In honor of all things Harry Potter, I want to take this opportunity – on this special day, September 1st! – to talk about the significant role HP has played in my life. Very few of my vivid childhood memories come from before the age of 7 or 8, which means that JK Rowling ‘s work was present through all of the important years of my growing up. The first movie came out when I was 11 and the last book came out the summer before my senior year of high school, just after my 17th birthday. Emma Watson, the girl who played Hermione Granger, is only two months older than I am. Was I the exact age-range Rowling had targeted, or what?
That idea of boarding a train to leave your normal world behind has been with me since the first time I ever read Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone when I was in third grade (1998). I wasn’t one of those kids who expected a letter from Dumbledore on my 11th birthday, hoping to go to Hogwarts and escape reality, but still the thought clung to me throughout my teens and into college. Even though I wasn’t writing my own fiction during my teens, I was reading hungrily – devouring any kind of book I could get my hands on, and constantly re-reading HP. Maybe all that reading without writing for so many years explains the flood of ideas I have now. Maybe all that exposure to Latin at a young age through Rowling’s work led me to Classics.
“Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus” means Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon. Wonderful motto.
So today I write, because we might not be able to get to Kings Cross in London, might not be magical enough to go through the barrier to Platform 9 and 3/4, might not have our trunks packed and be ready to leave by 11am on the Hogwarts Express – but we still have our books to call us back into that world… and so many thousands of other books to take us on different rides with other people to strange and wonderful lands.
(Self promotion: If you’re looking for some BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW fiction, and feel like reading more of my work, you should click here first, then here and here.)
The Innumerable Uses of Language 
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You’re welcome!
It’s not too bad over here minus the winters, bleh!. We lived in Coeur d’Alene for 5 years. Now live in Post Falls. I was born in Thompson Falls, Mt. My wife in So Cal. We both lived in WA for most of our lives. I spent some time until 9th grade in Kennewick while she lived in Dewatto/Seabeck near Belfair from age 6. We met in High School in Belfair. Most of her family lives on the West side along with some of mine, so we are back and forth a lot!
That’s a great post! Even though I obviously was no teenager during the years of Harry Potter book releases, I’ll tell you what, I sure felt like one!
The first book I ever read which was MG/YA was Where the Red Fern Grows. Still sticks with me to this day and still love reading it every so often!
Been to Bellingham many times, my wife almost got a job there a few months ago before finding one here in Spokane for the meantime.
Thanks for the comment! I read Where the Red Fern Grows when I was in elementary school – maybe it’s time for a re-read =)
My brother went to Law school in Spokane, I’ve visited many times. Hope you enjoy it!