From: Melanie Colbert <melaniecolbert>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2003 13:50:40 -0400

Funny, I remember the quote Jeffrey mentioned in a different context...There was a lot of talk when GOBLET came out about the differences between the U.K. version and the U.S. version. I remember Rowling saying that, with the exception of a few words, there were very few changes.

I also remember her saying (more than once, over the years) that her original vision of how Harry's story would unfold throughout all seven books has not changed. But I've never heard her say that she's "above editing"' and I've never heard or read anything that indicates she even thinks that!

Melanie

----- Original Message ----From: "Levine, Arthur" To: "Subscribers of ccbc-net"
  Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 8:33 AM Subject: RE: [ccbc-net] ccbc-net digest 2 Jul 2003


Hi folks.

I just wanted to say that Jo DOES have an editor; in fact she has two; me and Emma Matthewson of Bloomsbury. Together the three of us are quite actively involved in the polishing and editing of her books.

I don't know the specific quote that Jeffrey refers to, but the simple fact is that Jo does a great deal of editing on her books and is extremely receptive to feedback.

It would be a violation of our process for me to go into it in depth, but I just can't go on listening to people talk as if there weren't an editor involved in the book. Folks may or may not like the book itself. They may attribute any or all of their criticisms to me if they like, and see the flaws they perceive as a reflection of my skill or attention.

But I certainly did give it my all as I do with all of my books. And I can't let comments stand that suggest somehow that J.K. Rowling feels she's above editing.

Thanks for all your enthusiastic and close readings of the book. In the end that's the most that an editor can hope for.

Arthur Levine
Received on Wed 02 Jul 2003 12:50:40 PM CDT