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TL 15.2.indd 10 Ontario School Library Association The question-and-answer period was animated and interesting. The answers that appear below are paraphrased. Some of the queries were: Q: How did you come up with the rules of Quidditch? She explained that every civilization has its own sport that defines it and she knew she wanted to give one to Harry's world. After a particular "row" with an ex-boyfriend, she felt especially bloodthirsty and she thinks that's when she got the idea of a bludger! (The audience chuckled at this.) She said, "I always felt it could only have been invented by a woman, because we're very good at multitasking." She told us that the people at Warner Bros. complained that quidditch "doesn't make sense." Q: Which character's death was the worst to write? J.K. Rowling got a bit quieter after hearing this question. "Dobby was bad" she said. The audience all moaned in agreement. "They were ALL bad," she continued. "As a writer you have to do what's right for your plot, even if it is against your heart." When she mentioned Hedwig, everyone moaned loudly again. "Oh come on! She's an OWL!" she exclaimed. This prompted her, as we laughed, to talk about how it bothers her that some people were more upset about animals like Hedwig dying than about people like Mad-Eye Moody. Q: What was the hardest chapter for you to write in Deathly Hallows? Chapter 34, the one where Harry marches to what he believes will be his death. It was most emotional for her because it really was, in essence, her marching Harry to his death as she wouldn't be writing about him anymore. Q: You've been very successful at getting boys to read your work. Do you have any tips for encouraging boys to read more? The famous author got a bit reflective here, and said it needed a lot of thought. "I set out to write what I enjoyed reading," she explained. British publishers asked her to use her initials so as to not turn off boys with her female status. She said, "They were publishing my book. Frankly, they could have called me Snodgrass and I would have agreed. They were publishing my book!" She used her husband as an example - when he was a boy, people approached him with reading material in a "You like dolphins, right? Then here's a book about dolphins for you to read," manner. She said that didn't work and simply recommended: "Good books. Don't be too market-driven, I guess is what I'm saying." Q: Of all your wizarding object inventions, which is your favourite, and why? She liked this question and sort of chuckled, then got serious and said "Dumbledore's Pensieve. That's actually quite easy to answer." She said she felt it was the "most fantastic way to go back into the past. I'd love to possess one." She talked about how it showed you, and others, different perspectives of what had happened in the past, and what a great way it was for her to show us what we needed to see in the story. WARN ING may co ntain s poilers !