New Harry Potter book? J.K. Rowling says it’s possible

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has opened the door to the possibility of a new book about the boy wizard -- but only if she manages to conjure up “a fabulous idea.”

Rowling told a BBC interviewer on the eve of publication of her new book, “The Casual Vacancy,” that she is at the point in her career where she doesn’t have to write “just to make money.” As a result, she says, she can focus on creating something for her own growth and enjoyment as a writer, and for her readers.

Rowling said she would be willing to revisit the Harry Potter series -- whose success has made her one of the world’s richest women -- if she came up with a plot that met those criteria.

PHOTOS: J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter

“Harry Potter truly liberated me in the sense that there’s only one reason to write, for me -- if I genuinely have something I want to say, and I want to publish it,” she told the BBC. And she added: “Now if I had a fabulous idea that came out of that world -- because I loved writing it -- I’d do it.”

Such a decision would no doubt be welcome news to the legion of Rowling fans around the globe. The publishing industry would welcome it as well: Rowling’s books helped transform young adult literature because the tomes spoke to kids, not down to them.

Her newest book, however, is most decidedly not child’s play. “The Casual Vacancy” hits shelves on Thursday, and will arrive shrouded in secrecy, according to Times books writer Carolyn Kellogg. Publisher Little, Brown has taken the unusual step of holding the book back from advance reviews.

Time will tell whether that’s a shrewd move intended to help build excitement around the new book, or because of fears -- and we’re just speculating here -- that earlier reviews could only hurt, not help.

Would you like to see Harry Potter return for at least one more adventure?

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