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French-speaking fans of the Harry Potter series have had a chance to participate in an online session with editor Catherine Bon, due to the recent release of the French Deathly Hallows. Catherine Bon was a key person for the release of Harry Potter et les reliques de la mort - she spoke to fans about her job, her thoughts on J. K. Rowling and the contrast between our world and Harry’s:
SPOILER!!: Part of the interview translated into English
Delphine : Did you hesitate before editing the first novel of the Harry Potter series?
Catherine BON : It’s Christine Baker, the editorial director at Gallimard Jeunesse, who made this decision. She read the manuscript in 1997, before it was edited in the UK, and she loved the text as soon as she finished it, because of the humor, the coherence, and the creativeness, coming from a young and new author. J.K. Rowling was 32 years old at the time and had never been published before.
Chrsitine Baker could not doubt the craze that this book would give birth to. And although, at the time, kids were less keen to read lengthy books, never mind 7 lengthy books, she did not hesitate to take on the challenge.
Kikoulol : How would you describe the personality of J.K. Rowling?
Catherine BON : It’s not an easy question, J.K. Rowling being so discreet… She certainly has a very remarkable personality. She’s a true author, who succeeded in writing books which evolve in complexity, and are rich in literature, without ever deceiving us, despite the media’s pressure which was born near the release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Agnès : What role does the French editor have for the release of a book written in English? Do you meet the author? Do you participate in the translation? Do you take care of the marketing?
Catherine BON: As an editor, I don’t participate in the marketing, there’s a team in charge of that. On the other hand, I closely follow the translation, the correction, the layout, the development and the structure for the eventual release of the book.
Unfortunately no, I haven’t met J.K. Rowling. I hope to meet her someday, and hope that she will come and see us in France. However, our editorial director has met her quite a few times.
Cervelajuhot : Do you think it’s because the events happening in our world are so terrible that we need to dive into the univers of Harry Potter? (Thanks for this splendid adventure.)
Catherin BON : It’s true that readers find evasion and dreams in Harry Potter, but we can also find a reality, and problems that we often meet in the real world.
The world isn’t perfect in Harry’s reality either. He faces obstacles with courage, this should be an example for us.
You can check out the full interview (in French only) here.
wow! thats really cool! and I totally agree with what she says about JK's personality!
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And.I.try.not.to.Dream.but.them.possible.Schemes, Swim.around,wanna.Drown.me.in.Synch.and.I,don't.know.
xxxx
how,to.Slow.it.down.my.Mind's.racing.from.chasing.Pirates. x Celandine x Daphne x Garret x Jillian x
Hogwarts RPG Name: Margaret Jacqueline Atkinson Morris
Fifth Year
Potter’s Princess A+ FangGirl
Nice interview
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I gotta go back to the muggle world,
they're gonna try and tell me this wasn't, that none of this happened,
but you know what? It wasreal. It did happen.
We spent time here. We made friends here. That's a part of us.
Cause Hogwarts is bigger than any of us, of any of it's founders,
and it's going to be around long after we're gone.
Maybe we'll see our kids come here one day.
That's the thing about Hogwarts.
No matter how long you're away from it, there's always a way back.
That was fantastic. She hasn't even met JKR and yet she speaks so well of her. She obviously loves the books, you can tell by the way she talks about them.
Fans question French Harry Potter editor 
I Live for You alone!! 
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