Excitement keeps building for Rowling’s novel

J.K. Rowling’s first book of adult fiction is scheduled to be released on Sept. 27. Provided by Little, Brown

LONDON - The cover of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s first foray into adult fiction features a black “X” in what appears to be a box on a ballot paper set against a bright yellow and red background, her publisher revealed Tuesday.

“The Casual Vacancy” will hit shelves Sept. 27 and has been described in a brief synopsis by publishers Little, Brown as “a big novel about a small town.”

The 512-page book is set in a seemingly idyllic English town called Pagford and centers around an election to the parish council following the shocking death of Barry Fairbrother in his early 40s.

The publisher previously promised a “blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising” story. The surname of the character of Barry was originally given as Fairweather in a press release in April.

In Britain, the hardback version of the book will cost 20 pounds ($30.95) and the e-?book 11.99 pounds.

Since her seven Harry Potter novels became a global publishing phenomenon, selling an estimated 450 million copies, Rowling’s every move is followed closely by the industry.

The books, and a hugely successful movie franchise, helped turn her into the world’s first author billionaire.

Rowling is also working on a Harry Potter encyclopedia, she said in April, and will donate proceeds from its sale to charity. It is unlikely to appear anytime soon, however, as the author warned it would be a “time-consuming job.”

Reuters