Bookstore Unveils New
‘Harry Potter’ with All-Nighter

June 19, 2007

By Christine Clark

Millions of fans are under the spell of the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling and many of them are eagerly awaiting the release of the last novel in the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." To celebrate the release the University of California, San Diego Bookstore will host a midnight book release party at the new Bookstore café, Perks.

The event starts at 9 p.m., July 20 and will culminate at 12:01 a.m., July 21 when readers will finally be able to get their hands on a copy. The party is free and open to the public.

Several Harry Potter-themed activities are scheduled to take place at the party including a costume contest, coloring drawing stations and gift giveaways. Harry Potter fans will be able to participate in Harry Potter trivia and discuss memorable story moments, according to UCSD Bookstore Marketing Manager Meredyth Potter.

The heightened buzz around the latest Harry Potter book was the impetus for the midnight book release party, according to UCSD Bookstore Book Division Manager Roger Hailstork. Presales of the novel on websites such as Amazon.com and Barnes &Nobleplaced it on the bestseller’s list just hours after the release was announced on Feb. 1, 2007.

The publicity for the book has been mounting – the film adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" will be released the week before "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" hits bookshelves and author Rowling will go on tour to promote the novel.

"Because the fans of this series are usually so eager and enthused to read the book as soon as it can be sold bookstores including ours often create ways to get the books in the readers’ hands as soon as possible," Hailstork stated in an e-mail. "The book has a ‘street date’ of July 21, 2007 meaning that it is not allowed to be sold anywhere in the United States prior to the 21st. Therefore we can sell the book officially at 12:01a.m. Saturday morning."

Potter said that although school will not be in session, she expects a large turnout. She added that many of the staff at the Bookstore have been eagerly awaiting the release.

"We have been advertising the event since May, so the word has gotten out to everyone on campus," Potter said. "There are still a lot of parents living and working around campus and we expect a lot of staff to come. I’m sure some of the faculty will be there too."

The event is also attracting members of the La Jolla community and the UCSD Bookstore has invited children from local camps to the party, Hailstork said.

"We believe that parents in the area are going to bring their children," Hailstork said. "We hope they come and we have a number of activities for them."

Children can get their face painted at the party with Harry Potter symbols like lightning bolts and they can draw at the coloring station.

The midnight book release party will be the first event in the new UCSD Bookstore café, Perks, which will open the week prior to the party. Harry Potter-themed food and beverages such as "butterbeer," which is a non-alcoholic drink featured in the book, will be served.

Attendees who buy "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" from the UCSD bookstore in advance will receive a 40 percent discount on the purchase if they pick it up at the midnight release party.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is the seventh and final book in the series. It is rumored to have a dark theme; however Hailstork said he expects fans at the party to be excited about the novel.

Over 60 customers have pre-purchased "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" from the UCSD Bookstore and Hailstork hopes many of the purchasers attend in the midnight book release party.

 

Media Contact: Christine Clark, 858 534-7618