[Amy]

Rowling reveals book date

HARRY Potter author JK Rowling gave fans an early Christmas gift yesterday by revealing her new book will be published on July 16.

JK, 39, was not expected to unveil the date for Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince until Christmas Day.

But yesterday she said on her website, which is designed like a desk: �I was sure those of you who celebrate Christmas have better things to do on the day itself than fight your way into my study, whereas those of you who don�t celebrate Christmas would definitely prefer not to wait until the 25th.�

The long-awaited news sent shares in British publisher Bloomsbury soaring by eight per cent, adding �16million to the firm�s value.

Yesterday JK � expecting her third child � said she was pleased with her latest tale, which will cost �16.99. She told fans: �I�m as happy as I�ve ever been with the end result.

�I hope you feel it was worth the wait when you finally read it!�

JK has spilled a few secrets about the new book, which is expected to be her second longest after her 870-page mega-seller Order Of The Phoenix, published in June 2003.

The Sun exclusively revealed earlier this year that she will kill off one character, but not Harry who will survive for a final tale.

Last night news of the date swept across Potter websites.

One young fan wrote: �I�m so excited! We�ve waited so long!�

Another said: �It�s made my Christmas.�

The Sun