online for three months for book 7. Everybody was great. It was a surprise that they were coming, so that was really fun when they walked on.

Each author had a little set to themselves, on which they sat and read from. In the end they were all on with moderator Soledad O'Brien.

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Kneazle - Aug 1, 2006 8:55 pm (#308 of 473)
Edited by Aug 1, 2006 8:59 pm

SmileyCentral.com !Kneazle! "Mmmm....Wormtail!"

Breathe later! Talk NOW!!!! LOL!SmileyCentral.com

Sorry...{wiping foam from corner of mouth....} just a bit rabid for information......

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mooncalf - Aug 1, 2006 9:04 pm (#309 of 473)

Thanks for the recap, Finn!

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geauxtigers - Aug 1, 2006 9:05 pm (#310 of 473)

YAY!!! I could hardly contain my twitching any longer! Thanks Finn that sounds like it was so much fun!!! My mom would have been the same as your too if it makes you feel better!

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Madame Pomfrey - Aug 1, 2006 9:07 pm (#311 of 473)

Thanks so much, Finn. I'm sorry you couldn't meet up with everyone, Bless your heart. Your mom is lucky she is so well respected. My kids would probably have dumped me.

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Stephanie M. - Aug 1, 2006 9:08 pm (#312 of 473)

LOL YAY!!

I'm so disappointed with the Hermione answer! Because it was too obvious. (I was also a shipper of Harry/Hermione, but I always knew that Ginny and Harry and Ron and Hermione would be together. I really like Harry and Ginny now, but not so much Ron and Hermione. No offense to those shippers, but it was just my opinion from a long time ago. And I do like Hermione and Ron together, but not as much as Harry and Ginny.

I want juicy details! LOL I can't wait for tomorrow!

I liked the answers that King and Irving gave.

Edit: Accidently posted this before I was ready to post it.

Finn, I'm sorry about your mom not letting you see people, but it's understandable because meeting people that you found on the internet is not always the best thing... And parents are naturally protective over their children. LOL

Thanks for the recap, Finn!

(I think Emerson is pretty. LOL I saw him and the backs of people, like I said before, but I just had to add that girly moment.)

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virginiaelizabeth - Aug 1, 2006 9:12 pm (#313 of 473)

Yeah my mom is wayyyy freakish about that stuff!! SHe would probably have a fit if she knew that I've told people over the internet that I live in Louisiana! This is the main reason that I can't get premium membership...even though that makes no difference in the information I can't say! Thanks for the recap!!!! I can relax now!! I was hoping for a title to book 7 but alas! earwax!

LOL about Emmerson Steph!!

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Stephanie M. - Aug 1, 2006 9:15 pm (#314 of 473)

Oh, and I added in my profile a link to a picture that I have on Facebook. I got frustrated with not being able to figure out how to put it on my profile without the picture looking distorted. So you can copy that link and see a pic of me.

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Gina R Snape - Aug 1, 2006 9:26 pm (#315 of 473)

Well I'm back and I have to say that Finn's description pretty much covers the event. I did record a couple of voice posts on my livejournal if people want to hear them. One is Jon Stewart saying his child is waiting in line for the next book and has been since she was 5 months old.

I was, of course, deeply disappointed at the utter lack of Snape questions posed. But I suppose there is always tomorrow.

I did see the HH11 and HH13, as well as Herm-o-ninny and a few of her friends after the show.

JKR has a lovely way of speaking and presenting herself. And she wore the most fabulous slytherin-inspired shoes. They were gold spiked heels with snakes on them.

The one thing I was surprised to hear her say was that if a muggle picked up a wand it might cause an explosion or something. I thought for sure it would just act like any old piece of wood. I am not surprised that potions requires magic, though.

Well, looking forward to tomorrow evening! I'll let you all know if there is anything different to report.

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Tazzygirl - Aug 1, 2006 9:40 pm (#316 of 473)

**imagines Finn perched frantically over his notepad and scribbling down everything JKR said, sweat breaking out on his forehead** Thanks for the information Finn! Too bad you couldn't talk to the HH's! (I can see where your mom is coming from though. )

Glad all who went had a wonderful time! (Gina and Stephanie- we expect a complete rundown of tomorrow night's excitement! )

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Finn BV - Aug 1, 2006 9:53 pm (#317 of 473)

Gina, I thought I heard you and your party when the girl who was asking about Draco's redemption mentioned Snape. I laughed so hard at Jon Stewart's joke about his 5-month-old.

Kathy Bates was quite funny, too.

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journeymom - Aug 1, 2006 10:24 pm (#318 of 473)

Big, jealous sigh from northern California.

ETA, didn't Stephen King and John Irving ask JKR not to kill off Harry?

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 1, 2006 10:29 pm (#319 of 473)

What a great recap Finn, I only have a bit to add:

The young girl whose father made the Hermoine role model comment asked what JKR would be doing if she had not been published and would she still be trying if she'd been rejected. Rowling's response was well, she nearly laughed, saying she did not know any authors who have been rejected for 16 years and then became published. Her overall reply was that she wanted this story out and would not quit on it.

John Irving's Hand story is being made into a film.

John Irving rewrites all the time, and doesn't use a computer so that he can spend more time rewriting. He also said hand writing is slower and gives you more time to work out/think about what you are writing. Unlike King, he knows the end of the story before he begins writing and essentially works from the end and makes his way to the beginning. He begins with a rough plot and fills in details afterward but his point seemed to be that he needed to know where the story and characters were going, hence worked his way backward. My guess is that this is most like JKR's writing, also.

It was also mentioned that 1000 questions were submitted this evening and that there were 6000 people in the audience. I thought that was quite a small percentage considering the type of gathering it was.

***Scratching my head wondering how Finn and Gina got back to post so quickly***

Finn, I did not see Gina until afterward at Starbuck's but had a pretty good read on the situation from the get-go and your posts had given the lead-in. Nevertheless, I think the girls and I all managed to get in a quick wave of acknowledgment which was great considering the situation - we tried to do so discreetly. (I hope that is not what prompted your mother to ask if you thought you saw someone from the forum.) The girls also knew to be discreet. I told them that if you were able to, you would come over and if not, we'd post later. It was still nice just to see people in something other than writing or a photo. And what a cutie-pie you are! I think I would have been hard-pressed to refrain myself from pinching your cheeks.

Gina, I am really glad we were able to hook up in Starbuck's. Your shirts were cool and one woman at a nearby table even asked about the Snapecast - Herm oh ninny explained it to her. It was really nice of you to let us answer some of the questions. We, too, were a bit disappointed with some of the questions asked at the Hall - I think our forummers had some great ones that were passed over. I really liked your pics (I spotted you immediately) but you were even better in person!

Herm oh ninny, it was great meeting you and your sisters (you are all lovely)! I wonder if the two women would have gladly switched seats with you to be on the end? LOL - I hadn't realized they were getting up so often! I am glad we managed to find the Starbuck's! Two NJ people trying to find their way in NYC - how funny is that? Hope you made it home safely.

The HH girls had a great time and really enjoyed the readings. (They were both practically asleep by the time we made it home.) The writers all seemed very personable which made me happy. I don't know why, but I was glad to see they were nice and seemingly unassuming.

Tazzy, I really think Finn was taking notes, because I don't think I could have remembered everything in such detail.

Well, I am happy to report that I did not get lost either going into or out of the city. It helped that my friend who was raised in NY kept calling me to find out where I was and how I was making out. She then proceeded to give me directions again. Hey, I can't say I blame her. I took my car to the car wash today and left the back of the sunroof open. It's a good thing it was 100 degrees, hence, dried quickly. I am such a  ** sometimes.

Maria

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Tazzygirl - Aug 1, 2006 10:44 pm (#320 of 473)

Thanks again to all of you for giving reports!!

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 1, 2006 10:57 pm (#321 of 473)

My pleasure, Kristina!

One more thing I would like to add (but not to my previous post, as it is far long enough).

It seems as though (to me) JKR is about halfway through the writing of the 7th book, plus the last chapter is pretty much written, so she is moving along in it at a fairly good clip. It helps that she knows the direction of the story. She also mentioned that she will leave a few loose strings and that some people would be unhappy about that and would ask for an 8th book. Finn and Gina what was your take on that comment?

It is now 2 a.m. and I have a long day tomorrow. Enjoy the RotD/N, everyone!

Maria

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geauxtigers - Aug 1, 2006 11:16 pm (#322 of 473)

Yeah thanks again guys! I was twitching, literally here wanting to know the verdict! And if she announced the title of book 7! Maybe tomorrow?!

**walks off thinking that it should be televised and we should get title numero sept!**

edit: Mills, me too! I want to know the title! It will give us a reason to come up with elaborate theories that will somehow wind their way into a Lex Forum version of book 7's plot! Gosh I can hardly wait! **jumping with excitement for something that probably isn't there**

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Amilia Smith - Aug 1, 2006 11:30 pm (#323 of 473)

Thank you all for your descriptions. It sounds like it was very exciting!

Hmmmmm . . . a few loose strings . . . that means we can keep theorizing even after the book comes out!

If she is about half done, that is a good sign. She implied that she was a bit over half done with HBP in Aug 2004, had completed the manuscript by December, and we got it the next July. So our proposed release date of 7/7/7 is still possible. Although every day that goes by with no title released has me more and more worried. I had great hopes that the title would be released at this event. ***crosses fingers for tomorrow***

Mills.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 2, 2006 12:04 am (#324 of 473)

Tori, if I heard the announcement correctly, the show will be televised on MSN. I was having trouble hearing the announcement, as there was a lot going on around us and the evening had not yet started so people were still bustling about noisily.

Okay, now I really am going to bed. It is past 3 a.m.

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azi - Aug 2, 2006 2:43 am (#325 of 473)

Oh my, the questions were boring! After all the great intelligent questions posted on this thread I expected much better!

I'm glad everyone had fun though!

I was surprised at the Hermione and Mirror of Erised comment. I would have thought that she would be the same as most people - seeing themselves rich/powerful etc. It seems like there's barely anyone we know who actually sees that, and it's supposed to be the norm! Ok, maybe only Harry and Hermione see something different that we know of, but that seems like a pretty high proportion. If Hermione feels like that about Harry, would Molly Wealsey see her family healthy in the mirror...and everyone else who cares about their family/friends in these troubled times?

But anyway, thanks for the feedback everyone!

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TheSaint - Aug 2, 2006 4:41 am (#326 of 473)

I thought she would only announce the title of the book when she finished first draft.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 2, 2006 4:47 am (#327 of 473)

azi, I think if the question had been posed earlier in the series, (i.e., when they were younger and Big V had not yet returned) the answer most certainly would have been different. I am thinking that is the type of answer the person who posed the question was looking for. Everyone knows that the three would now see a reflection of each other well and alive - don't you think?

Gina, how great that you get to do this all over again tonight! I'll be thinking about you! Stay cool, as I believe it will be another scorcher tonight. My car showed 101 deg. F in the city last night.

Didn't JKR release the HBP title in December? Just wondering. I am thinking we can expect a similar plan for Book 7.

I got the feeling - the way she spoke - that writing Book 7 is a bittersweet thing for her. She said she is really going to miss writing Harry but at the same time, she will finally have the whole story out. How long has it been, 16 years? That is a long time to carry something in your head and heart.

EDIT: TheSaint, that sounds about right.

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Amilia Smith - Aug 2, 2006 5:46 am (#328 of 473)

Didn't JKR release the HBP title in December?

Nope. :-) June 28, according to the Lexicon's jkrowling.com timeline. Which is why I am getting antsy.

Mills.

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Finn BV - Aug 2, 2006 6:00 am (#329 of 473)

Hehe, thanks Maria. I was sure you'd understand, but I also wanted to rush out of there just in case anybody didn't get the message. I really wanted to say hi, or go over, too bad we weren't closer or I would have struck up a conversation with somebody next to me! BTW, I think I know those two girls who kept getting up… it was annoying!

I agree, that's how I interpreted the loose ends comment.

The weird thing was that you could eat and drink in the theater! I thought that was really odd, just because people were bringing in their martinis. It was funny!

journeymom, King and Irving pleaded with her not to let Harry die at the press conference earlier, not at the main event.

**hoping she'll throw in the title at the very, very end of tonight, or do something on her site, or SOMETHING**

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Soul Search - Aug 2, 2006 6:07 am (#330 of 473)

Finn BV,

Thanks.

Well, I was wrong about a title announcement. I thought, since the event was for charity and JKR does a lot for charity, she would choose that time to announce the title. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. We could use some more tidbits to sustain us.

Finn, you get a "thumbs up" for your quick summary! (Are there any thumbs up icons?)

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Finn BV - Aug 2, 2006 6:35 am (#331 of 473)

You can do "cool" which is .

No problem. I was overflowing with thoughts, couldn't wait to get home to post them! The event, though for charity, was for fans who were just interested in hearing the authors and seeing them. There was nothing in it to really get any juicy information. *sigh* It was really exciting to be there, but, after experiencing last night, I really don't think she's going to say anything concerning Book 7… maybe on her site… but I'll keep my fingers crossed, of course!

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Gina R Snape - Aug 2, 2006 6:37 am (#332 of 473)

I got the feeling she is more than halfway done with the book, but still working steadily on it.

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that she never saw any of the questions beforehand but that the Scholastic people chose all the questions. I actually felt myself getting very angry about what I would consider a stupid waste of JKR's time (e.g. 'What would you be doing if you didn't get published and weren't a writer?") UGH!!!!! Let's all hope and pray the questions are better tonight.

It was great meeting everyone. And yes, I get to look forward to going again tonight. But alas, not to meet any Lexiconers...

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 2, 2006 7:58 am (#333 of 473)

Did anyone who went to see JKR , SK , and JI learn anything? I certainly did. I learned that I should read a lot more because there are so many great books out there like SK's books, JI's books, and JKR's books. I really liked their readings,.

I'm a little tired today, .

-Priscilla

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haymoni - Aug 2, 2006 8:01 am (#334 of 473)

I knew it.

Maybe the juicy stuff is coming up tonight, Gina.

Was the audience evenly split amongst the 3 authors or did The Potties rule???

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Stephanie M. - Aug 2, 2006 8:04 am (#335 of 473)

Yay! I have more posts! Since I'm not a Premium Member, I usually run out of posts, and last night I ran out.

So I'll try and really limit my posts today.

I'm wearing a pink/punch (as in the drink) colored shirt that says Hawaii on the front, and a calf length reddish pink skirt. My hair is up in a clip, and I'm wearing black flip flops and I have a small black bag. I have no idea what my sister is wearing, but we will be together and we look pretty similar.

I think we are sitting in the first mezzanine.

I really hope we have better questions tonight!

As I said last night...

I'm freaking out!

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Gina R Snape - Aug 2, 2006 8:22 am (#336 of 473)

haymoni, I hope you are right.

JKR fans were the overwhelming majority, I think. But there were a lot of King fans as well and plenty of overlap between the two.

Irving's fans were the fewest in number. It was pretty obvious to see because when King walked on about 3/4 of the people in the orchestra stood up. When Irving came on, a smattering of people clustered together around the orchestra seats stood up. And when JKR came in, about 5 people didn't get up.

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Finn BV - Aug 2, 2006 8:58 am (#337 of 473)

Though, that's not to say the audience wasn't respective. I was really afraid nobody would really cheer for the other two, but everybody was nice and was applauding for everybody. True, in the opening clips, every time "J. K. Rowling" was mentioned the audience went crazy, but I think everybody really appreciated the other two's stories, especially Owen Meany. That was hilarious. "The Turtle Doves – they look like they're from outer space!"

We were speculating it would be different celebrities and readings tonight. My bet was on Tim Robbins. I was sorta hoping to see Meryl Streep, maybe she'll be doing something tonight!

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Laura W - Aug 2, 2006 8:58 am (#338 of 473)

Blimey, what boring questions!! (No offence to anyone who thinks otherwise.) No, I would not expect the authors to take the time to go through all the questions that were submitted and choose the ones they will answer. These three big stars would leave that task to their agents or assistants or publishers.

Does it not say on the website where you guys submitted your queries how the ones to be used are chosen and who specifically chooses them? It really should, and that would be interesting to know.

From Finn's account - thanks, Finn -, it sounds like the questions picked for Jo to answer were very safe, would not reveal ANYTHING, and were for average (as opposed to very knowledgeable, intelligent, analytical) fans of the Harry Potter books. I was not there so I may be wrong; but that is how I read it. Or maybe they were chosen - by her British or American publisher, or whoever - for the express purpose of being easy on her.

We have all read enough interviews to know that Jo *can* take the tough questions (and I speak as one who sometimes has to pose tough questions to people in my job), but maybe the organizers of the event felt this was not the time or place to mentally challenge their three guests. And after all the time and trouble you guys went to for weeks finding just the *right* questions! It is annoying. (What Hemoine would see in the Mirror? Sheesh!!)

The important thing is that all you New York types who went had fun anyway. I really hope you did.

Anyway, we will see what happens tonight, right? Really looking forward to hearing back from Gina and Steph re how it goes. (No pressure, gals. heh, heh)

Laura

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Good Evans - Aug 2, 2006 9:11 am (#339 of 473)

What reading did Stephen King do? Was it from Carrie or something else? And sorry to be boring but did anyone notice what the questions were asked to him??

Gina - looking forward to your post of tonight in case there is something else that becomes illuminating!

Many thanks to everyone who has posted, it helps enormously.

Julie

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mooncalf - Aug 2, 2006 9:17 am (#340 of 473)

Yes, many thanks to all who posted. Finn, thanks for posting so quickly and thoroughly; it was very good of you!

I just wish that you had had something more interesting to post!

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Gina R Snape - Aug 2, 2006 9:39 am (#341 of 473)

FYI, my friend Shannon took copious notes and posted the questions on her journal. Feel free to go over and have a look.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

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Madam Pince - Aug 2, 2006 9:43 am (#342 of 473)

Glad you guys had fun! Thanks for all the great reports back on all the details! It would've been nice if we'd gotten some more juicy tidbits, but oh well -- maybe that will encourage her to give us a report on her website! It seems like she usually posts something on her site following a big public appearance, even if it's just a "news" posting that she was there. We can keep our fingers crossed. And there's always tonight still!

I was wondering about King, too -- I would imagine that there were some questions about his "Nightmares and Dreamscapes" and its current translation onto TV? I have been wanting to watch it -- it's been airing all this month here -- but I have managed to miss every episode so far... aaaargh. I think tonight is the last one. Supposedly they have been pretty good.

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haymoni - Aug 2, 2006 9:59 am (#343 of 473)

Goodness!

It sounds to me like they took all the questions and put them in a hat and these were the losers that came out.

Sheesh!

Although....why would you let an author like Jo spill out everything juicy on Night 1???

There wouldn't be any reason to come on Night 2!!

I'm really trying to look on the bright side for you, Gina!

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Finn BV - Aug 2, 2006 10:04 am (#344 of 473)

You're welcome, all.

Stephen King was asked what he was scared of, which I thought was a good question, and he answered, basically, everything. Or at least "a lot of things." He didn't go into much detail. He also was asked what the most inopportune time was that he came up with an idea for a story, and he literally asked for another question. The woman persisted, so he said that it "happens to all of us, eventually," and then I think he made some suggestive comments but the audience was laughing too loud for me to really hear anything. He wasn't really good about answering his questions.

He read a scene about people throwing up at a pie-eating contest. That was pleasant.  

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Gina R Snape - Aug 2, 2006 10:07 am (#345 of 473)

Finn, did you get a little nauseous listening to King's story? I did!

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Finn BV - Aug 2, 2006 10:15 am (#346 of 473)

Oh, god. I actually was regretting the pretzel I had brought in with me. But Owen Meany -- that was really hysterical.

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Solitaire - Aug 2, 2006 10:21 am (#347 of 473)

It seemed to me that a lot of the questions must have been asked by people who have never visited the Forum OR Jo's website! Haven't we heard or read most of those things before? I did find the exploding wand question/answer interesting, though. Do you suppose the same thing would happen to a Squib? Just wondering ...

Solitaire

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Gina R Snape - Aug 2, 2006 10:56 am (#348 of 473)

Y'know, Solitaire, I feel a little bit like she got that one wrong. Ok, I know, it's her world. But I feel like she gave us a contradictory answer to this same question awhile back. If a muggle touches a wand, shouldn't it just behave like a stick of wood? There's no magic in the muggle to channel.

Oh well...

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Solitaire - Aug 2, 2006 10:58 am (#349 of 473)

Yeah, Gina ... if the wand would explode, then what about the speculation that Petunia has hidden Lily's wand under the squeaky stair? How could she have done that without it exploding ... unless it was just in a box of Lily's "personal effects," and she didn't touch it? (Between you and me, can you imagine Petunia all alone with Lily's wand and not picking it up and waving it around or pointing it at something? hehe)

Solitaire

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Good Evans - Aug 2, 2006 11:12 am (#350 of 473)

Thanks Finn - it sounds like the Stephen King excerpt was from "The Body" which was adapted to "Stand By Me" starring Richard Dreyfuss, Keifer Sutherland, River Phoenix and that nauseating boy that was Dr Crushers son in Star Trek: the next generation.

What a funny one to pick - and as you say makes you all feel a bit queasy!

That answer about the wand bothered me a bit too. it wasn't what I would expect at all. I would have thought no outward appearance but maybe an overwhelming desire to put it bakc down again quickly.

Hmmmnnn. have fun again tonight Gina - I wonder if they will read a different excerpt. COS the escape from privet drive or the Yule ball scene would be good from GOF.

ah well, do let us know...

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Amilia Smith - Aug 2, 2006 11:32 am (#351 of 473)

Maybe the wand only explodes when you try and do something to your potion with it?

Mills.

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haymoni - Aug 2, 2006 11:34 am (#352 of 473)

I thought Wil Wheaton was absolutely adorable in "Stand By Me". As Wesley Crusher, however, he did make me cringe, but I think that was the writing more than Wil.

Gina - I agree - no magic, no reaction. I suppose if a Muggle tried to MAKE a wand work - waving it around or trying to concentrate so it would work - maybe something would happen then, but you can't tell me that some Muggle-born's sibling hasn't tried to "play magic" before.

I wonder what the wands are connected to in wizards?

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Good Evans - Aug 2, 2006 11:36 am (#353 of 473)

Thank you Haymoni - I had completely forgotten his name and the character in star trek. I enjoyed "stand by me" but hated the character in star trek!!!

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Dobby Socks - Aug 2, 2006 11:45 am (#354 of 473)

Solitare, I was surprised at the answer to that. I would have thought that nothing would happen. Regarding Squibs, Filch was trying desperately to learn some magic, so if someone’s successfully selling Kwikspell courses, I’d think that Squibs could touch a wand. Unless it was a one time scam (otherwise word would get out among Squibs, and hopefully they wouldn’t fall for it). Also, if they couldn’t handle wands, you’d think there would be general knowledge about that in the Wizarding community that would be passed down to Squibs.

The Steven King pie eating contest is from whatever story was adapted to make Stand by Me. I saw that movie enough times when I was younger, but I always forget about that scene. I think I’ve actually repressed it because it was such a gross-out.

I’m sure both King and Irving had to scramble a bit to find something that would be “family friendly,” especially Irving. I’ve had a mixed reaction to Irving’s work, but I really loved A Prayer for Owen Meany. From the 4 novels of his I’ve read, the Christmas Pageant passage is a great choice. It’s reasonably non-offensive, and reasonably self-contained. And it’s entertaining.

Yeah… I thought the JKR questions were pretty weak. Did they pick softball questions on purpose, or was it a random draw that was representative of the audience? I wonder.

I also really thought there would be more questions addressed. It seems like there would be sufficient time, but apparently not.

Maybe she’ll get a good one or two tonight (keeping fingers crossed.)

(I see I’m six posts behind already… ah well…just my usual day on the Lexicon.)

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Marè - Aug 2, 2006 12:32 pm (#355 of 473)

and that nauseating boy that was Dr Crushers son in Star Trek: the next generation.
Hey hey hey, that is my childhood crush you are talking about. (Okay, I was maybe eleven, I thought he was cute and who wouldn't want to live on a starship? )

Thanks for the transcripts every-one! I enjoyed reading (and hearing in Gina's case) them!

Edited because I thought I was in the chatt thread but I turned out not to be...

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Stephanie M. - Aug 2, 2006 1:55 pm (#356 of 473)

I'm leaving to go to my sister's office.

Next post will be one filled with question and answers!

I have my notepad! (Actually, it's really large post-it notes.)

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Finn BV - Aug 2, 2006 2:12 pm (#357 of 473)

Have fun Steph! Text me!

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Stephanie M. - Aug 2, 2006 8:05 pm (#358 of 473)
Edited Aug 2, 2006 9:03 pm

DUMBLEDORE IS DEAD

THE NAME OF BOOK 7...

more to come.

Okay, I think I'll start this recap from walking to my sister's office.

I was walking to my sister's office from the subway, and I passed Radio City, and I noticed that there was a huge crowd surrounding a door. I didn't think that there was another press conference, so I stopped walking and looked to see what was going on. I saw everyone with their copies of HBP. So I was waiting until I saw a very large black limo pull up, and Jo walked out with her small entourage. People were screaming and I was searching for my camera phone, and while I was doing so, she moved to one group of people. I then took a picture of her coming to us, and my camera phone said that I had no more memory left to take the picture. I almost started crying because I was so upset. But suddenly, Jo brushed the side of my arm while reaching for someone's book to sign. I'm NEVER going to wash my arm again. I was FREAKING OUT!! (as I have said in many posts.)

More to come...

Okay now onto the actual event. (Not that touching JKR wasn't an event in it's self)

I had great seats in the 1st Mezzanine, but sadly, I was sitting next to a Snape hater.

I'm glad that I didn't eat before Steven King read his passage! Ugh. yucky.

I thought that John Irving was absolutely amazing! They were all very funny! And I thought that the sets for each person were really nice.

Jo read the same passage that you guys heard. She gave the opportunity for people to ask her questions before King and Irving came back on. The questions was along the lines of:

Of any character other than Harry, who would you bring to life? She responded that she would bring Hagrid to life.

In the last book, Dumbledore said that Harry will only be going back to Privet Drive one more time. Petunia seems upset (I think the word that they used was flushed) about this, does this mean that Petunia has a special place for Harry in her heart?

Jo said that we will learn more about Petunia in Book 7. (But she was having a hard time answering all of the questions.)

more to come...

Then a little kid asked if Dumbledore was really dead.

She responded in a wishy-washy kind of way and said a quote about pulling a Gandalf.

Then Salman Rushdie came with his son and he introduced himself, and Jo responded by saying, "I don't think that this is quite fair, you are better at figuring out plots than most."

Then he had a lenghth-y questions and asked, Whether or Snape was good or bad, and was Dumbledore dead or alive?

She responded that Dumbledore is definitely dead and that we all need to start moving through the five stages of grief and she wants to help us more past denial, and get to stage 3, which she thinks is anger (which she wanted to get through fast) and she said that they should probably end this question now. She apologized to the people at DumbledoreIsNotDead.com for ruining their site.

Jo brought up (I'm not sure how she got on the topic) that this morning when she was taking a shower, she changed the title of Book 7, and that she would not tell us what either of the options were because she wasn't totally sure which one she would go for.

Then someone asked her what she would do after writing HP.

She said that she was going to release a children's book that she has written half of, and that she would take a break from writing to mourn over the series ending.

They asked Steven King who he was afraid of, and he said that he was afraid of Death Eaters, and Jo said, "I scared Steven King!" And he responded, "Don't act like you're so proud." And she said, "I am!"

Someone asked, "What is the one question that your fans have never asked, but should have asked?"

JKR said that she can think of a few, but they would all give away the ending for Book 7. She said that she didn't waste 16 years of her life for her to ruin it now. She said that that was one great question, and everybody should be happy that she asked it, but she was sorry that she couldn't answer it.

more to come...

Then the last question that Solead O'Brien asked the 3 authors was, "Which 5 characters would you eat dinner with from your own books?"

Steven Kings answers first and says, "From my books?" (everyone laughs) "I would rather eat alone. I can tell you which characters from other books I would eat." Then he said that he would eat with Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

Jo said that she would invite Harry, Hermione, and Ron to eat with her. Then she paused and said that the problem with doing this is that she knows who dies in Book 7. Then she said that if she could pick dead people, she would pick Dumbledore, and the paused, and said her last person would be Hagrid.

I got the impression from JKR that she was over half way done, and that Harry would live. I also really think from how much she was talking about Hagrid, is that he dies.

That was it for the big event.

My sister and I had to go retrieve my camera (since they took it) and it took forever! So we went out, saw Dylan Spartz, Andrew Sims, Eric Scull, Melissa Anelli, and a lot more people from The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet. Then we saw a huge crowd standing around, so my sister and I stopped and we saw Steven King walk out to go to his car, and we got an autograph and pictures of him (since we got my camera back)!

We were going to go to the Starbucks, but it was getting late, and we didn't know if Gina would still be there. *waves to Gina*

I was sitting next to Voldemort lovers and Snape Haters (go figure!) Then I had a TON of screaming Fred and George fans and Sirius fans.

I think that's it for now. I'll check Leaky and Mugglenet for any info that I might have missed.

Oh, and I also got the impression that Jo wasn't the biggest fan of Snape, but she didn't say if he was on the good side or bad.

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Mediwitch - Aug 2, 2006 8:14 pm (#359 of 473)
Edited Aug 2, 2006 9:08 pm

Aw, thanks for the info guys! I'm looking forward to hearing what Steph and Gina have to say about tonight!

EDIT: AAARRRRGHHHH!!!! STEPH! Are you trying to drive us nuts!?!

EDIT 2: Thanks for the updates, Steph! That's excellent that you got to see (and even got touched by!) Jo.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 2, 2006 8:16 pm (#360 of 473)
Edited Aug 2, 2006 9:16 pm

Ouch, Steph. Awaiting the rest. . .

EDIT: Out of memory - that sounds like something that would happen to me.

Wow, sounds like a great night! Thanks for the information, Steph! Very interesting stuff. BTW, I agree from the tone of your report that Hagrid may be a goner.

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Marie E. - Aug 2, 2006 8:16 pm (#361 of 473)
Edited Aug 4, 2006 7:24 am

Stephanie, that is just plain mean!

EDIT: Thanks for the updates! I like her comment about scaring Stephen King.

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Madame Pomfrey - Aug 2, 2006 8:22 pm (#362 of 473)

Stephanie,I think I would have cried too!

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Tazzygirl - Aug 2, 2006 8:51 pm (#363 of 473)

Don't you hate it when the camera fails when you need it most??? Stephanie- I believe your arm is now sacred. Thanks for the report!!! Too bad she didn't touch the sleeve of your shirt, then you could have pinned it to your wall!

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Stephanie M. - Aug 2, 2006 9:04 pm (#364 of 473)

I added a LOT to my main post, but I knew that I only had 6 more posts for tonight.

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Madame Pomfrey - Aug 2, 2006 9:18 pm (#365 of 473)

Thank you, Stephanie.Now that I have heard about tonight's Q&A maybe I can get some sleep.

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Solitaire - Aug 2, 2006 9:28 pm (#366 of 473)

Stephanie, are you going to get a little tattoo that says JKR touched me here? Just kidding. Thanks for the recap!

Solitaire

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Ponine - Aug 2, 2006 9:31 pm (#367 of 473)

Thank you SO much Stephanie -- that was an excellent account -- between you and Finn, I feel like I got as much as I possibly could have without being there myself... BUT DUMBLEDORE!! *sniffles* I haven't even begun grieving yet, because I was so sure he's not dead.... *bottom lip quivering and eyes burning*

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Stephanie M. - Aug 2, 2006 9:34 pm (#368 of 473)

LOL If she signed my arm, then maybe... I'd have the tattoo artist go over her signature.

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Pamzter - Aug 2, 2006 9:40 pm (#369 of 473)

I waited until tonight to read this thread so I wouldn't have to be envious or wait on pins and needles for anything. You guys did a great job recapping everything. Thanks.

You know, I don't really like DD all that much, but now that I know he's really gone I feel kind of funny. Oh dear, I think I'm obsessed with the Harry Potter books!! I guess I've been in some sort of denial all this time. *deep breath*

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virginiaelizabeth - Aug 2, 2006 9:43 pm (#370 of 473)

LOL Pam, I feel the same way, but I was a big time fan of DD. I was in complete denial that he was dead because I liked him so much! Well, I guess I just set myself up for disappointment.

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Solitaire - Aug 2, 2006 9:49 pm (#371 of 473)

Pamzter, I read HBP and Dumbledore's death just about a week after my dad passed away. It made me feel as though I'd lost Dad all over again, because he was always the DD figure in my life. As long as he was around, I felt everything would be okay. Now that he's gone, I worry a lot more.

Dumbledore's death helped me grieve my loss, I think. One thing's for sure ... I'll always associate his passing with my dad's passing.

Solitaire

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Good Evans - Aug 2, 2006 9:50 pm (#372 of 473)

Wow - thanks Steph, sounds like the questions were a bit more "acceptable" on the second night. Lots of tit bits.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 2, 2006 9:52 pm (#373 of 473)

Steph, just wondering what the audience's response was to hearing about Dumbledore. . .

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Stephanie M. - Aug 2, 2006 9:55 pm (#374 of 473)

It was sort of like an "aww" and a "noo" mixed together. I think.

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Good Evans - Aug 2, 2006 9:58 pm (#375 of 473)

Interetsting that she thinks we should be in the "angry" phase of grief. If we believe that DD and Snape had agreed the course of action if it came to this, who should we be angry at?? Dumbledore himself???? Voldemort????? Snape for following orders??? ( I like to be controversial at 5.57 am!!!)

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Ponine - Aug 2, 2006 9:59 pm (#376 of 473)

Chatroom, anyone?!?

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Marè - Aug 2, 2006 10:04 pm (#377 of 473)

all this talk about people dying makes me very anxious for Neville and Lupin. And I don't like that grieving after book 7 bit at all!

But good stuff Steph, glad you had a great night!

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geauxtigers - Aug 2, 2006 10:44 pm (#378 of 473)

Yeah big thanks to Steph for the recount of tonight and Finn for last nights. I thought that if I ever found out that I was wrong about my assumption that DD was still alive, I'd be really upset. Now that I have it confirmed, I'm not all that upset and I can't explain it...I guess I was more prepared for the let down than I thought... Ah well I still think those clues will play out in the end.

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Laura W - Aug 3, 2006 4:21 am (#379 of 473)

Y'know, Solitaire, I feel a little bit like she got that one wrong. Ok, I know, it's her world. But I feel like she gave us a contradictory answer to this same question awhile back. If a muggle touches a wand, shouldn't it just behave like a stick of wood? There's no magic in the muggle to channel.'



That was my exact reaction to her answer to the wand question too, Gina. My first thought was that she had to be wrong. How presumptuous of me! It's her world and I'm saying she has to be wrong! Still, a wand in non-magical hands *has* to act just like a stick of wood. Whatever the wand is composed of, it *has* to be the magical properties of the witch or wizard using it that produce the ... well ... the magic. And exploding is a kind of magic in itself; something a Muggle would/should not be capable of producing.

Oh well.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the excellent report back, Stephanie. Succinct, yet comprehensive.

*Much* better questions on night two, in my opinion.

Laura

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Finn BV - Aug 3, 2006 5:53 am (#380 of 473)

Oh, wow, you were much more successful, Steph!! Lucky! Autographs, TLC/MN sightings, and touched by Jo!! LOL

Plus you got way better questions. Well, I'm glad you had a good time. You didn't text me though. I left

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Madam Pince - Aug 3, 2006 10:46 am (#391 of 473)

Mr. Pince came in last night and said "Hey! Did you know that Jo Rowling did a big interview yesterday or something? She said something about how one character who dies gets a reprieve? I brought you the article from the paper!" Bless his lil' ole pea-pickin' heart. I couldn't bring myself to burst his bubble. I just said "Really? How cool! I can't wait to read about it! Thanks so much sweetie!"

Actually, the article was pretty good -- it was in USA Today. It said that Whoopi Goldberg opened the show with a joke that "...Rowling's fans are screaming because King's fans told them that Harry is going to bite it." It reported that at the earlier news conference, Irving and King were asked if they had advice about Harry's fate. Irving said "I have my fingers crossed for Harry," and King said "I just want the story to be fair. I love that series. I have total confidence in her. I just don't want him to go over Reichenbach Falls." (reference to Sherlock Holmes) The article said that Rowling herself offered no more hints about her earlier "couple of characters expected to survive die, and one has gotten a reprieve" comment, except to say that in "...an epic saga, the hero has to fight alone."

The article said that video of the Radio City program is to be streamed on msn.com Monday through August 31st. Can't wait to try to hear it -- hopefully the sound quality will be good!

Edit: cross-post with Gina -- Oooooh! I like that comment that she says Rushdie's opinion is right! So, do we think that means she's agreeing that Snape is good and that the whole thing was cooked up between Snape and DD? That's about the way it sounds to me! Bummer she wouldn't talk about Snape more.

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azi - Aug 3, 2006 11:03 am (#392 of 473)

Maybe I will sound really dumb asking this...but who on earth is Salman Rushdie?

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Good Evans - Aug 3, 2006 11:09 am (#393 of 473)

Author of the Satanic Verses Azi - he had death threats against him for years (a fatwah?).

I can't believe you have never heard of him?? He had a guest appearance in Bridget Jones (at the book launch) if that helps

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azi - Aug 3, 2006 11:11 am (#394 of 473)

Erm, no, I've only seen Bridget Jones once! I definitely haven't heard of him!

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Holly T. - Aug 3, 2006 11:29 am (#395 of 473)

Azi, you were probably younger than your avatar picure when The Satanic Verses was published and the death threats started, etc. He's a famous (some would say infamous) author, originally from India, now lives in Britain.

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geauxtigers - Aug 3, 2006 11:31 am (#396 of 473)

Maybe I will sound really dumb asking this...but who on earth is Salman Rushdie? [

LOL I was wondering the same thing Azi! I kept thinking he was some old writer or something that I had not yet read or something. I figured since I was only 16, that it was someone that you hear about at some point in your life and I wasn't there yet! Glad thats been cleared up!

EDIT: I see Holly has confirmed the age thing! I'm sure I wasn't born!

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Stephanie M. - Aug 3, 2006 11:33 am (#397 of 473)

So that's what he said! The woman sitting next to me kept boo-ing, so I couldn't follow the parts of his theory that I did hear. I heard him say, Is Snape a good or bad (or whatever it was that he said)? And then Jo responding by saying, "Your opinion is right." But I had no idea what his opinion was.

Gina, was JKR crying when that 9 year old boy asked about Dumbledore being dead? It looked like she was on the verge of tears, but I wasn't sure if she was actually tearing up.

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Gina R Snape - Aug 3, 2006 11:57 am (#398 of 473)

Oh, she looked like she wanted to die! Her eyebrows scrunched up and she bowed her head into her hands for a few seconds. She was definitely feeling mortified. But I don't think any actual tears flowed forth.

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Solitaire - Aug 3, 2006 12:08 pm (#399 of 473)

Based on your comments, Gina, it sounds like Mr. Rushdie follows the Forum!

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journeymom - Aug 3, 2006 12:20 pm (#400 of 473)

Rushdie: "It’s plain to see, everything follows from this."

Jo: "Your opinion, I would say, is right."

Is she simply saying 'yes' to his very last statement? That 'everything follows from this'. She's saying that yes, everything follows from the question of whether Snape is good or evil. She did not state that Snape is good or evil, she simply confirmed that that's the most important question. I think that's what it boils down to.

The woman has tremendous pressure on her from her adoring fans, and even has some high calibre writers like Irving, King and Rushdie (how cool is that?!) involved. She's having to play the role of witness on the witness stand, being careful to answer questions truthfully while giving a minimum of information away. She's had a lot of practice in the past 10 years and she admits to giving too much information away in the beginning. I think she's doing a remarkable job.

Come to think of it, do we really want her to answer that question, aside from in her final book? Wouldn't that ruin Book 7?

To whomever mentioned it seems as though JKR doesn't like Snape, perhaps she's simply frustrated with Snape's fans. She once said she loves Snape, he's a gift of a character to write. But- I can imagine (and this is simply my supposition) that she might be irritated that her character has been 'taken over' by fans with a different agenda than her own, she who is Snape's creator. And I am a Snape fan, one who was really disappointed to learn JKR said, 'who would want Snape in love with her?' or whatever it is she said.

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Gina R Snape - Aug 3, 2006 12:31 pm (#401 of 473)

I took her comment to mean his instinct was right regarding there being a plan of some sort. But yes, she completely sidestepped the question of Snape.

Would I want a flat out answer? No. But something for us to chew on would be great fun. Some sort of hint would keep us busy for weeks at the very least.

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Madam Pince - Aug 3, 2006 1:27 pm (#402 of 473)

Oh, I hope she wasn't saying that he was correct in saying "Everything follows from this." How boring would that be! But you could be right. Eh, it's so hard to discern these things out of context! I am going to trust Gina's instinct since she heard the intonations (and because it's what I want to hear!)

I felt so sorry for Jo having to be visiting here during the hottest heat wave of recent memory. Poor dear! She was probably melting! What a shame -- she probably couldn't even enjoy the Hamptons to the fullest due to the icky weather! And if the baby was with her, as I'm sure was the case, ohhhh, poor little thing! Too hot for little ones accustomed to English weather!

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Sconie Girl - Aug 3, 2006 1:32 pm (#403 of 473)

Thanks for the info...I could hardly wait to get to work (a first I think ) to check on the Forum updates.

But I have to say ERRR!!! I Really thought JK would give up the title of Book 7. But if she's just thought up a new possibility, it could be weeks or months!

Sorry about your Grandmother Finn...

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Dobby Socks - Aug 3, 2006 2:10 pm (#404 of 473)

Sconie,

Do you think she was maybe hinting that she's at the point in her writing where she could normally give us a title, but she thinks she just found a better one and hasn't quite decided yet?

I've been worried about a possible 3-year wait ever since the OotP movie release date was set for 7/2007.

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Finn BV - Aug 3, 2006 2:43 pm (#405 of 473)

Gina, thanks for the Salman Rushdie transcript. Wow, quite ambiguous!

Sconie, thank you.

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wynnleaf - Aug 3, 2006 2:44 pm (#406 of 473)

Gina,

You said:

Would I want a flat out answer? No. But something for us to chew on would be great fun. Some sort of hint would keep us busy for weeks at the very least.

I guess she has given us a hint and something to chew on. Now we know that some aspects of Rushdie's comments were correct. We just don't know if it was his entire comment except that DD is dead; whether she just meant that there is some plan; or whether it's just the last part of his comment about everything following from whether Snape is good or bad.

And given how many observers weren't quite clear about what Rushdie actually was trying to say, we can't be entirely sure that JKR was certain what he was asking.

Anyway, on the feeling that she might not have cared for the enthusiasm for Snape, I think journeymom may be right. JKR's been trying to lead our thinking about Snape and keep us from discovering the truth (whatever that really is), but a large number of fans really like him anyway. It's bound to be frustrating for her. Here she's gone through 5 books telling us how mean and nasty he is and saying in interviews that people shouldn't like him too much, and so many fans keep liking him anyway. Then she has him AK DD, and you'd think fans would finally turn on him, but a great many don't. And then Salman Rushdie comes up in public -- another really famous writer -- and basically says, "I think he's good. Is he?" I'm sure it's frustrating.

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Dobby Socks - Aug 3, 2006 2:48 pm (#407 of 473)

Yes -- thanks Gina. That was the most detailed transcript I've read of that question.

EDIT: wynnleaf... I have a feeling journeymom probably hit the nail on the head with her explanation. Just a hunch.

And then Salman Rushdie comes up in public -- another really famous writer -- and basically says, "I think he's good. Is he?" I'm sure it's frustrating.

Must be.

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Prefect Marcus - Aug 3, 2006 3:05 pm (#408 of 473)

There are two Slytherins that people have been touting as likely to change sides, Snape and Draco. Rowling has been fairly consistent in insisting that Draco is a lost cause, but she has always avoided slamming the door on Snape.

Oh, she will drop dark hints and suggestions, but she never has definitively said yea or nay on him. This is all more of the same.

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Ann - Aug 3, 2006 3:12 pm (#409 of 473)

Gina, thanks for the transcript. So frustrating being in Manhattan last night and knowing it was going on, but not being able to be there.

Journeymom's interpretation seems likely to be the most correct, from what I've seen. From the summaries I've read overall, it sounds like she was a bit amazed to have Salman Rushdie asking a question--he's really a great writer, and perhaps bigger in Britain than he is here. He was famous long before The Satanic Verses and the fatwah. He writes slightly surreal satirical novels and stories, with a sort of lilt... anyway, highly recommended.

But despite her surprise at the questioner, I think her mind was still working on the question from the third-grader who preceded him, and she was probably trying to decide whether she should make a strong clear statement that Dumbledore was really dead, and when Rushdie also supposed that Dumbledore was still alive, she decided that she had to do it. It may be that that last line was the only bit she really heard clearly, and whether Snape betrayed Dumbledore is certainly the essential question at this point.

It must be terrifically hard to do this question-and-answer thing when you're in the midst of a mystery series where one too-full answer could spoil the surprise. Her mind must be going a mile a minute on several different tracks during these things!

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Marè - Aug 3, 2006 3:35 pm (#410 of 473)

Salman Rushdie is quite big here too. Every year, one week is "book week" and when you buy a book you get a specially written book as a present. He was one of the few, maybe even the only non Dutch writer to write that present. (He did so in 2001) Edit: checks, yes I think he was the only foreign writer since the start in 1930.

Rowling has been fairly consistent in insisting that Draco is a lost cause
After the last interview, I would say not so much.
I don't think he will completely redeem himself, but the answer that he would never had killed DD shows that he is not completely lost either. The last book truly made him a more wellrounded character and I think that he might spoil some more of the Dark Lord plans. Not because he wants to, but because, like Regulus, it is too much, Draco is not that far gone yet to cooperate willingly in things so evil.
I think some of DD's teachings might have rubbed off.

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Prefect Marcus - Aug 3, 2006 4:08 pm (#411 of 473)

Well, "lost cause" is perhaps too strong of a phrase. I was referring to the many times she has squelched the Harry-and-Draco-will-end-up-on-the-same-side theories. She has always told the girls not to fall for Draco, and that she suspect they like the actor, rather than the character. "Stay away from the bad men", has always been her advice concerning him.

As far as I know, she hasn't said the same thing about Snape.

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Marè - Aug 3, 2006 4:27 pm (#412 of 473)

Oh, I absolutely think you are right.
I doubt that Draco will end up at Harry's side. But I also think that there might have been a slight change in Draco's role after the last book. I'm not sure he is going to end up where she thought he would end up when she started writing. I think Draco is going more towards the grey area, instead of the clear black and white selection of good people and Death Eaters.

But that is just a feeling I have and not a really good base for a discussion.

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Pamzter - Aug 3, 2006 4:48 pm (#413 of 473)

I don't think Snape would be nearly as popular if it wasn't for Alan Rickman - so if she's frustrated with us being charmed with Snape, JK can blame him!

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Prefect Marcus - Aug 3, 2006 5:05 pm (#414 of 473)

Pamzter: I don't think Snape would be nearly as popular if it wasn't for Alan Rickman

Oh I disagree. I've been around since long before the movies, and Snape had a huge following even then. The character is so, so, delicious for lack of a better word.

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Gina R Snape - Aug 3, 2006 6:08 pm (#415 of 473)

Thank you, Prefect Marcus.

And, nice to see you again.

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Finn BV - Aug 3, 2006 6:20 pm (#416 of 473)

On Tuesday night, a girl of about 15 asked for hope of redemption for Draco. Immediately, JKR said, "Oh, all you girls and Draco Malfoy. What is it?" And yes, she has commented on her web site that even her daughter likes Tom Felton (because he taught her how to use a diablo or something).

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haymoni - Aug 4, 2006 6:57 am (#417 of 473)

Draco may have thought Dumbledore was powerful enough to save him and his family, but now that Dumbledore is gone, who can save him now?

There is going to have to be a battle where the Order/MOM is clearly winning before Draco makes the decision to jump ship and come over to the good side.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 4, 2006 7:49 am (#418 of 473)

I am thinking Snape is now Draco's sole protector. Wasn't he the one to usher him off Hogwarts grounds?

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Gina R Snape - Aug 4, 2006 9:10 am (#419 of 473)

Yes, he did. And I suppose he might have a hand in protecting Draco if he's capable. Considering how none of DD's people believed in him at the end of book 6, his abilities may be limited. I have no doubt Draco will be forced to face the Dark Lord. A lot will depend on whether he's more upset with Draco or happy at DD's death at that particular moment.

I look forward to the videotaping being released online so everybody can see what we saw and be better able to discuss these points.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 4, 2006 10:02 am (#420 of 473)

Somehow, I think Snape will be able to handle it. His hardest hit was losing DD, IMO.

Gina, you are right in saying the tape release will help. It should give us a better read on the tone of JKR's discussions. I look forward to hearing 8/2.

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mooncalf - Aug 4, 2006 11:19 pm (#421 of 473)

Do we know when or where the tape will be released online?

Mugglenet has some excerpts, but they are hard to understand.

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Madam Pince - Aug 5, 2006 3:09 pm (#422 of 473)

USA Today said that it would be streamed on msn.com starting Monday, August 7th, on through August 31st.

Yes, it seems like all the tapes I've heard have been fairly poor sound quality -- it even sounds like the people who were actually there that night had a hard time hearing / understanding some of it. Is that typical of Radio City Music Hall, or do you reckon there was some sort of glitch, or was it just that everyone was so rowdy?

Let's hope the "official" tape will be much better!

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Gina R Snape - Aug 5, 2006 3:20 pm (#423 of 473)

Radio City seemed to have quite an echo. The ceiling is domed. I wonder what affect that has on the sound.

I did not have problems hearing the men. But Rowling has a very soft voice and I don't think she was made for public speaking. I brought my digital recorder and the audio for her is terrible. But the others' voices I could pick up. Whoopi Goldberg was also difficult to hear. So I suspect higher pitched voices just cannot be captured as well.

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Good Evans - Aug 6, 2006 1:33 am (#424 of 473)

Did anyone get any fourm photos in the coffee shop afterwards?? If so please post.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 6, 2006 6:05 pm (#425 of 473)

GE, you motivated me to download the 189 pics in my camera's memory. So, of course, I posted a pic from Starbuck's (see my profile). It is with Herm oh ninny and her two sisters and the young HHs. (There were actually two pics but they were nearly identical so I posted only one.)

I did not get a pic with Gina because she was busy talking to the people in the background (blue shirt, etc.) and I just couldn't bring myself to interrupt. The next thing I knew, we were leaving. Though we did get to say goodbye, I was wondering all the way home why I didn't just ask if I could get just one more shot with everyone????

Hope you enjoy the one I did manage to post.

BTW, it is huge, and I tried to downsize via Photobucket and put a 160 limit in my profile but it is still very large! TBE, you certainly won't be needing to press your nose against the screen for this one! LOL

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Finn BV - Aug 6, 2006 7:38 pm (#426 of 473)

Maria, I hope you post a picture of you too! Though of the three of you, I managed to see you the best. BTW, which one is Herm oh ninny and which are her sisters?

That doesn't look like Gina in the background! Hmm…

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Denise P. - Aug 6, 2006 7:55 pm (#427 of 473)

I would agree...not Gina in the blue Great pic!

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 6, 2006 7:57 pm (#428 of 473)

Finn, thanks for the heads up - I thought I put which one she was (I had it in my head, anyway) so I edited the pic. She's the one in red.

Well, as most mothers, I am usually the one behind the camera. One of the few times I actually made it into a pic was during our D.C. pilgrimage in April to view the Judas Scrolls (with the three little HHs - hubby had to stay home & work so he could pay the hotel bill, ). A man was nice enough to ask if I would like a picture of all of us. He took two in front of the White House.

EDIT: LOL - no, that's not Gina! She is not in the background, either. She was standing to the left of the girl in blue.

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Gina R Snape - Aug 6, 2006 8:26 pm (#429 of 473)

Oh, HH11 you definitely should have interrupted me for a picture! Oh well. Maybe next time.

So, am I the only one who got to (hurriedly) talk with Finn?

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haymoni - Aug 7, 2006 9:46 am (#430 of 473)

Has anyone found the video/audio that was supposed to be on msn?

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Gina R Snape - Aug 7, 2006 10:06 am (#431 of 473)

I looked today and didn't see it. I'm hoping The Leaky Cauldron will post an announcement when it's up.

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 7, 2006 10:18 am (#432 of 473)

Gina, I will let you know the next time we venture into the city. Maybe, if your schedule allows, we can meet up - I'll be sure to not let you get away without a pic!

Didn't get to talk to Finn - just got in a quick wave. The girls jokingly drew up a picture of a goldfish and wrote "hi Finn" above it in case he looked in our direction - but they knew they couldn't be obvious about it, so it was to no avail with the exception of a chuckle or two. I did not want to leave the girls in their seats again (it was bad enough that they asked me for water after we'd been seated and I left them to get two bottles) to go into the hall. Come to think of it, Finn, did you ride into Grand Central on your own???

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Madam Pince - Aug 7, 2006 10:29 am (#433 of 473)

I know, HH! I read Stephanie's post about walking from the train to her sister's office, and I couldn't help thinking "You guys take trains and walk around alone in NYC?!" I'm just a country girl -- the very thought terrifies me.... Of course I know Steph and Finn are very familiar with the city and are extremely mature for their ages, and maybe they had someone with them at any rate.

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Gina R Snape - Aug 7, 2006 11:31 am (#434 of 473)

Madam Pince, NYC has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. It's really not a scary place at all, unless you are the type to generally be anxious about cities.

And I have to say, Finn really does look a little bit like his smiling Pepperidge Farm goldfish. He's very blond and smiley!

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 7, 2006 12:08 pm (#435 of 473)

That is a good point, Gina, but as long as there is a crime rate, there will always be reason for concern in my opinion. (You should have seen the look on Mr. HH's face when he learned that I was going into the city with the two girls. )

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Nathan Zimmermann - Aug 7, 2006 3:06 pm (#436 of 473)

I actually found NYC and Boston to be safer than Houston. I felt quite comfortable walking around and taking the subway.

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Lavandula - Aug 7, 2006 7:04 pm (#437 of 473)

HH11-Thanks for posting the picture at Starbucks. Nice work!

Gina- Sorry you weren't in the picture.

I'm waiting for the audio also. Let us know if anyone gets it.

By the way, I also am from the country and found Manhattan very easy to get around and safe even at night. We walked everywhere and took the buses but never did ride the subway. You just need a good map!!!

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 7, 2006 7:45 pm (#438 of 473)

That may be, but last September I parked my car in a parking garage (yes, a very expensive, legitimate parking garage) in the city near Rockefeller Center and my antenna was stolen off my car. I just took it as a small reminder that I shouldn't get too comfortable there.

Thanks, Lavandula!

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Madam Pince - Aug 7, 2006 7:47 pm (#439 of 473)

Well, the last time I was in NYC, I walked and cabbed around with three friends, and someone came up to me and tried to sell me drugs while I was standing in front of a 7-11-type store waiting for the friends who were inside getting some gum. And I don't much look like someone who is looking to buy drugs. So, yes, I guess I'm the type to be anxious about big cities. I can sleep by myself outdoors out in the woods with no humans around for miles and feel perfectly secure, but... I guess it's all in what you grow up with! I would just be too nervous about kid-snatching with all those millions of strangers around! Particularly cute kids like Finn and Stephanie!

OK, so this had nothing to do with JKR at Radio City. Has anyone seen/heard the msn stream yet?

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Gina R Snape - Aug 7, 2006 8:12 pm (#440 of 473)

*Throws bat bogey hexes at all the NYC hatin' posts*

No, I haven't heard anything yet about the Radio City feed. Hopefully soon.

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Madam Pince - Aug 7, 2006 8:18 pm (#441 of 473)

No, no, I don't hate it! I'm just scared of it, that's all! And couldn't be paid money to live there! But other than that, hey, it's great! You have my undying admiration for being a big-city girl!

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kaykay1970 - Aug 7, 2006 8:35 pm (#442 of 473)

I understand Madam Pince. I live in a rural TN town. I would be completely out of my element in a large city. I don't feel safe at all in Nashville, for goodness sake!

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HungarianHorntail11 - Aug 8, 2006 9:42 am (#443 of 473)
Edited Aug 8, 2006 10:22 am

It is not a NYC hating post, just a "keep your eyes open" post . If I hated it, I would certainly not go. I would still worry about Olivia at 18 taking trains by herself. Doesn't anyone worry the slightest about your living in the city, Gina?

EDIT: haymoni, I believe that therein lies the key! I usually go with someone who knows which areas to steer away from. One friend in particular grew up in Queens, NY. I call her my 'tour guide' when we go in with our children. What a sight, two women, five children. (We practically take up the sidewalk.) But we sure do have fun whenever we go in.

She is the one who gave me directions to Radio City for 8/1. Her father got on the phone and told me that if I got lost to lock my doors and call him, he'd come and get me. What a kind man and friend! Luckily, their directions were great! (My friend did call me, however, around 11:30 p.m., asking where I was and said she would not go to sleep until I was on the FDR! Herm oh ninny was there when she called - must have thought my friend and I were nuts! LOL!)

So I made it into and out of the city nearly by myself! I practically feel like an adult now.

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haymoni - Aug 8, 2006 9:54 am (#444 of 473)

If I ever went to NY, I'd like to go with someone who has been before.

I'm that way about everywhere I go, though.

I want to be walking confidently down the street, knowing exactly where I'm going and also knowing a few alternate routes, just in case I have to take a detour.

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Gina R Snape - Aug 8, 2006 10:53 am (#445 of 473)

HH11, my maternal grandfather and father both grew up in Manhattan. My maternal grandmother, mother, brothers and I were all born and raised in Brooklyn. My paternal grandmother grew up in Puerto Rico in a very poverty stricken rural area. That was, for her, scarier than any amount of time she lived in NYC before she died.

NYC is not a place to worry about. For us, it's just normal.

Well, day two and still no MSN video. And now with every other news article proclaiming JKR said Snape is good, I'm surprised she hasn't updated her website. Perhaps when she returns from her holiday in the Hamptons and sees all the press, she'll make some sort of statement.

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B]haymoni[/B] - Aug 8, 2006 11:31 am (#446 of 473)

Snape is good???

Where are they getting that???

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Good Evans - Aug 8, 2006 11:57 am (#447 of 473)

HH - great piccie - thanks !!

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Gina R Snape - Aug 8, 2006 12:34 pm (#448 of 473)

It has to do with Salman Rushdie. He said his opinion was that Snape is good. She replied, "Your opinion is correct." However, it's been lifted out of context with the rest of the question he posed regarding DD being still alive and Snape and DD creating a ruse to foil Voldemort.

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I Am Used Vlad - Aug 8, 2006 12:48 pm (#449 of 473)

That's cool that some of you got to go to this and meet each other. I was in Brooklyn last month when I helped drive some people to the airport. What's with all the beeping.

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Madam Pince - Aug 8, 2006 12:56 pm (#450 of 473)

You know, it's such a shame that the best question of the two-night interview had to be so garbled up and therefore practically useless. Rushdie is supposed to be a writer -- I would've expected a better and more concise job from him than that!

I thought of another good point about NYC -- you guys get to do cool things like go see JKR in person! It's highly unlikely that she would ever be found on Maryland's Eastern Shore doing a reading... I think Gina's point "For us, it's just normal," is so true -- it's all in what you're used to or what you are familiar with. For example, I remember the first time I watched A Bronx Tale's opening scenes, all I could think was "Wow! This is just like going to a zoo and looking at exotic animals, it's so foreign to me!" But if you're used to it, it's perfectly normal. I was never afraid of getting lost in NYC -- I can find my way around with a map. It's just all the people, so many of them, and the older I get the more I learn that so many people are not at all what they might appear to be. So that's the leery aspect of it. But that can apply to any and all new situations and surroundings by anybody. So yay NYC! Home of great interviews with JKR! Great place to visit (with reasonable care!) -- still glad I live in the country!

Edit: ***giggles at Vlad's "beeping"...***

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Mediwitch - Aug 8, 2006 2:49 pm (#451 of 473)

It's definitely a matter of perspective. My daughter had a boyfriend who had moved to the area from NYC, where he had lived all his life. It was great doing things like husking corn with him, because he was so fascinated by things we take for granted out here in the sticks!

EDIT: LOL! At your service, kaykay! (In the garden at least; I've never baled hay, but I have thrown a few bales here and there!)

EDIT 2: Whoops! Sorry, kaykay.

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kaykay1970 - Aug 8, 2006 3:05 pm (#452 of 473)

I now know who to call if someone needs peas picked or hay baled!

Edit: I meant the boyfriend, Mediwitch. We could tell him it is fun! lol

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Stephanie M. - Aug 8, 2006 5:30 pm (#453 of 473)

I've also lived in NYC my entire life, and most of my family members live here too (or in Los Angeles). So, taking the subway and buses and walking are pretty natural. There are a few things that I've picked up though, like, you should always be with people while walking in Central Park (unless you are really close to either the East or West side), and if you are in a sketchy area, just walk at a pretty fast pace and pretend that you really don't care that you are in a sketchy area. People don't usually bother you if you sort of fit in, and seem to be in a hurry. I've never actually seen bad things happen, and I haven't been harassed or anything. I'm pretty city savvy. I also have an 18 year old sister, and nothing has happened to her, so I think that my parents are a little more lenient for me.

Back to HP...

Has anybody seen anything from MSN? I still haven't seen anything, and I'm dying here!

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DJ Evans - Aug 8, 2006 7:15 pm (#454 of 473)

I was just wondering, has anyone heard if Jo would be doing/giving any other interviews while she was over here in the US? Like the Larry King Show or any other? Just curious...didn't know if I needed to be on the look out or what? (yeah, like I haven't been anyway....hee hee)

Later, Deb

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haymoni - Aug 9, 2006 6:07 am (#455 of 473)

Yes - it seems very odd that she was able to be in New York and escape the clutches of Katie Couric.

I have often thought that Katie should have waited until Book 7 came out before she left the Today Show.

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Chemyst - Aug 9, 2006 6:57 am (#456 of 473)

Or the cynic might say JKR felt free to visit the US because Katie isn't on the airwaves right now.  

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Gina R Snape - Aug 9, 2006 7:09 am (#457 of 473)

Bwa ha ha ha ha. You might have a point there, Chemyst.

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Gina R Snape - Aug 9, 2006 2:09 pm (#458 of 473)

Just saw this on TLC.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Main Page JKR Readings to Debut Online Tomorrow J.K. Rowling Posted by: Melissa Anelli - August 9, 2006, 3:58 pm Comments (5) | Average: 5.0 (5 votes) Scholastic has just announced that starting tomorrow, for only two days, MSN will stream "An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp" for free at video.msn.com. Starting Saturday, highlights will be available on demand, through the end of August.

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Gina R Snape - Aug 10, 2006 7:37 am (#459 of 473)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

It's up!

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Chemyst - Aug 10, 2006 1:38 pm (#460 of 473)

Thanks Gina.
Having seen it, I think JKR's answer, "Your opinion, I would say, is right," applies only to Salman Rushdie's last sentence, "In our opinion, everything follows from it(whether Snape is good or bad.)

at time code ~1:45

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Gina R Snape - Aug 10, 2006 4:54 pm (#461 of 473)

Thanks, Chemyst. I definitely don't think she's affirming that "Snape is good" as many have printed.

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Madam Pince - Aug 11, 2006 2:41 pm (#462 of 473)
Edited Aug 11, 2006 4:02 pm

Thanks for the link, Gina! I am having a very frustrating afternoon trying to view it, though -- I think my computer must not have the capacity to load as it should or something. It keeps re-loading and going back to the beginning, and if I try to "fast-forward" it, it will not go beyond a certain point without going all the way back again or saying "the video you have requested is not available"... grrrrr.... I have re-started it countless times already, but after about an hour and a half, I am finally at the JKR part! Yay! Keep your fingers crossed!

OK, finally finished! (Lots of 5-minute-long sections there, but finally through!) I agree -- the Rushdie question seemed to be answered by JKR saying "Yes, your opinion is correct that all flows from the question of whether or not Snape is good." Not too helpful, that. Oh well. I'm also not now as convinced as I was that Hagrid is definitely dead, based on her response to "Who would you invite to dinner?" It seemed to me that she was hesitating on who to include as the fifth person, and that people in the audience were shouting out "Hagrid!" and then Stephen King suggested "Hagrid," so she just sort of said "Oh, OK, yes, Hagrid would be good -- I'd ask Hagrid." (Not a quote of hers -- just my impression of what she said and the way she said it.) It sounded like she just took the audience's suggestion because it was an easy way to end the question. (I'm kind of disappointed that King didn't answer the question, though, because I'd be curious to know...)

I suppose msn is just running the recording of the one night, not both nights? I know they were essentially the same, except for the questions, but of course that's what we all want to hear...

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Ponine - Aug 11, 2006 4:48 pm (#463 of 473)

I don't know, MP -- I saw it last night too, and my thoughts were uh oh. Poor Hagrid's toast I hope you are right, but I don't think so... And THANK YOU! to Gina for the link -- I really appreciated it!

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Finn BV - Aug 11, 2006 8:15 pm (#464 of 473)

Come to think of it, Finn, did you ride into Grand Central on your own??? –Maria

Erm, yes, I did! But think about it -- the train stop out here is a minute from my house, and my mom met me 30 seconds outside of the gate. So, it was only 90 seconds by myself!!

Yes, I only got to speak with Gina. Missed the rest of you! And do I really look like a goldfish?  

I think people born in NYC are more comfortable with it than people not close to it. For example, a ton of my friends have taken the subway to school since sixth grade or so, but my parents would never have let me take it by myself then. I started taking the subway by myself in winter of this year, eighth grade.

Can't watch the video. I'm a Mac person.

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Tazzygirl - Aug 12, 2006 2:00 pm (#465 of 473)

Thanks for the link, Gina! (Incidentally, you can still view the video today...)

I've lived in small towns my entire life. It was a little daunting to move to Honolulu, and it's a small city compared to L.A. and N.Y.!

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Gina R Snape - Aug 12, 2006 4:11 pm (#466 of 473)

I've been told Honolulu is a lot like Ft. Lauderdale, for what it's worth.

I'm glad people got to see the link. Finn, there might be a way to view it on a Mac, but you probably have to download additional software. And, you do sort of look like your goldfish icon. You're very brightly colored (bright blond hair, pale skin) and you smile a lot!

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geauxtigers - Aug 12, 2006 4:48 pm (#467 of 473)

I remember when we went to NYC a few years back, my mom was worried about being there without my dad, but once we got there, we realized that most of the stuff about crime and what not wasn't true. It was really fun and we enjoyed it a lot. Just goes to show that rumors are usually not true.

I watched the video too and I really enjoyed it! King's piece was hilarious! And Jo got so choked up when that little boy asked it DD was really dead. I felt so bad for her! Also when the guy gave his theory about Snape and she said that his theory was right, my impression what he said something to the extent of 'everything that will happen depends on wether Snape is good or bad'. So when she said that I think she meant that everything depends on Snape's loyalty. Anyone else get that impression?

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Tazzygirl - Aug 13, 2006 2:11 pm (#468 of 473)

I've never been to Ft. Lauderdale, so I can't tell if that is true or not...

I skipped King's and Irving's readings. Wanted to see JKR! I got a little teary-eyed when she did about confirming DD being dead. I can't stand it when people cry. Anyways, Ginny, I got the same impression about Snape too.

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Marè - Aug 13, 2006 5:03 pm (#469 of 473)

Watching the msn link now. (finally!) It's great!

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Puck - Aug 13, 2006 6:40 pm (#470 of 473)

Thanks for the link! I got hubby to hook the laptop up to the TV so I could watch on the big screen. Not as good as being there, but more than I had hoped for a week ago. (I was worried I had missed my chance, as it is now the 13th, but it was still there.)

I agree that she basically just said that it all stems from Snape being good or bad. I also think that Hagrid "is toast" as Ponine put it. She looked misty when she talked about him being the character she would bring to life. I would have thought that if she liked him enough to chose for that question, he'd be obvious choice for the dinner. Yet, she seemed hesitant, and did pick him until KIng said it was okay to choose a character she had killed off.

King and Irving were great! I've read a fair amount of King, but need to try one of Irvings novels, I think. Both were excellent readers.

Okay, lots to check up on! I've been off line for days!

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Essidji - Aug 25, 2006 7:31 am (#471 of 473)

Thank you so much, Gina, for the link. I actually could watch this video today (yes, it still works ), and I envy you for having such shows in your great country.

Unfortunately, commercials for books on TV is kind of forbidden in France (don't ask me why, I have no idea!) and, therefore, we don't have public readings on the medias. Plus, I guess, as our country is only 60 million people big, the audience would be rather poor...

And, mostly important, we have no JK Rowling writing in French . I would have enjoyed something with Bernard Werber anyway...

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Herm oh ninny - Aug 28, 2006 10:18 pm (#472 of 473)

Hey everyone! We moved into our new house on August 3rd, and then we went on vacation so I didn't have much time to post. My sisters and I had a great time at the reading. We were 2 seats away from the Horntails and we walked to Starbucks with them where we met Gina and some of her friends! Gina gave us some cool Snape pencils (yay!) and some other....things(which I have in my purse still as I don't know what to do with them! )Gina even asked me some questions for her Snape Cast!

Finn- I saw you down the row from us but I was afraid to wave or say hi because I didn't want to get you in trouble. The goldfish that Olivia and Priscilla drew did bear quite a resemblance to you so it was as if you were with us

HH11- It was great getting to meet you and the girls! I am glad that you found your way home ok. I must admit that I was kind of worried that you might take a wrong exit on the FDR and wind up god knows where!(I've done it quite a few times!) I always just take the Lincoln tunnel back into Jersey, but I didn't want to confuse you with different directions. Anyway, I had a great time with you guys and hopefully we can get all get together for another Potty event.

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Finn BV - Aug 29, 2006 12:37 pm (#473 of 473)

Herm oh ninny, sorry I didn't see you, but I'm glad my presence was felt.