Harry Potter’s spell enchants local Books-A-Million

By David W. Shelton | July 21, 2007 |

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows went on sale at 12:01 am on Saturday Morning in stores all across the country. Clarksville Online editor David W. Shelton presents the events at Books-A-Million in Clarksville and at the Barnes & Noble in the country’s largest shopping mall, the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

No matter how ‘deathly’ the ‘hallows’ may seem, nothing could hold back the hordes of fans that filled bookstores across Clarksville on Friday night. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling’s final book about the boy wizard, went on sale at 12:01 A.M. on Saturday, July 21, 2007. The local Books-A-Million store was one of several “Potter” parties held throughout Clarksville.

The store’s manager, Tim Lause, said this was the second Harry Potter release that he oversaw here in Clarksville. Employees were still selling copies of the book up until the final minute. Since the book wasn’t released until after midnight, fans received a voucher that would be traded for a book once the witching hour began.

Clarksville Books-A-Million Store Manager Tim Louse wipes his brow after unloading several dozen cases of the new book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The book was released at 12:01 AM at bookstores across the country.

Louse said that he knew the night’s business would be hectic, but he and his staff were prepared for the onslaught of fans. He also said that customers were divided in four ‘houses’ just like the fictional students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Customers were entertained throughout the evening through events that began at 9:00 PM. Events included an opportunity to make a custom wand, face painting, trivia contests, and a costume contest. Winners of the costume contest were awarded a free book. The overall costume winner was Lark Kay, an employee of Fort Campbell. Her costume was that of Madam Hooch, the Quiddich coach from the first novel. One employee said that Kay “nailed it,” and said she was clearly the winner.

In a show of patience, Kay decided to wait with her family members (who were also dressed in costume, but didn’t win) for their books. When asked if Madam Hooch was her favorite character, she said no. That honor went to Professor Albus Dumbledore, the wise white-haired wizard who was a mentor to young Harry.

Also in costume were Jodi Bradway and her children, 6-year-old Alexander, and daughter Cara, 11. Bradway said that she had purchased the first book to read to Cara while she was still pregnant with Alexander. Both children grew to love the series, and she knew she had to be in line since Hallows would be the last of the enchanted series.

Local mom Lisa Anschuetz and her son Christopher were not in costume, but no less eager to receive their copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on the morning of its release. When asked which characters he thought would be killed in the new book, Christopher said Voldemort was a sure bet. “But,” he said, “I think Neville [Longbottom] might get killed too.”

In fact, poor Neville was listed among several fans as the one who might meet their demise. But who gets the short end of the stick? Only reading the book for one’s self can provide a sure answer.

Left: Sania Richards, 7, of Hopkinsville poses with her new book. Right: Logan Edison, 5, displays his new copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with his aunt, Maggie Mason. Local Harry Potter fans waited until after midnight to be the first to pick up the highly anticipated conclusion of the bestselling series.

National impact

Clarksville stores joined thousands of bookstores across the nation in celebrating the release of book 7. One of the larger celebrations in the country was in the Barnes and Noble store in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Mall of America. The bookstore at the nation’s largest shopping mall had customers waiting since before the store opened. Just outside the door was a line of Potter fans who were waiting to receive a wristband to claim their copy of the highly-anticipated book.

Friends Stephanie Nelson, 26, and Carissa Wiest, 28, were among those in line outside the store’s entrance. They had been waiting in line since 8:30 AM. Like many Potter fans in Clarksville, they were in costume. Their choice of costumes was nearly identical, that of Gryffindor (one of the four houses at Hogwarts) students. They wore the costumes for the “last hurrah” of Harry Potter.

The only difference was their wands. Nelson proudly waved a replica of Hermione Granger’s wand, while Wiest’s wand was custom made. “It’s redwood with an essence of siren,” she said. They said they purchased their Gryffindor ties, wands, and patches at www.alivans.com.

Wiest said that she was so glad to be able to enter Rowling’s world, which she described as “incredibly rich.” “I have nothing but tremendous respect for J.K. Rowling,” she said.

Wiest and Nelson have been friends for about three years, and they first met at work. “Harry Potter brought us together,” Nelson said. They discovered their mutual fondness for the books when their office would hold dress-up parties. They since decorated their desks in Potter memorabilia. The described the books as being rich in intellect and philosophy.

When asked which movie was their favorite, both agreed that the new film “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” was at the top of their list. Wiest described the casting of Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge as “inspired.”

The store’s community relations manager Randy Guerts said that the events of the evening would include live animals, a celebration at the nearby aquarium, a lesson in potions, science experiments, and a “huge costume contest.” If the mall’s atrium was any indication, “huge” would be an understatement. The four-story tall rotunda that rises just outside the bookstore was lined with balloons, witch brooms, stars, and a net full of balloons that would be released at the 12:01 mark.

Guerts said that the Mall of America itself and several stores in the mall all worked together to make the event a success. “We couldn’t have done it without them,” he said. “This release is really going to be magical for us, and the most exciting thing is that it’s for the kids. They actually want to read. Even the [Apple] iPhone didn’t generate this kind of excitement.”

When asked who his favorite character was, Guerts replied without a second’s thought. “[Severus] Snape. He’s really a tragic figure.”

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