JK Rowling: Pioneering New Media

Readers of Harry Potter were excited to hear JK Rowling's YouTube announcement this morning about Pottermore, the site that has been teasing fans for a week. For a while, all we had were a few screen-captures of bookshelves and  a chess board, and now we have just enough to know that whatever this is, it's going to be epic.

I'm writing about this because of the eBook angle. I have become a huge fan and proponent of eBooks over the last couple of years. The publishing company I have started to help build has been exploring ways to expand the multi-media experience with iPad apps and uniquely formatted stories. I am thrilled to see JK Rowling leaping on board the internet-express and helping to break new ground.

Pottermore is more than just a place to buy The Sorcerer's Stone for your eReader. Pottermore, though still largely undefined, is going to be a place for an interactive, Harry Potter reading experience. There will be art (hells yeah!), guest appearances, and Quidditch games. You will be able to create yourself within the Harry Potter World. JK Rowling has promised to share new information she has been "hoarding" from fans.

What down side do I see to this? Sony is hosting it. Considering all that happened with rootkit and the April and June hacks, I'm worried about the security of the site. Harry Potter is perhaps the biggest bullseye in the world when you are trying to make a statement. While print releases of Harry Potter books have had amazing security (threats of jail for anyone who smuggled out text before release), Anonymous still hates Sony, their security, and their policies that drive them to sue someone from modding their home console.

And then another concern comes to mind from Sony's involvement. Sony is way behind in the eReader race. The low price of their reader doesn't seem to keep them ahead of the Kindle and the Nook and there's just no competing with Steve Jobs and Apple's amazing product line. I was selling Sony Readers at Target long before I heard of the Kindle, but I think I sold two a year. I know someone with a reader, but when I see someone reading eBooks at the airport, it's on a Kindle or an iPad. Does Sony's involvement mean that they get exclusive eBook rights?

There is still a lot of uncertainty about this announcement, which you can watch for yourself. One thing is sure, I will be online on July 31, hoping to get in early.