Harry Potter Party at Malaprop's

First off: no spoilers here! Wendi and I aren't finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows yet. We've been trading it and Jo back and forth over the weekend, but now we both have to get work done and the reading has slowed down. We're both enjoying the book so far, but I won't say anything more.

Friday night I attended a Harry Potter release party at Malaprop's. What fun! I was one of the guest authors invited to judge the costume contest. I also dressed up as Hagrid. Here are some pics:


Me as Hagrid and Asheville author Allan Wolf as Mad-Eye Moody.


Before midnight, a Dementor guarded the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows copies hidden away behind the silver curtain.


Doby the House Elf, looking a bit like he's been in a fight with Hagrid.



Ginny Weasley


The screaming portrait of Mrs. Black, and poor Moaning Myrtle.



Hermione Grainger and a very young (and cute!) Ginny Weasley.


Professor Quirrell


Rita Skeeter


At midnight, the Dementors are defeated and the books revealed. Get those cameras out of my way - I'm trying to take a picture!


Hagrid still enjoys meeting the little people - especially those with Harry Potter books in hand!

It was a great night. Love the books or hate them, you cannot deny that this was the publishing event of our era. When will we ever see crowded bookstores full of adults and children counting down to an on-sale date, screaming and cheering as the curtain opens to reveal the books? Alas, perhaps never again . . .

Until book 8?