Local bookstores ready for more Potter-mania

It's been two years - a long two years - since fans anxiously stood in line for copies of J.K. Rowling's fifth Harry Potter book.

The frenzy continues Saturday when British author Rowling's next episode of witchcraft and wizardry will be released at 12:01 a.m. Local bookstores are ready for yet another round of Potter-mania.

Scholastic Books has printed an unprecedented 10.8 million copies of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

"We're anticipating a good-sized crowd," said Steve Solomon, general manager of Borders in Kalispell.

While he couldn't reveal exactly how many advance reservations the store has taken for the sixth Harry Potter book, Solomon assured "it's a lot." The store has been reserving copies for the past six months.

Borders will start its release party at 9 p.m. with activity tables to entertain book fans while they count down to midnight.

A supervisor at the Kalispell Center Mall Waldenbooks said that store has gotten more reservations for the sixth Harry Potter book than it did for the fifth volume, even with new competition from Borders.

The Waldenbooks party starts at 9 p.m., with a magic show at about 10 p.m. and activity tables to round out the evening.

"We're expecting hundreds of people," the supervisor said.

Because Waldenbooks managers don't know how many extra copies they'll have once reserved books are divvied up, a waiting list has been started for customers who didn't reserve a copy of the book in advance.

Waldenbooks customers were reminded of their reserved copies this week through a recorded telephone message, delivered with an austere English accent, fit for Albus Dumbledore: "Hello, this is Jim Dale, narrator of the Harry Potter audio books, reminding you to pick up your reserved copy of 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince' … Your book will be available at the stroke of midnight as Friday turns into Saturday."

In Whitefish, Bookworks will open at 11:45 p.m. Bookstore owner Cheryl Watkins has had a reservation list for the past year, but she still expects a last-minute frenzy, especially from tourists whose children will want the sixth book before they get home from their vacation.

Peter Hoag, 12, of Kalispell, is among the hundreds of local Harry Potter fans who can't wait to read about the latest adventures of the protagonist Potter and his pals as they hone their skills at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"The books have a lot of scenarios you meet in life yourself," Hoag said. "And they have good magical creatures. Each book is a little better than the last one."

The Hoag family's love of Harry Potter has manifested itself in several ways. Their personalized license plate says "Hoagwarts," and an entrance sign at their home declares: "Hoagwarts School of Mischief & Merriment: No admittance without a sense of humor."

"The license plate was my idea," said Hoag's mother, Jonna Mihalic-Hoag. "I guess you can say Mom is an avid fan."

She will take Peter and daughter Katie, 14, to a Harry Potter party Friday night at the Missoula Barnes & Noble, where they will meet up with their cousins from Missoula.

Kalispell artist Nancy Roberts of Harmony Moon Designs is lending her expertise for local Potter parties.

At the request of the manager of Waldenbooks, she's creating a larger-than-life Buckbeak, the mythical part eagle, part horse creature from "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." Her 100-pound papier-mache creation will be on display for the Waldenbooks party Friday night and will remain at the bookstore on Saturday.

Roberts' son, Devon Olson, now 20, was a Harry Potter fan during his younger years.

"I love creating things," Roberts said, adding the entire family has helped with the project.

The Flathead County Library also will take part in the Potter partying.

A midnight party for children of all ages will be staged at the Kalispell library to celebrate the release of the sixth book. It begins at 11:30 p.m. Friday and includes games, door prizes and readings from the book.

The first chapters of the book will be read aloud beginning at 12:01 a.m.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.