Promotional Materials 1: Books and Audiobooks
1. Release of the Harry Potter Book Series
This page features items directly related to the promotion of Harry Potter books and audiobooks being released. It includes:
- Press Kits
- Banners and posters
- Flyers, brochures, and other promotional print items
- Pins/badges and other visual promos
- Press events
- Release-day events
In some cases, such as with compilation of release dates, detailed information is found on other pages. Summary information appears here to create an all-in-one page for doing a mini-case study in marketing related to the Harry Potter films.
General information to be added later.
US Edition Book Release Pins
Harry Potter Series ~ Pins Promoting Book Releases
- Sorcerer’s Stone (unknown)
- Chamber of Secrets (unknown)
- Prisoner of Azkaban (unknown)
- Goblet of Fire (circle)
- Order of the Phoenix (two: square; circle)
- Half-Blood Prince (square). I do not have a copy of this book release pin, but have seen it occasionally offered on eBay. As a background pattern, it features the green checked wallpaper motif that Scholastic used for HP6.
- Deathly Hallows (sculpted four-point star with lenticular black and white faces)
- 10th Anniversary of Sorcerer’s Stone (see description below)
10th Anniversary of Sorcerer’s Stone. This unique winged-pin (based on the quidditch snithc?) was created as a memento for the 10th anniversary of the US edition book release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The card for the pin measures 3” wide by 1” tall. As best I can determine from bits and pieces of information available, this pin was produced for Scholastic Books in limited numbers, and was available at least at the following venues:
- The annual Book Expo in Los Angeles, California.
- A special 10th anniversary event at the Scholastic Books headquarters in New York, on September 23, 2008. The celebration included an all-day, cover-to-cover Muggle read-a-thon of Sorcerer’s Stone, and it was broadcast live on the internet.
Cover to Cover (UK) Press Kit for “Order of the Phoenix” Audiobook
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ~ Audiobook Press Kit (UK Edition)
Although digital and paper press kits for the film versions of Harry Potter regularly show up on eBay, the press kits for Harry Potter books or audiobooks do not. In late 2009, I was fortunate enough to run across an eBay UK auction for this paper press kit promoting reviews for the audiobook release for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
The photo above shows images of the glossy folder from left to right:
- The front of the folder, with actor (and audiobook performer) Stephen Fry holding the UK cover art version of Order of the Phoenix.
- The back, showing individual audiobooks for Harry Potter #1-4, plus various box sets and gift sets.
- The inside left-hand side, with Stephen Fry and J.K. Rowling.
- The inside right-hand side (with orange pocket) and a very light image of Stephen Fry holding a crystal ball.
Press kits do not always include the same elements. It depends on the audience and/or purpose they were packaged for. The particular press kit includes the following seven individual sheets or stapled packets, totaling 12 pages:
- Cover letter addressed to reviewers of the audiobook (1 page).
- Little Known Facts About the Audio Market in the UK (1 page).
- Harry Potter Audiobooks; Marketing Materials (2 pages. Page 1 – pictures of cover art on the adult and children’s versions. Page 2 – pictures of posters, sales displays and end caps, shelf unit).
- Praise for Harry Potter Audios; Praise for Stephen Fry (2 pages).
- Flyer: The biggest selling audiobook of all time (1 page).
- Press release description of the book, of Stephen Fry, purchase information, additional press information, and technical notes on series production (3 pages).
- Stephen Fry professional biography (2 pages).
Trivia notes gleaned from this kit:
- This series was published, marketed, and distributed by Cover to Cover Cassettes Ltd., an imprint of BBC Audiobooks.
- The audiobook of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone made broadcasting history by being broadcast in its entirety (8 hours, 25 minutes) on Radio 4 LW on Boxing Day 2000.
- The Harry Potter audiobooks are the biggest-selling audio title of all time. [It wasn't clear from the fact sheet whether this was in the UK only, or worldwide. Either way, it is still impressive.]
- Actor Stephen Fry developed 79 different voices in order to perform the various characters in the first five books in the Harry Potter series. [This really is far more than "just a reading" of the books - it truly is a performance!]
- To record Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Stephen Fry spent eight and a half days in the studio. This performance is unabridged, and lasts 29 hours and 5 minutes, and required 24 CDs (or 22 cassettes).
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s [Philosopher’s] Stone
To be added.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
To be added.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
To be added.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
To be added.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
To be added.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ~ Borders Gift Card
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ~ Vinyl Window Cling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ~ Bookstore Gift Cards
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ~ Bookstore Coffee Cup Heatguard
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ~ Borders Book Release Party Banner
To be added.
US Edition Book Release Pins
· Sorcerer’s Stone
· Chamber of Secrets
· Prisoner of Azkaban
· Goblet of Fire (circle)
· Order of the Phoenix (square; circle)
· Half-Blood Prince (square) – HP6 – book release pin. Check the (now defunct) downloadable green wallpaper motif from Scholastic for HP6.
· Deathly Hallows (sculpted four-point star with lenticular black and white faces)
· 10th Anniversary of Sorcerer’s Stone
