London, June 26: Children around the world were to join an online audience with J.K. Rowling Thursday and ask the author everything they long to know about Harry Potter. To mark the release of the most eagerly awaited children's book of the year, Rowling is taking to the stage of London's Royal Albert Hall to read from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and answer questions from fans, both live and on the Web.
Following global Webcasts of Madonna and Paul McCartney concerts, Microsoft's Internet arm MSN is arranging a live Internet feed of the event at www.msn.co.uk/harrypotter starting at 4 p.m.
The Webcast has the potential to reach readers in 34 countries and children from around the globe have been invited to pose questions to Rowling on the show.
The latest saga of the teenage wizard at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry already rates as the most pre-ordered book in publishing history. It is released on June 21.
The first four books have now sold almost 200 million copies in 55 languages and 200 countries. But Potter fans have had to wait three years for the latest installment.
In her only public appearance to talk about the book, Rowling will be interviewed on stage by comedian Stephen Fry before an audience in the hall of 4,000 children. Bureau Report