JK Rowling is publishing a new story called 鈥淭he Ickabog,鈥� which will be free to read online to help entertain children and families stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 鈥淗arry Potter鈥� author said Tuesday she wrote the fairy tale for her children as a bedtime story over a decade ago. Set in an imaginary land, it is a stand-alone story 鈥渁bout truth and the abuse of power鈥� for children from 7 to 9 years old and is unrelated to Rowling鈥檚 other books.
Rowling said the draft of the story had stayed in her attic while she focused on writing books for adults. She said her children, now teenagers, were 鈥渢ouchingly enthusiastic鈥� when she recently suggested retrieving the story and publishing it for free.
鈥淔or the last few weeks I鈥檝e been immersed in a fictional world I thought I鈥檇 never enter again. As I worked to finish the book, I started reading chapters nightly to the family again,鈥� she said.
鈥溾�橳he Ickabog鈥檚 first two readers told me what they remember from when they were tiny, and demanded the reinstatement of bits they鈥檇 particularly liked (I obeyed).鈥�
The first two chapters were posted online Tuesday, with daily instalments to follow until July 10.
The book will be published in print later this year, and Rowling said she will pledge royalties from its sales to projects helping those particularly affected by the pandemic.
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The Associated Press
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