Report: 'Harry Potter' author working on Scottish crime novel

By Times Wires
Published August 19, 2007

'Potter' author turning to crime?

J.K. Rowling has been spotted at cafes in Scotland working on a detective novel, a British newspaper reported Saturday.

The Sunday Times quoted Ian Rankin, a fellow author and Rowling's neighbor, as saying the creator of the Harry Potter books is turning to crime fiction.

"My wife spotted her writing her Edinburgh criminal detective novel," the newspaper, which was available late Saturday, quoted Rankin as telling a reporter. "It is great that she has not abandoned writing or Edinburgh cafes."

Rowling famously wrote initial drafts of the Potter story in the Scottish city's cafes as a way to save on the heating bill at home. Now, she's Britain's richest woman.

In an interview with the Associated Press last month, Rowling confirmed she had plans to work on new books. The office of Rowling's literary agent, Christopher Little, was not immediately available to comment late Saturday.

[Last modified August 19, 2007, 00:17:43]