JK Rowling launches website

[Varda]

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has launched a personal website which gives fans unprecedented access to the fiercely private writer's life and work.

The homepage features her untidy desk, complete with a spider running across the screen, and has links to pages of news, family snaps and hints about the plot of the sixth Harry Potter book.

The site, which also warns fans against buying copies of her books with forged signatures, had 17 million visitors in its first week.

In the news section she confirms that book six is under way and that the website will contain clues about the plot for those who can work out where to find them.

Other snippets reveal that she recently dropped into a Harry Potter internet chat room under a false name and gave hints about future plot developments - and was ignored.

She has promised to regularly update the site, and said: "I receive so many thousands of letters these days that it is impossible to read, let alone answer, them all.

"This is where I can tell the truth about rumours or news stories, where I can share extra information I have not put in the books, where I can give hints and clues about what is going to happen to Harry Potter."

For those of you who haven't found the hidden things around her site, here is a list, don't read on if you don't want to know.

*
**
***
****
*****
******
*******
********
*********
**********
*********
********
*******
******
*****
****
***
**
*
**
***
****
*****
******
*******
********
*********
**********
*********
********
*******
******
*****
****
***
**
***
***
****
*****
******
*******
********
*********
**********
*********
********
*******
******
*****
****
***
**
*
Still want to know? It's going to spoil it for you!

Ok.

Phone: On the main page, top left, you'll see a cell phone. If you type in MAGIC (62442) than you will get something special

Links: The pen (lower right) is a portkey to a shelf full of books. Click on the book with a question mark (?) on the spine and drag book to the left. You should see a key; drag the key over to the box on the left, the box will open and you'll get something special. Also in this room there is a potion that you can double click on.

Fan sites: Click on the key near the middle of the main paige. It will take you to a shelf full of trophies. Put the circle medals into their circular holders one the middle shelf and you'll see something special.

That's all I have for for now, if anyone finds anything else please post it here so I can find it too!

[Varda]

Secrets: A guide to finding the little easter eggs Rowling has hidden throughout her site:

- The Cell Phone: Besides unlocking a hidden surprise, if you stay on the front page long enough, the cell phone in the top left corner will ring. Pick it up to see if someone is on the other end!

- The Cell Phone 2: Dial 733837 (P-E-E-V-E-S) and you'll unlock another item for your scrapbook! (Thanks to Lindsay for this secret)

- The Eraser: In the Extra Stuff section, grab the eraser on the bottom of the bulletin board and move it around the blank paper. Then, double click the small green leaves above the image, and they'll disappear. Next on the main page, wait for the spider to crawl on the screen and double click that. In the links section double click the potion bottle on the shelf. Finally in the Fansites section click the feather. Clicking on all of them will add something to the scrapbook! (Thanks to everyone that sent this in!)

- The Key: On the Links page, click the book with the question mark on its spine and move it to the left, then grab the key and put it on the chest on the right side of the screen.

- The Leaking Pen: Go to the Rubbish Bin area, then double click on the pen to the left of the trash bin. This will crack it in half and make the pen leak ink that will reveal the secret to getting another item added to your scrapbook. The first item you need to click on are the eggs, located on the right side of the Rubbish Bin page. Next, go to the Extra Stuff section and click on the hair seen right under the blank pad of paper. Then finally, head over to the Fan Sites page. Click and drag the empty medal box to the right or left and it will reveal marbles. Click on those and you'll have a new item added to your scrapbook! (Thanks to all of those who were quick on figuring it out!)

- The Light Switch: Click it, and the light turns off. Click it again, light turns back on again. Like magic! We're not sure why she has a light switch on her desk... or tabloids, for that matter. Tsk tsk, Jo!

- The 2nd Light Switch: Another light switch can be found in the "Mysterious Door" area, which will turn on the light outside of that oh-so-mysterious room. While it doesn't reveal any secrets at the present time, maybe one day it will!

- The Marble: On the main page, there is a marble located right in between the FAQ portkey and the Welcome notepad. Browse around the site for a moment, then go back to the main page and wait a few minutes until a Mysterious Wind blows through. Click the marble when it starts to swirl and you'll unlock another goodie in your notebook! (Thanks to everyone who sent this in!)

- The Medals: Go to Fan Sites, there are two different medals with a question mark. Pick up and place them in the empty holders next to the Fan Site Trophy.

- The Phone: Dial 62442 (M-A-G-I-C, as mentioned in OoP) and you'll unlock something neat for your scrapbook.

- The Radio: In the Extra Stuff section, the radio can be turned on or off to listen to some music while browing the area.

The Room of Requirement

Possibly the most talked-about section of JKRowling.com is the Room of Requirement, which was very mysterious until it was unlocked for the first time to find the official title of Book 6 (with a little riddle at first, of course).

On June 28th, 2004, JK Rowling revealed the title to Book 6: Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince.

On August 16th, 2004, JK Rowling revealed the first quote from Book 6 describing who is thought to be the Half Blood Prince:

(He) looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair and his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and a certain rangy, loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp.

On October 31st, 2004 the door opened again for the 3rd time, and Jo revealed the names of 3 chapters from HBP, which were:

Chapter Two: Spinners End
Chapter Six: Draco's Detour
Chapter Fourteen: Felix Felicis

On December 20th, 2004, the door opened again for the 4th time, and Jo has announced that HBP is completed, and a release date will be coming within 24 hours.

Peeves

Peeves not only causes trouble in Hogwarts, but he's also been up to some dirty work around Jo's desk, making appearances throughout the site. All of these visits from him require you to remain on the page for a couple to several minutes. Read below to find out where he's hiding and what trouble he's been up to:
-The Main Page: After browsing around the site, come back to the main page for a few minutes and a sudden wind and a black doxy will blow across JK Rowling's desk, making the cup of pens fall over and the watch go out of control.

-The Mysterious Door: Look for a messages from Peeves to appear in the mirror!

-Fan Sites: Peeves will steal the first 2 ribbons.

-Links: Peeves will blow out the candles.

-Extras: Peeves will remove a message from the Bulletin Board

-Rubbish Bin: Peeves will send a wind across the room and move a gum wrapper to reveal a mysterious number. He will also break a 2nd pen in half.