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JK Rowling publishes first chapters of new story online

Book will be a fairy tale for kids and benefit those particularly affected by the pandemic
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FILE - In this Nov. 13, 2018 file photo, author J.K. Rowling poses for photographers upon her arrival at the premiere of the film BԪַFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of GrindelwaldBԪַ, in London. JK Rowling is publishing a new story called BԪַThe Ickabog,BԪַ which will be free to read online to help entertain children and families stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic. The BԪַHarry PotterBԪַ author said Tuesday May 26, 2020, that she wrote the fairy tale for her children as a bedtime story over a decade ago. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP, File)

JK Rowling is publishing a new story called BԪַThe Ickabog,BԪַ which will be free to read online to help entertain children and families stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The BԪַHarry PotterBԪַ author said Tuesday she wrote the fairy tale for her children as a bedtime story over a decade ago. Set in an imaginary land, it is a stand-alone story BԪַabout truth and the abuse of powerBԪַ for children from 7 to 9 years old and is unrelated to RowlingBԪַs other books.

Rowling said the draft of the story had stayed in her attic while she focused on writing books for adults. She said her children, now teenagers, were BԪַtouchingly enthusiasticBԪַ when she recently suggested retrieving the story and publishing it for free.

BԪַFor the last few weeks IBԪַve been immersed in a fictional world I thought IBԪַd never enter again. As I worked to finish the book, I started reading chapters nightly to the family again,BԪַ she said.

BԪַBԪַThe IckabogBԪַs first two readers told me what they remember from when they were tiny, and demanded the reinstatement of bits theyBԪַd particularly liked (I obeyed).BԪַ

The first two chapters were posted online Tuesday, with daily instalments to follow until July 10.

The book will be published in print later this year, and Rowling said she will pledge royalties from its sales to projects helping those particularly affected by the pandemic.

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The Associated Press


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