Rumours rife concerning new Harry Potter book – but JK Rowling says no

A website is teasing Harry Potter fans with the promise of exciting news, but the author of the series is adamant there's no book in the offing.

With the launch of the website www.Pottermore.com there has been much speculation that another Harry Potter book could be on the horizon. However, a lawyer for the author has dismissed this notion.

The website, which fans had to discover through a series of clues from the author JK Rowling, bears the author's signature and the message: "Coming soon..."

Rowling's lawyer, Neil Blair, refused to reveal what the website would contain, saying only: "This is not a new Harry Potter book."

It is rumoured that the interactive site will be a meeting place for fans offering games, a Harry Potter encyclopaedia, readings by Stephen Fry and competitions. Fans will also be able to buy the books.

The Intellectual Property Office granted a trademark registration to film studio Warner Bros in January last year for the name 'Pottermore.' It covered online games, chatrooms, film clips and literacy programmes.

Earlier in the year, Rowling consented to the release of the Potter books for Kindle and other electronic readers.

The author described e-books as a "godsend" in certain circumstances but did add: "Print will never die. There's no substitute for the feel of an actual book."

Rowling published the seventh and final Harry Potter book in 2007. It sold 11 million copies on the first day alone.

The final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, is released next month.