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CNN Live Saturday
J.K. Rowling Prefers to Let Her Books Speak for Themselves
Aired June 21, 2003 - 12:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: While her novel is the talk of fans around the world, author J.K. Rowling prefers to keep away from journalists, and lets the book speak for itself. CNN's Jim Boulden found out why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We would have liked to have asked J.K. Rowling herself why she doesn't do much to publicize her books. But she hasn't done an interview with CNN for nearly three years. Though the answer probably hasn't changed.
J.K. ROWLING, AUTHOR: Although this has been a fabulous experience, I don't think I'm going to cry when the journalists pack up and go home and don't want to speak to me so often. That's truly not what it's about for me.
BOULDEN: What seems to worry her most is that to much exposure could lead to her plot lines leaking out.
ROWLING: Yes.
BOULDEN (on camera): This is the only television interview Rowling has given before the release of her latest book. It was screened in Britain on the BBC Thursday night. Now Rowling admitted that her insistence on secrecy could be seen as a marketing ploy. But she says honestly, she just doesn't want the kids to find out what's in her upcoming books.
(voice-over): Rowling has on occasion talked about her past as a depressed and struggling writer, and as a single mother. But she never imagined that it would continue to be fodder for the tabloid press.
MARCEL KHOBIL, THE BRAND COUNCIL: The more she remains silent, the more the media is searching for things to say.
BOULDEN: But marketing experts say unlike an actress or politician, Rowling is not the idol, is not the hero. Harry Potter is.
KHOBIL: What's really important is Harry Potter is a magical figure. And therefore, just like you don't want to see the hand in the ventriloquist's puppet, so you don't want to see J.K. Rowling pulling the strings. BOULDEN: Mysterious, complicated, shy, very private. All these terms have been used to describe Rowling; she doesn't go to great pains to dispel those myths. And Rowling says in some ways she can't wait until the seventh and final book is finished. When she can then in her words, "Fade back into blissful obscurity".
Jim Boulden, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Themselves>
Aired June 21, 2003 - 12:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: While her novel is the talk of fans around the world, author J.K. Rowling prefers to keep away from journalists, and lets the book speak for itself. CNN's Jim Boulden found out why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We would have liked to have asked J.K. Rowling herself why she doesn't do much to publicize her books. But she hasn't done an interview with CNN for nearly three years. Though the answer probably hasn't changed.
J.K. ROWLING, AUTHOR: Although this has been a fabulous experience, I don't think I'm going to cry when the journalists pack up and go home and don't want to speak to me so often. That's truly not what it's about for me.
BOULDEN: What seems to worry her most is that to much exposure could lead to her plot lines leaking out.
ROWLING: Yes.
BOULDEN (on camera): This is the only television interview Rowling has given before the release of her latest book. It was screened in Britain on the BBC Thursday night. Now Rowling admitted that her insistence on secrecy could be seen as a marketing ploy. But she says honestly, she just doesn't want the kids to find out what's in her upcoming books.
(voice-over): Rowling has on occasion talked about her past as a depressed and struggling writer, and as a single mother. But she never imagined that it would continue to be fodder for the tabloid press.
MARCEL KHOBIL, THE BRAND COUNCIL: The more she remains silent, the more the media is searching for things to say.
BOULDEN: But marketing experts say unlike an actress or politician, Rowling is not the idol, is not the hero. Harry Potter is.
KHOBIL: What's really important is Harry Potter is a magical figure. And therefore, just like you don't want to see the hand in the ventriloquist's puppet, so you don't want to see J.K. Rowling pulling the strings. BOULDEN: Mysterious, complicated, shy, very private. All these terms have been used to describe Rowling; she doesn't go to great pains to dispel those myths. And Rowling says in some ways she can't wait until the seventh and final book is finished. When she can then in her words, "Fade back into blissful obscurity".
Jim Boulden, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Themselves>
