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[Official Press Release]

Mary Ailes, analyst of the Harry Potter series, urges The New York Times to return J.K. Rowling's renowned books to their adult best-seller listing.

Ailes, an author from the popular fan book, "The Plot Thickens...Harry Potter Investigated by Fans for Fans" (Wizarding World Press), contends that The New York Times has incorrectly re-categorized the Harry Potter novels. Up until 2000, Rowling's first three releases dominated top positions on their Best-Seller List for almost 100 weeks. Apparently due to pressure from the industry, the Times created a separate children's list where Rowling's record- breaking books were moved -- a decision which Ailes says was flawed.

Now Ailes is calling on readers to voice their opinions online regarding the placement of the Potter series, http://www.freeharry.com.

"The richness and complexity of Rowling's series, the depth of social satire, and the intricacies of the literary and mythic references, demand that this phenomenally-selling series be treated with the respect due of the adult list," Ailes says in her call to action.

Ailes' article, "Iceberg Ahoy! Why the Harry Potter Books Should be Restored to the New York Times Best-Seller List," has drawn strong support from fans. MuggleNet, the top Harry Potter fan website, has established a new Internet forum, http://www.plotthickens.mugglenet.com, where readers can discuss all essays within "The Plot Thickens." Articles in this remarkable collection range from literary analyses to entertaining speculations based on clues planted in the Potter books.

Rowling is releasing the sixth book in her series -- "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" -- in mid-July. At 16, Harry Potter has come of age, but unless Ailes and Rowling's legions of fans have any sway with the Times between now and July 16, the matured Harry will still be marooned on the children's listing like the five previous Harry Potter novels.

Wizarding World Press' guides to Harry Potter are not authorized, licensed or approved by J.K. Rowling, her publishers, or licensors. The Harry Potter name is a trademark of Warner Bros.

Published March 10, 2005

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