Sorry, Harry Potter fans: J.K. Rowling is working on a new novel, but it will not revolve around any Hogwarts residents. Instead, Rowling is shifting publishers — from Scholastic to Little, Brown — and audiences — from children to adults — for her first post-Harry Potter novel.
Her next book will be "very different," Rowling said in a statement, adding that "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."
The adult novel will be published worldwide in both print and e-book editions. Details about the book's title, release date and subject matter will be released at a later date.
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Rowling's entire statement: "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."
Little, Brown publisher David Shelley, who will be Rowling's editor for the new project, said in a statement, "For me, quite simply, it is a personal and professional dream come true to be working with J.K. Rowling. She is one of the best storytellers in the world, and I am looking forward enormously to helping bring her new novel for adults to her fans and admirers, and to introducing her writing to new readers the world over."
Rowling's seven Harry Potter novels are bestsellers that have sold more than 450 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 74 languages, a rep for Scholastic, the U.S. publisher of the Harry Potter books, tells TheWrap.
Advertising Age estimates the Harry Potter brand — including the books, movies and Florida theme park — is worth $15 billion, while Forbes estimated Rowling herself was worth $1 billion (making her the first billion dollar author) before the final two Potter books were even released.