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By MICHELE MILLER
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 7, 2000
Anticipation is definitely brewing for the release of the latest book in the Harry Potter series, set to go on sale Saturday morning.
"It's going to be neat," said 11-year-old Jessica Hernandez, who on Thursday was attending a summer youth program at the New River Pasco County Library branch in Wesley Chapel.
Jessica said it took her one day to breeze through each of the first three books in the series -- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The books are always exciting, said the Zephyrhills youngster. "I can't put it down. I take my flashlight at night when mom's asleep and read it till it's done," she said.
Stephanie Marinelli, 11, a visitor to the South Holiday library branch, said she was also looking forward to getting her hands on a copy of the new release.
"Harry Potter's great; I've read all three," Stephanie said. "It's got like lots of adventures in it, and it's not like any old book."
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth in the popular children's series written by J.K. Rowling, has book stores throughout the country rolling out the red carpet, planning festivities and extending their hours to accommodate the throng of children and adult fans who are sure to flock in to find out what's in store for the young bespectacled -- and somewhat unlikely -- hero.
Of the 400 copies of the book being kept under lock and key at Books-A-Million in New Port Richey, 200 have already been reserved, said store manager Debbie Sharay.
Harry Potter enthusiasts are welcome to attend a special coming-out party that runs from 9 p.m. today until 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning, said Sharay. Those who come can have their faces painted, taste some cake and magical brew or vie for a prize in the Harry Potter trivia or Wizard Hat decorating contests. Go all out and dress up as your favorite character for the costume contest, and you might be the lucky one to win the first copy when the books go on sale precisely at 12:01 a.m. Those with early curfews can stop by at 3 p.m. Saturday -- that's when the fun will start over again.
Walden Books in the Gulf View Square mall will be handing out activity sheets and opening their doors an hour early -- at 9 a.m. -- on Saturday for Harry Potter fans.
But book stores aren't the only places experiencing Potter madness.
"This is huge," said Barbe Bonjour, director of the Pasco County Library System. The book isn't on library shelves yet and when it does arrive isn't likely to stay long, Bonjour said. Roughly 80 patrons have already signed up to reserve the 21 copies that will be distributed to the seven branches countywide.
"As soon as we get them in they'll be out," said Bonjour, adding that she plans to order 35 more books to sate Harry Potter lovers.
"There's so much excitement about these books right now," Bonjour said. "It's really wonderful. Usually you hear so much about children always playing video games and watching television -- but now they're into these books."
Kids aren't the only ones.
"I've read all three and I can't wait for this fourth one," said Karen Correa, youth services coordinator for the Pasco County Library. "I think it's the fantasy behind it (that's appealing) -- the good versus evil -- the typical fairy tale thing."
"I've never seen anything like this," said Sharay at Books-A-Million. "We have people that are 70- and 80-years-old coming and asking about the new book and telling us how they're actually reading them (Potter books). Young and old, they love the book."
Staff writer Michelle Jones contributed to this report.