Rowling launches U.S. book tour with mass signing

This story by Jill Serjeant, Reuters.

Harry Potter might have waved his wand and cast a spell, but author J.K. Rowling sat down and cheerfully signed 1,600 books for school kids on Monday as she launched her first U.S. book tour in seven years.
"This is an amazing treat for me," Rowling said of the mass book signing and reading for cheering Harry Potter fans who gave her a pop star welcome in Los Angeles.
"I really miss being able to interact directly with the readers. Everyone keeps saying, 'it must be so onerous. Doesn't it hurt your hand?' But, honestly, that's the bit I really enjoy," Rowling told reporters.

The 42-year-old British author said that after 10 years of writing to a deadline, she now felt as if she was on vacation and has not yet started writing the promised Harry Potter encyclopaedia that fans around the world are awaiting.
She gave no clues as to her next project, but told an audience of 1,600 children that Harry Potter would be a hard act to follow.

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