HPB release date (was HBP - Stacey)

[davewitley]

Luna wrote:

> I completely agree with your timing.  I too believe we'll have a 
new book in 
> the spring.  It's all a matter of marketing, movie release timing, 
etc.  

I think on the whole that spring or (more likely) summer next year 
is about right, but I don't believe movies and marketing (except for 
the logistics of getting the collateral for the book sorted out) 
have very much to do with it.

It became abundantly clear in the run-up to OOP that the only thing 
holding Bloomsbury and Scholastic back was that JKR wasn't ready.  
Bloomsbury were so impatient they made a sort of half-announcement 
and had to row back.  One of them had to publish their financial 
results IIRC without being able to give a date, with adverse 
consequences for their share price.

As far as I can see, the timing of each book is entirely up to JKR: 
if she hasn't finished, they can't publish; if she has, the 
publishers move with almost indecent haste to get the cash rolling 
in; she refuses (since GOF) to tie herself to a deadline and she has 
them over a barrel.  I doubt WB even get a look-in on this.

If you look back around Jan/Feb 03 on this list you will see 
extensive discussion of all these points.

David