BFBS Radio: We will be seeing more of Harry Potter?
JK Rowling: Not of Harry Potter exactly. I mean, I have no plans to write more Harry Potter books, though it’s constantly being rumored that I have. I’m afraid those rumors are, at the moment, false. But there are other things happening. For example, I’m currently working on a film script for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – which is very much part of Harry’s world, which is a lot of fun. I’m really enjoying doing that. And there will be a Harry Potter play. So yes, there’s certainly more for fans to look forward to.

BFBS Radio: Have you thought about the name at this stage or not?
JK Rowling: No, I haven’t. No.

BFBS Radio: So it could be anything?
JK Rowling: Not quite anything. There are a couple of names are being mooted but I’m not allowed to say what they are.

BFBS Radio: What brings you to Nepal? Is it your first time in Nepal?
JK Rowling: It’s my first time in Nepal. I’m here because one of my oldest and best friends is the British Defence Attache to Nepal, Colonel Sean Harris. So we came to visit him, and I have to say I have absolutely loved being here. It’s a beautiful place.
And by the sound of it, you want to come back again.

I’d love to come back again. I’d love to come back to Kathmandu. Unfortunately we’re only here for four days this time, but it’s been the most marvelous experience.

Have you had any connection with the armed forces?
JK Rowling: Well, yes I have. I’ve already met several gurkhas. In fact, I grew up in an area on the English-Welsh border where there was a large army training camp, so I’ve always known quite a lot of soldiers – young men. And Sean, of course, has been one of my oldest and best friends for 32 years now. So I know quite a lot about the army.

BFBS Radio: Did you ever envisage how popular it would be at that time?
JK Rowling: Never. Never for a second. I’ve been asked this often and it’s been pointed out to me that in the very first chapter of Philosopher’s Stone I say words to the effect of “His name’s Harry Potter. He’ll be famous all over the world. Every child in the world will know his name (laughs). And people have said, “You KNEW! You clearly knew it.” Well, of course, I didn’t know it at all. It was an integral part of the story that Harry was famous, but I never dreamt that in reality he would become so famous. Never.

BFBS Radio: The name, Harry Potter, where did it come from?
JK Rowling: Well, I wanted a really ordinary and traditional name. And I like the fact that there are double consonants in the middle of both words. In fact, there are several real, genuine Harry Potters. One of them was a soldier who’s buried in England. So I often get letters from people saying, “My grandfather was called Harry Potter” or even, “I am Harry Potter and I get teased all the time.”

BFBS Radio: What was it like seeing the first film when it was completed?
JK Rowling: It was an extraordinary experience. I had been involved. I’d been quite heavily involved. The filmmakers asked me a lot of questions - what do things look like and feel like? So it wasn’t a complete surprise. But to see the completed film was extraordinary. To see the contents of your own head made visual for everyone else to see is always going to be a bizarre experience for a writer.

BFBS Radio: If you had one wish, what would that be?
JK Rowling: Well, if I were to be selfish with my wish, I would wish that my children would never come to any harm. I think that’s just a universal mother’s wish, isn’t it? If I were unselfish with my wish, I would probably wish that the 8 million children currently living in institutions globally would find families or family substitutes. That we would, as a world, unite to ensure that they could be cared for in their homes because we know that’s the best outcome for children.