‘Harry Potter’ prequel sold at U.K. auction
An 800-word mini-prequel by Rowling was sold Tuesday for $49,323
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24863211/An 800-word prequel to the Harry Potter series, handwritten by author J.K. Rowling, sold for 25,000 pounds (US$49,323, euro31,278) at an auction Tuesday.
An absent bidder paid more than 30 pounds (US$59, euro37.50) per word for Rowling's short story at a charity auction at the flagship of Waterstone's book store chain in London. Proceeds will benefit the writers' association English PEN and a dyslexia charity.
A short mystery story by acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard raised 4,000 pounds (US$7,892, euro5,005).
Waterstone's Booksellers Ltd. says the cream-colored A5 papers — each slightly bigger than a postcard — were distributed to 13 authors and illustrators, including the boy wizard's creator J.K. Rowling, Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing, novelist Margaret Atwood and playwright Tom Stoppard.