Melissa Anelli Interview

She is probably the best known Potter fan around, has done interviews with J.K. Rowling and presumably spoken to more of the actors than any other fan. Melissa Anelli, webmistress of "The Leaky Cauldron" has lived to see many things that other fans can only dream of during the past few years.
She now collected these experiences within a book and in doing so created a work which is not only personal, but also very informative. Like no one else, she was able to look behind the scenes of the Potter world; now she chronicles the phenomenon Potter, the life of J. K. Rowling and the peculiarities of being a Potter fan both professionally and compelling.

Harry Potter Xperts was able to interview the authoress exclusively about all those things and we noticed that she really is a fan like everyone of us. In this interview, you can, amongst other things, read why she was sure to be hit at some point and what she would change about the Daily Prophet.

In case there are still German Potter fans out there who haven't yet heard of your book, Melissa, describe to us in one sentence what 'Harry, a History' or 'The phenomenon Harry Potter', as the German version will be called, is all about.

"Harry, A History" is the story of what happened in the world because of Harry Potter. It's about how Harry Potter changed the world, and how the things we love can change us if we let them. (Well, there's two.)

The cover of the German book is awesome, isn't it?

Yes the German cover is amazing! I love it.

What made you want to write your book in the first place? And, even more importantly, will you be writing more in the future?

It was some time around 2003, I am pretty sure it was at the first conference, Nimbus 2003, when I had the stray thought that perhaps someone should write about this phenomenon. Then shortly after that it hit me that I should. And yes, absolutely I'll be writing more in the future! Hopefully the rest of my life. I'm in the very, very, very early stages of what I hope will become my next book, now.

Wow, sounds great. Any information already?

If it becomes what I hope it can, it will be something that I think will be interesting to most Harry Potter fans. But it's not about Harry Potter.

Is it going to be a novel or nonfiction?

This one will still be nonfiction, but I believe if I do it right it will speak to something more human than facts and figures.

Back to “Harry, A History”! How long did it take you to write the book?

About a year, with varying levels of intensity throughout. Then it took about three to four months to edit completely.

Is 'Harry, a History' what you would have held in your hands looking into the Mirror of Erised five years ago?

Hmmm, that's such an interesting question. Five years ago I don't know that I would have pictured it exactly as it came out - it became such a different book. But I definitely would have seen this book published, and myself as an author, yes.

When you say, not exactly as it came out, do you mean you already intended to write a book about your time as a Harry Potter fan?

Five years ago was... mid-2004, right?

Yes.

I thought it would be less about my personal experiences and more general about the phenomenon. Back then I didn't know I'd have such amazing experiences to put into a book. I realized in late 2006 that it was something I could put myself into.

I assume quite a lot of changes were made to the book during the process of creating it.

From early 2007 to 2008, not more than is natural in the course of writing a book. Which is to say: everything changed from beginning to end. But between 2004 and 2007, it changed a lot, yes. I thought early on that it would be more of a recounting, a straight telling of events. This-happened-then-that-happened etc. I then realized that's not a readable book. I wanted it to be personal, fun, inspiring, sad, and most of all true. It's only about my journey so that it could be about everyone's. That's the only way to do it, I feel. Get in really close, so that you can be universal. And luckily I've had experiences that make getting in really close not-so-boring.

If you could go back in time now, and maybe change some more things, are there any? Maybe relating some events that happened after you handed it in?

That's an interesting question. I really like the timeline of the book, from the announcement of the release until DH came out. I think that was the most natural way to encapsulate the madness that goes on from a fan's perspective. I do wish some things would have happened in that timeline so I could write about them, like the announcement of the HP theme park. The book captures a unique moment in time, and for that reason I'm really happy with it the way it is. I might add an update one day.

Joanne K. Rowling didn't only give her blessing but also wrote the introduction to your book. Admit it, you've got a stash of Felix Felicis hidden somewhere in your bedroom!

Hah! Yes, I totally do. Honestly, I think that the last 10 years of my life have been the result of some magical accident involving Felix Felicis in my drinking water. It might not have seemed like that always. But looking back - I am enormously lucky. The day she said she'd write the forward... I checked my email from my bed. On my phone. And I woke up and saw that and had to just lay there quietly for awhile. It was very different from other times, when I've yelled and jumped around and gotten excited. I called my family, then my agent. I must have been on the verge of crying on the phone because my agent thought something was seriously wrong when she called back. It just felt like something I had to absorb, take in. I still don't think I have!

Oh, i totally understand that, must be every fan's dream to not only write a book about Harry but get JK to participate in it.

Each step of the way it was as though at any moment someone was going to reveal it was all an elaborate practical joke:
First: She says yes to the interview.
Second: The interview was over two days and totally amazing.
Third: She'd be open to doing a blurb or something.
Fourth: She would write the foreword.
Fifth: the foreword and what it said.
Sixth: the book comes out and hits the NYT bestseller list.
I mean - the whole way. I was sure, someone would pinch me

Generally, your story, going from being a college graduate struggling to find a job in the media to heading the Leaky Cauldron, meeting Joanne K. Rowling herself and writing a successful book on Harry Potter, resembles the story of Mrs Rowling quite a bit who went from being on benefits to super rich. What is your advice to anyone who wants to achieve something like you did (apart from living in a felix-felicis-drinking-water-polluted area)?

I'd say the resemblance of my story to J.K. Rowling's only goes so far as we both went from being unhappy personally and professionally to being successful - trust me, her story goes a lot further than mine! But that in itself is a huge gift: How many people get to say they achieve success, never mind one of their dreams? I'm honored to be in that small club of people who've managed that.

Now advice... Honestly the best piece of advice I'd give anyone is to be persistent, and to follow your bliss. If you would have told me in 2001 that Harry Potter was the road I should travel, I would have laughed. It was only because I recognized, somewhere along the way, that the "traditional" route perhaps wasn't always the best, that I was able to be successful. Not many people realize that, I think. There are a million ways to get at your dreams and if you don't do what your bliss demands of you, your bliss will walk away and not return. I firmly believe that.

You also quote the famous line from the Sorcerer's Stone reading "There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other". Is this your personal Harry Potter phenomenon in all this, that it connected so many different people all over the world just for the fondness of one book series?

I think the experiences I've had with my friends through this were, at times, like that mountain troll. We went through huge highs and lows of our emotional lives. And after those huge highs and low lows, J.K. Rowling is right, you can't not like each other. There are people in this fandom with whom I will always be together, because we've experienced a unique time. No one can ever change that about our lives, or share in it. It's ours and unique. And kinda wonderful, I think.

Would you work as a journalist in Harry's world as well?

I think I would end up working as a journalist no matter where I was. I'd always be writing, communicating.

Say you were editor of the Daily Prophet, what would you change (other than firing Rita Skeeter)?

I would give them a lot more transparency - it's unbelievable, what that paper gets away with. I'd replace the entire staff and make sure none of them know or are friends with any government officials. And I'd put Calvin & Hobbes in there, Muggle comic or not. Everyone needs Calvin & Hobbes.

Would the Daily Prophet get an online version as well? The wizarding world kind of seems to be a bit behind there

I honestly cannot believe the wizarding world is surviving without the Internet. They must get connected. For Twitter alone! Or Hooter, as the case may be.

You of all interviewers who are Potter fans as well have supposedly asked this question lots of times already. Now we ask you: If you could take anything out of Harry's world with you into ours, what would it be?

Oh the Invisibility Cloak. In an instant. That is just the coolest cloak.

The Deathly Hallow or any one of them?

No, just as the cloak. I don't want a Deathly Hallow per se. Assuming I can't answer, "A magic wand that works," that is Because that's always the right answer. It seems like too much of a gimme.

Well, a wand only works if you are a witch. So even if it is a working one it might not work if you arent.

Yeah, I'd want the cloak. Or, OOH. Or the time turner. Oh, god, a time turner would make my life so much better.

What are your favourite books besides Harry Potter? Ever read any German authors?

Is Cornelia Funke German?

Yes, she is

She's wonderful. I'm still reading Inkspell. But I read Inkheart and it's great. My favorite writers are Frank Rich, Michael Chabon, Michael Cunningham, Walter Kerr, William Goldman and a lot more. I also love Jennifer Weiner, I think Jennifer Weiner is one of the best writers for women out there. I have a ton of favorite books.

In your book you mention having a close relationship to Jamie Waylett and his family as well as meeting Daniel Radcliffe on MTV. Do you know most of the major actors then and text them on their birthdays?

I write Jamie and Evanna on their birthdays. The rest I wish happy birthday from afar I don't know the other actors very well. But I respect them a lot. They are turning into good role models, and that's great.

Last question, do you still wear that ring Joanne K. Rowling gave you?

Of course! Yes, I'm wearing it right now. In fact, it's starting to move around a little. I think I've banged it about too much. I have to get it looked at. It's just such a great reminder. How can I ever forget what has happened to me, if I wear this ring? I look at my hands as I type and I know I've been fortunate and blessed! OH and another favorite author before I forget: Edna St. Vincent Millay. poet. She is required reading.

Perhaps quickly, a message to your German readers?

DANKE! You guys are awesome, and enthusiastic, and so warm. And I hope to be there one day to meet you. And I can't wait to see the book out there in German stores! It's amazing to me to get this reception from people I've never met. So thanks, and please tell your readers I hope they enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

to the German version of this interview

© Harry Potter Xperts 2009