In a new interview with OOTP director David Yates and Potter producer David Heyman, they discuss briefly how they plan to adapt the Half-Blood Prince book.

Yates: It's about the kind of emotional and sexual politics of being a teenager. It's a very different swing, the next film. I think it needs to be for the series to keep evolving. In my work, every choice I've made I've always gone for something in the neurotically opposite direction. Once I've finished something, I've stayed keen to stay fresh as a story teller to try something different. The "Potter" world is so rich. They're so many things to play with in that world that it's possible to regear so the next one will be very different I think.

The Scotsman reports today that Half-Blood Prince is the most borrowed book in Scottish libraries:

The PLR's registrar, Jim Parker, said the regional trend in Scotland was much more pronounced than in other UK areas. The Welsh top ten, for instance, features only one Welsh writer, Iris Gower, at number ten.

"Whether it's because they want to read Scots writers, or because there are so many good Scottish crime writers, I'm not sure. Perhaps a bit of both.

HBP was followed by two Ian Rankin novels: A Question of Blood and Freshmarket Close. Thanks to Jamison for the tip!

For the first time in five years, JK Rowling has won a literary prize in her own country. In a poll of 3,000 schoolchildren, aged 8-12, Half-Blood Prince was voted the best Scottish children's book. Jo was unable to attend the awards ceremony, but did pass along this message, containing news of progress on the seventh HP book:

"Thank you so much for this award. I'm sure any writer will agree that it's always reassuring to receive recognition for your work, but it's particularly meaningful when the decision has been made by the readers themselves. To them, I'm enormously grateful and delighted that Harry Potter continues to give so much pleasure.

"I'm sorry I am unable to receive this award in person today, but I currently have my head down writing the final book, which is coming along nicely."

Thanks to everyone who emailed!

As we reported last month, the American Library Association asked teen readers to vote for their favorite book as part of Teen Read Week. The Association has now announced the winners, and, no doubt due to MuggleNetters voting, Half-Blood Prince topped the top-ten list!

Jo Rowling recently donated a new, autographed copy of Half-Blood Prince to the Helen Ritson Trust Fund, a charity that benefits underprivileged children. You can now bid for the book on eBay, but note that the auction will close in three days.

The American Library Association is asking teens to vote this week for their three favorite books, with ALA subsequently posting the top 10. Half-Blood Prince is among those nominated, and you can vote here. Thanks to Kelly for the tip!

Following the release of the sixth Harry Potter book, rumors have been abuzz concerning the identity of RAB, the mysterious character who left a note in the cave in the novel's closing chapters. So far, JK has remained relatively tight-lipped on the subject, although she said Regulus Black, Sirius' brother, was a "fine guess" in the MN/TLC interview last summer. Subsequently, (highlight)-->"Arcturus"<-- was suggested by fans as the late Death Eater's middle name after the name of a certain star.

Now, the Portuguese HP translator, Isabel Nunes, has reportedly confirmed this in an interview with a Portuguese fan site. Apparently, before Book 6 hit shelves, she contacted Jo about the character's gender, and was told the full name as well as the gender. Her reason for shedding light on the topic at this point is to "keep awake" the excitement for the seventh book. In the past, Nunes also clarified that Blaise Zabini is a man and Professor Sinistra is a woman.

EDIT: Some readers have written in letting us know that the interview where Nunes said this was conducted last November - you can see it here, page 15. Also, according to commenter Ismara, "A translator doesn't have to sign a contract of confidentiality... Translators can share that type of information as long as it's public. If JKR told her the middle name and the gender, it's public information." Jo hasn't confirmed or denied this - let's hope she doesn't so as to leave room for more conjecture - but take that for what you will!

The Potter series helped the publishing company's 2006 revenues with the release of the HBP paperback edition, which raised first-half profits by 6.5%. Additionally, Bloomsbury hopes to tie in the series with its upcoming culinary genre as it attempts "to expand beyond Harry Potter."

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

In the first editions of Half-Blood Prince, an error discovered in "An Excess of Phlegm" stated that Hermione received one Exceeds Expectations and ten Outstanding grades in her OWLs. However, she only took ten subjects. Our Potter Encyclopedia had staggered a guess that she took the "Muggle Studies exam and passed it with top marks despite dropping the subject at the end of her third year."

Now, HarryLatino.com reports that this was indeed a genuine error and has been rectified in recent editions of Book 6; it now reads she earned nine Os and one EE. Phew!

We just left the second night of "An Evening with Harry, Carrie, and Garp" where JK Rowling answered some BIG questions for everyone. Here's the new facts:

- Other than Harry, Jo would most want to bring Hagrid into the real world.
- There's more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye, and we'll find out what's unique about her in Book 7.
- Don't expect Dumbledore to pull a Gandalf.
- Dumbledore IS really dead. "Everyone needs to move through the five stages of grief" and get past his death. She also apologizes to DumbledoreIsNotDead.com for ruining the purpose of their site.
- Jo's future after Potter includes taking a long break from writing. She also plans to release a young children's book (currently half-written) that is shorter than any Potter novel.
- The librarians in the Potter novels have to be evil, otherwise the students would have nice librarians to help them find all the information they need. "Hermione wouldn't have to do any work!"
- Author Salman Rushdie, along with his son, came to ask, after a detailed theory, if Snape is good or bad. Jo replied that "your opinion was correct." Rushdie's opinion, unfortunately, was hard to follow.
- After being asked if there was one question fans should have asked by now but haven't, Jo couldn't reference any question in particular.
- While taking a shower before the reading today, Jo said that she had come up with a different title for Book 7 that would work better than her current title. No word on which title will be used, though.
- Stephen King said he was scared of Death Eaters, to which Jo replied, "I scared Stephen King."
- Moderator Soledad O'Brien asked the three authors who from their books they'd invite to dinner. Stephen immediately said he'd invite Harry and Hermione.
- While Jo is listing the characters who she'd invite to dinner, she names the trio but then pauses. The crowd begins to shout out other characters, but Jo responds, "I'm the only one who knows who lives through the series," accidentally implying that she could only list characters who make it through the final book. Her final two choices (after realizing what she said) were Dumbledore and Hagrid.

Whoopi Goldberg once again kicked off the night. Actor Tim Robbins introduced Stephen King, Stanley Tucci (starring in Devil Wears Prada) introduced John Irving, and Kathy Bates introduced Jo. All three of the writers read the same passages that they read last night.

UPDATE: Reader Kate sent us this report from last night. It includes some extra details on what Jo said regarding Book 7.

UPDATE 2: You can see two videos from last night here, thanks to Deepty.

UPDATE 3: Photos here, thanks to Bess Maines.

The paperback edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released today in the United States. Save yourself a journey to the bookstore by purchasing it online at Amazon for only $9.99.

USA Today reports an initial print-run of two million copies and says that if this book follows the same pattern as the first five, it should reach #1 on the bestsellers list.

It was just one year ago today that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released to the world! Even though so much time has passed, fans are still going wild over Horcruxes (Can Harry find them?), Snape (Good or Bad?), and just WHO will die in the final book?

Remember the moment you first heard the title of the sixth novel? Or the second that you laid eyes on that all-important release date? What's more, possibly in another year from now the entire series will be finished with the final book being released.

Post your Half-Blood Prince release party stories in the comments! And maybe celebrate by reading HBP for the 8174th time.

In celebration of Jo Rowling's upcoming visit to the US, JK's Army (our Potter memorabilia collecting tips team) is holding an exciting enter-to-win competition. The prize is a first edition, deluxe copy of the UK Book 6. Worth around $60-120, it has a cloth cover, gilt-edged pages, a silk bookmarker sewn in, and is in mint condition. For more information on entering this competition, click here.

The British paperback edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hit shelves today. If you would like to purchase it online, you can do so at Amazon. The American paperback edition of Book 6 will be released on July 25th.