A Question

I want to hear about Wizard rock the most, followed by all the craziness that led up to the release of Book 7.
I only say this because I will be there in Concord to see you :)

Your personal experience of 'being a fan' and JKR moments

Of everything mentioned in your book I think the memories of when Deathly Hallows was on the way and we were all theorizing about deaths of characters and shocking character/plot developments.

I like to hear about how the phenomenon affected your life. How it changed you as a person, and became so much more than a book.

How it became a community for people to be in and grow in and how that affected your "real life."

I think I would most like to hear how you got into the books. I mean, I know you talk about this in your book, but I always like hearing how people discovered the books. Furthermore, I think it would be neat to hear the process of writing this book and how it all came together. Where did you come up with the topic/subject? Is there anything that you wish you could have kept, but didn't? What do you wish you had included or gotten rid of? Yea...:)
can't wait to see you with PotterCast in D.C.! :)

I would most like to hear about the friendships and "match-ups" that the fandom phenomenon has begun. For instance, on a leadership conference trip to Boston three years ago, I became very good friends with a girl after I told her how I spilled butterbeer on my camera. The fandom enriches friendships and starts new ones, and that is very enticing to me.

I also like to hear the creative testimonies of Potter fans who have camped out or gone to a Potter-related event!

I like hearing about JK Rowling and her opinions (if you discussed them) about the fandom and things like the website and wizard rock and conventions. Stuff like that.

I always like to hear about how Harry Potter has affected people's lives. How the series has helped people who are down. I think mostly it's because the series did a lot for me when I went through a rough patch. I was really moved when you wrote in Harry, a History about the community helping you get through 9/11. :)

The way you saw the community forming, and how you see the role of fans potentially shaping future books or media events (like movies).

What brought you into the fandom and what about the series do you think draws so many people together? Where do you think it's going?
Good luck with your presentation!

I would also like to hear about your interactions (i.e. interview) with Jo Rowling and whether you've been in contact with her lately.

I would like to hear about the joy of being a fan, and having fans. This amazing/weird/wonderful/goofy fans within the fandom thing (famous within the fandom). It's one of my favorite things about this community - that wizard wrock ;-)

I would love to hear more about the interviews with JK Rowling and where do you see the fandom going and doing to keep HP alive

Your experiences with meeting J.K. Rowling (specifically in her house to interview her)

The eternal question 'Why?' Why do stories like Harry Potter and TV shows like Lost gather such a following. It creates a fan base that investigates and discusses the bread crumbs of clues that the author(s) leave out in order for those fans to predict the how/why. I loved trying to predict what was going to happen in the next book. That is why I joined the online HP community, to hear the theories others had about the future of the series. That is the magic of the world that J.K. Rowling created. That is what sets the HP fandom apart, its because it is a mystery genre with multiple books leading up to the finale. I just don't get that from other authors.

I think it would be great to share how the books have brought people together in such a wonderful way, and how life-long friendships have been forged as a result of these stories. The Harry Potter community is a world-wide family all it's own. This is something I knew already, having moderated local discussion groups where I live, but I really experienced it at Portus, when perfect strangers became fast friends all because of this common bond.

Your moments with J.K. Rowling, Wizard Rock, & The months leading up to the release of DH.

I would like you to speak about how it changed your professional life.

You write in the book about your jobs as the "Harry" time passed.

If you could expand on how the experience redefined how you have viewed your profession and your goals for your professional life, I think it would illustrate for some of those in the audience how the unexpected happenings in life can have great impacts on one's career.

Oh, and thanks so much for all you do Melissa! We do appreciate coming along for the ride!

Possibly just because I was reading about it on the TV Tropes website today, but my pick would be Shipping Wars (that site quotes Ms. Rowling from your foreword -- http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ShipToShipCombat -- if you didn't know already)

I'm intrigued by this because I didn't ever think about romance in the Potter books until, after the slight Cho Chang tease in book three, book four. That book established, quite clearly, I thought, that Ron and Hermione were meant to be together. Before that I thought "they're just kids, and, really, who marries ANYONE they knew at age 11, anyway?" So I was amazed to learn how passionate some fans were about their desired ship, how heated debate got, and how angry some were when Word of God came down.

So, yes, shipping wars. My vote.

I think it's fascinating how the internet really helped launch the whole HP phenom, I'd love to know more about JK's reaction to it all. OH! And with Emerson's engagement, makes me wonder about the better half of Memerson?? ;-) Anything personal you'd like to share?

I loved all the stuff about how the fandom slowly snuck in and took over your life - like taking that personal day to fly to London and meet Jo for the first time. And well, anything with Jo really : )

Meeting J.K. Rowling. That part of your book had me squee-ing the whole time.

Your experiance with podcasting. I want to know how it felt in NYC that first live show in 2005. What you all talked about, what you thought would happen v. how it turned out. What it was like to have fans.

Talk about those early days of podcasting.

For me I would like to hear about the friendships involved and how they developed through time over the internet. I find many people that aren't familiar with that type of relationship find it odd. It's good to shed some light on that subject I think.

Just talk about Draco and the Malfoys. What else is there?

I love to hear your stories about JKR. It's always nice to hear about any back story that she shared, but I especially enjoy hearing about her and her story.

I would like to hear about the things proceeding book 7, such as tracking down spoilers, plans, etc and stuff that you did to prepare.

There is just so much to the fan experience... but this is so different from other fandoms I've been in for the last 40 years. What is your take on the difference between, say, the HP phenomenon and the 45 year span of the Star Trek fandom? How has the internet helped or hurt in this? God, I sound like like my Grandmother setting a term paper subject!

Please touch on how the HP/internet phenomena has effected people of all ages. I got into the podcasts through my son and now I have this whole HP friends/events life on my own. See you on the 3rd!

I always enjoy hearing about "behind the scenes" info - details about the writing process, the interviews (particularly Jo and Laura Mallory), research, etc. I'm looking forward to your LeakyCon event! See you there. :)

How the internet helped you find those pockets of hardcore fans back in the early 2000's

i'd also like to hear about the early podcasting days

The parts that I enjoyed more in your book was about your experience as a fan meeting JKR. Also the caziest theories you heard.

My question would be: What is it about the Harry Potter fandom that caused it to come together in such extraordinarily positive and charitable ways?

What is the role of Jo Rowling and her attitude toward using her success in ways that benefit the less fortunate?

What has been the role of the Leaky crew? There is no denying that the "Leaky" people have been influential.

What has been Melissa Anelli's role? Yes, I think you and your ethics have played a large part in shaping the fandom's response.

What gives the Potter fans the ability to come together in ways that other fandoms have not?

Hope you have a great time with the speech. Break a leg!

Anything with J.K. Rowling because it's something most fans have not had the privilege to, so we need to live vicariously through you!

I see that lots of people want to know more about your one-two-one experiences with Jo. Which would be near the top of my list.

I think though, the most moving part of the book was the dark side i.e. Laura Mallory and those who blame things like Columbine on HP. That is a very bizarre part of the whole phenomenon. I wonder what Laura Mallory is doing these days now that all seven books are out? Still trying to get them banned?

I really loved how you talked about 9/11 and how the online community, even back in 2001, was so strong and unified and emotionally helped each other. If I were to interview you (as I've suggested) that'd be one of the major things on my plate to talk about. The collective power of a oftentimes physically disparate community.

I'd love to hear more about the older members of the fandom. Those who were 30 and above when they discovered the books. What it's like for others (as I am one one of them) reading what many consider a kids book and falling in love with it.

All of the above (especially Tim's questions). On this week's Pottercast you were talking about the change in WB's attitude toward giving you exclusives, photos, etc. Perhaps more about how that change came about; the hoops you had to jump though and the relationships you made that helped the big business people realise the fans WERE their market and they should treat them nicely. :)