Note: due to valid concerns expressed by several people about giving such a gift directly to a minor, the proposal now is to give it directly to Ms. Rowling, but with the suggestion that she shares it with any children she chooses, so she can see their reactions.
Hi folks,
As we all know, none of the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling are legally available in e-book format. Whether due to concerns about piracy, a desire to have her books read on paper, or
both, Rowling and her publishers
have declined to authorize electronic editions. Some publishers seem to believe that e-books
just won't work for the juvenile market. Yet, as we also know, enthusiastic fans generally make e-book versions of each installment in the series available shortly after the paper edition is published -- sometimes
within 24 hours. And other authors have successfully sold e-boks that are often compared with Rowling's:
Christopher Paolini,
Phillip Pullman,
Susan Cooper, etc.
I believe that most readers who download unauthorized editions would happily pay for legitimate e-book versions. I also believe that Ms. Rowling may not have had a chance to experience the new technologies available for enjoying e-books, most particularly E Ink. Finally, I believe that contrary to the opinions of those publishers quoted above, kids could be quite willing to read e-books. They're just waiting for the right device to hit the market -- and perhaps, for someone to lead the way.
Hence my proposal. Jessica Rowling, J.K. Rowling's daughter, turns 14 on July 28, 2007. I suggest we take up a collection using Amazon Honor System (or a similar tool) to buy Jessica a Sony Reader and load it up with books we think she'll like -- a combination of public domain classics and contemporary works. Just to increase the coolness factor, I suggest we create a custom cover for the Reader using one of the colored covers sold by Sony and an embroidered patch (see below for mockup). And to encourage people to participate, I suggest we make this a fundraiser for
Médecins Sans Frontières, an organization I know Rowling
has supported in the past. If, for some reason, insufficient funds are collected to reach our goal of the purchase of the reader and books, all funds would be donated to MSF. If, as I hope, we exceed the amount required for this project, all additional funds would be donated to MSF.
Suggestions for books we might include on the Reader have been discussed elsewhere, and I will summarize here:
The Oz series:
http://www.feedbooks.com/discover/view_author/96
Grimm's Fairy Tales:
http://www.feedbooks.com/discover/view_book/187
The Arabian Nights:
http://www.feedbooks.com/discover/view_book/208
A Christmas Carol:
http://www.feedbooks.com/discover/view_book/59
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland:
http://www.feedbooks.com/discover/view_book/22
Treasure Island:
http://www.feedbooks.com/discover/view_book/97
Works by
Jane Austen,
Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, and
E. Nesbit (
known favorite authors of Ms. Rowling)
Eragon and
Eldest by
Christopher Paolini, the
His Dark Materials trilogy by
Phillip Pullman, the
Dark is Rising cycle by
Susan Cooper, the
Abhorsen trilogy by
Garth Nix, and/or the works of
Meg Cabot. Other suggestions are welcome.
If there is at least some interest here, I will also publicize this fundraiser in other Harry Potter related areas, e.g. the Harry Potter for Grownups email list,
http://mugglenet.com, and
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org. These have been successful venues for muggle fundraisers in the past, and I think we could get a lot of support.