Another Rowling Teaser

The Courier Mail reports today that J.K. Rowling has penned another not-for-publication item: a "Harry Potter prequel" of about 800 words, written on thirteen index cards a large "story card". Sotheby's will sell the item on 10 June (with no reserve); proceeds will go to English PEN, a charity promoting literacy, and to Dyslexia Action.

Rowling "is determined the latest instalment will not be developed further. She says at the end of the story, written on both sides of an A5 storycard: 'From the prequel I am not working on - but that was fun!'"

Other writers, including Sebastian Faulks, Nick Hornby and Tom Stoppard have also donated items for the auction.

I guess I'm glad that she's doing these things for charity, but I do think it's pretty rotten that she won't allow them to be shared.

[Update: The Potter prequel is on one card, not thirteen (thirteen authors total have donated the cards.]

[Further update: More here].