Well, let us all be honest, we’ve been wondering what on Earth J. K. Rowling will write next and who will be publishing it…now we know!
Little, Brown Book Group announces that the new novel for adults by J. K. Rowling is entitled The Casual Vacancy. The book will be published worldwide in the English language in hardback, ebook, unabridged audio download and on CD on Thursday 27th September 2012.
The Casual Vacancy
When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.
Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.
Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.
And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?
Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.
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Rowling said in an earlier press release, “Although I’ve enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world. The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life.”
So, it looks like Mrs Rowling has truly moved on from the world of Harry Potter, will it be for good? I really couldn’t tell you…I guess for J. K. Rowling, whatever she decided to do will be a success. I guess, when you think about it, Harry Potter came out what, 15 years ago now? I think I was about 10 (I’m 25 now), so perhaps Rowling is just doing as she did with the series, allowing her works content to grow with her target audience. I’m sure readers will follow her to her new work in crime fiction, which is as popular as ever.
Seeing as it is confirmed not to be fantasy though, this is sadly the last time I’ll be blogging on J. K. Rowling for a while! It was fun whilst it lasted J. K.
Richard Marpole
Jennie Ivins
Dumbledore prequel! Oh well. I heard it’s gonna be her take on the recent rise in Swedish crime thrillers.
I’ll be excited to read it. I do hope she keeps with the fantasy genre, but regardless it will be an interesting read.
It’s going to be difficult to live up to the Harry Potter fame.
When her new book is released, I’m sure there will be thousands of people crying about being disappointed and how she was a hack with the Potter series.
But for me, I’m going to give her new book a shot, and I’m going to go into it without comparing it to the Potter books. She’s trying to start a new chapter in her life (adult books) and I think it’s only fair to give her a blank slate to work with.
I admire that she is announcing it in this way and not just using a pseudonym. So many people will be waiting to hate it no matter what it is, I really hope that there are more people who will read it with a fresh mind.
She is a superb storymaker and I can’t wait to see how her writing translates to an adult audience.
Now, can I get a signed copy…? 🙂
I remember hearing a comment from her that she was going to do a crime thriller, but that may have just been a throwaway line to get a reporter off her back. This first book will best sell, the phenomenal Harry Potter success will guarantee that. The second book, if there is one, will be the acid test. I’ll follow this with interest and probably give the new book a go.
I can’t understand why people hate Harry Potter so much! Compared to Twlight JK Rowling is a FANTASTIC writer. Maybe I’m biased because I grew up with Harry Potter, but that’s besides the point. 🙂 I love her work and anything that she writes will be amazing no doubt. I’m with Libertine, can I get a signed copy?? Please??
Interestly I am also 25 but always felt I was a bit too old for Harry Potter. I started reading the first book soon after reading LOTR and felt it talked down to me completely. In the end I never picked up book 2. I think I was 12 at the time. Rowling has been a writer who has failed to catch my imagination, I will be very interested to see how she tackles adult novels and what genre she writes in. Most of all I hope she writes for herself and not to please publishers, critics and Harry Potter fans.
Sounds like Pagford is a village in Midsomer… 😛
Brilliant post! It would be great if there was a character named Barnaby
Hey gang. Your site is incredible. I’ll be subscribing in my google reader for sure. Found you through the Goodreads competition. No offense, but is this actually an independent book blog? I thought it was multiple authors…
Multiple people post but it is run by just one guy 🙂
Thanks for the compliments! 😀
I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. The story line doesn’t sound intriguing for me. I LOVED the Harry Pottery series and I didn’t grow up with it. I didn’t even read it until a few years ago. So, is there even a slight chance of fantastical elements in this story?
I am very curious to see what this book will be like. I am glad that she announced it like she did, otherwise I might have been looking for an adult fantasy. Perhaps knowing it is a different genre altogether, it will help make the break between Harry and The Vacancy? Still, I will probably read it…
I couldn’t be more happy to see this announcement. I read and love the Harry Potter series as an adult. I’ve been hoping she would write more, and possibly for adults. Very much looking forward to this.
I too found your site when voting on Goodreads. I like the look of it, having just got here and not explored it yet. I imagine I’ll lurk for a bit and probably comment as well.
I remember reading that she was considering a pen name before releasing her next novel. I wonder if she decided to keep her name so that more people will buy this and it will stand out from the crowd in a way it otherwise…might not?
Meh… I am not sold on it, but more power to those who read her work. I never did, never saw the need to.