J.K. Rowling
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They will not be alone. The kids, an international group who won the coveted slots to report for local papers back home, will be joined by fire-eaters and jugglers after being taken to the castle by 12 carriages drawn by black horses decorated with black ostrich plumes.
Edinburgh Castle will be decorated, too – to look like Harry's wizardry academy, Hogwarts. The magic moment will be when Rowling appears from behind a secret panel. She'll not only read portions of the book, but give a copy to each child.
A live TV feed of the Edinburgh event will be plugged into the Manhattan Barnes & Noble store where actor Jim Dale – the voice of Rowling's Potter books in their audio versions – will host a party to celebrate the much-anticipated book's release.
Over in Times Square, the gargantuan Toys 'R' Us store will also be converted in Hogwarts, in one of a scheduled 5,000 celebrations marking the book's publication in America.
So far, the biggest party looks to be happening in Mount Prospect, Ill. Estimated guest total: 10,000.
