[NOTD] News Of The Day - 16/07/2007 - Page 2

Raincoast pleads with Potter fans to keep final book a secret

Monday, July 16, 2007

TORONTO (CP) - Raincoast Books is pleading with Harry Potter fans to keep the boy wizard's final adventure a secret.

"We would want to make a public appeal for fans around the world to be patient until the end of this week when everybody will discover the secret together," Raincoast spokesman Jamie Broadhurst said from Vancouver.

The request came Monday after rumours that a Vancouver man had discovered the manuscript for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" on a file-sharing website.

Broadhurst wouldn't comment on that specific case, but said that any potential breach of security surrounding the final Potter book - to be released Saturday at 12:01 a.m. - is being investigated.

"There will be lots and lots of speculation online. It happens every time," he said.

"There are many, many, many rumours. All those rumours do get explored."

Raincoast has gone to great lengths to keep a lid on Potter secrecy in the past. Measures have included legal action to prevent the contents of the books from being revealed before the official publication date.

Source: Books Bulletin