Potter's ready to cast spells
2005-07-13 11:28
Cape Town - Get out your magic wands and practise your spells. JK Rowling is back with another instalment of wizard kid Harry Potter's adventures.
All around the world fans are eagerly waiting to get their hands on a copy of the new book and South Africa is no exception.
On July 16 the long-awaited Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be released worldwide, but for those of you who can't wait, the fun already starts on July 15.
Bookshops around the country will be throwing magical parties to celebrate the launch.
Cape Town:
Exclusive Books at Cavendish Square
Starting at 22:30 on July 15 there will be magicians, a fancy dress competition for the best Potter character, prizes, quizzes and a treasure hunt. A big clock will mark off the minutes to 01:00 while visuals from the Harry Potter movies will play on a large TV screen. At 01:00 a gong will sound, the book will appear in Exclusive Books and the frantic fans will fill the store.
Exclusive Books at Somerset Mall
Live entertainment, live radio broadcasts, dress up competition, lucky draws. Exclusive Books will sell the book at 01:00 in the courtyard and until such time will have the more than 100 boxes of books guarded by security.
Exclusive Books at Tygervalley
Also live entertainment starting at 22:00, the book will go on sale at 01:00.
Johannesburg
Exclusive Books at Montecasino
EB has opened a whole Potter bookshop at Montecasino. Step inside and watch the magical world of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince come to life. Privet drive, Hogwarts School, the forbidden forest - all waiting to be experienced by you. It's an enchanting 20 minute ride filled with mystical elements JK Rowling has made us love: a sorting hat and live monster books, talking tables and wands from Olivanders! The book will go on sale at 01:01 on Saturday.
Estoril at Fourways Mall
The official launch starts at 23:00 and continues through the night - with a whole lot of events.
CNA stores will also be open for midnight parties:
Gauteng:
Menlyn, East Rand Mall, Sandton, Cresta, Fourways, Killarney Mall, Clearwater, Rosebank, Hyde Park, Westgate, Centurion, Brooklyn, Benoni Lakeside Mall, Hatfield
KwaZulu-Natal:
Eastgate, Pavillion, Gateway, Woodlands, Midlands Mall, Musgrave
Lowveld/Nelspruit
Cape Town:
Victoria Wharf, Canal Walk, Tyger Valley, Somerset Mall, Vincent Park, Walmer Park, Greenacres, Mimosa Mall, Cavendish Square.
In Scotland multi-millionaire author JK Rowling will unveil the new book at an exclusive party in Edinburgh Castle, at a minute past midnight.
Her audience will be fifty aspiring cub reporters (aged eight-16) attending the children's press conference weekend on behalf of newspapers from around the world.
Two lucky South African children will be among the reporters, South African distributors, Jonathan Ball Publishers, says.
The cub reporters will meet Rowling who will give them each a signed copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
They will then have the weekend to read the book in a specially-created Reading Room at Edinburgh Castle before attending the Children's Press Conference on July 17 to question Rowling about the new book.
On the net:
www.jkrowling.com
www.Potterparties.com