J.K. Rowling is to the publishing world as Mark Spitz is to Swimming. Her success has been unparalleled and has smashed records across many genres.

Rowling's seven "Golden" books have achieved world dominance through thier immense popularity. They have gained awards, honours and praise as well as criticism and controversy. Amidst it all, Harry Potter is a monolithic blockbuster. The commercial success of the novels, merchandise, films and video games has earned Rowling the title of the highest-earning novelist in history.

According to Wikipedia, "As of June 2008, the seven book series has sold more than 400 million copies and have been translated into 67 languages." That is the equivalent of Mark Spitz winning seven gold medals in the 1972 Olympics. Spitz has accomplished what no other person has done before in swimming. Rowling has accomplished what no other person has done before in publishing.

Rowling's success is not just about merchandising, movies and record breaking book sales. It was an idea that got her started, hard work that built her career and passion for her readers that made her a huge success. In an early interview with kidsread.com Rowling said, "I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. I'm sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers."

WHAT MAKES HARRY POTTER SO POPULAR?

What common threads do Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars have that make them so appealing to the masses? Each one, in their respective rights and time, are highly conceptualized products that capture the imagination of the public.

However, Harry Potter is a lot more than that. Harry Potter strikes at a number of age groups and interests. The books cross multiple genres and gives "something to everyone." Rowling's writing creates a powerful feeling of self identification with the characters and deals with human emotions and social interaction. Harry Potter brings together kids and adults from various walks of life to share the same experience.

WILL THERE EVER BE ANOTHER J. K. ROWLING?

Harry Potter is drawing to an end. The last book in the series is out and only a few movies are left to make. It draws us and the publishing industry to ask the great question: Will there ever be another J. K. Rowling?

Yes. There will be!

For 36 years we wondered if there will ever be another Mark Spitz. We asked ourselves if anyone will match his seven gold medals in a single Olympics. We dared to ask ourselves if anyone will actually beat that record. Then, Michael Phelps came along. He proved to us that it is possible to match and beat what we thought impossible.

With Rowling's insurmountable achievements it does seem that this too would be an impossible task to undertake. Anything is possible if you believe it enough!

To top Harry Potter, it is going to take a "Lucky" person with great enthusiasm, a creative story, a brilliant character and an incredible thirst to become the best!

WHAT ARE KIDS GOING TO READ?

An article was published on this exact topic in a February 2007 issue of Entertainment Weekly. The article is titled The Final Chapter: Harry Potter Publisher Scholastic Faces a Future Without a Boy Who Lived, by Michelle Kung. Michelle writes, "The bittersweet goodbye also marks the end of an era for Rowling's American publisher, Scholastic, which has put more than 121.5 million Potter books in print since the saga began in 1998. So how will they handle life without Harry Potter? First, by cultivating franchises--like Meg Cabot's new Allie Frankle's Rules for Girls series and Cornelia Funke's popular Ghosthunters novels. The publisher is also banking that the future generations will catch Pottermania." She later writes, "Still, booksellers are mourning the loss of a phenomenon that has yet to be matched . . . of course, Scholastic does have some time to find its next cash cow."

So, what are kids out there reading?

• Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
• Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DtTerlizzi
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
• His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini
• Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
• Septimus Heap by Angie Sage
• The Keys to the Kingdom by Garth Nix

All of these books are highly successful. Several of them have even been made into hit Hollywood movies. Will any of these current authors emerge as the one that will fill the shoes, or should I say robe, of Harry Potter?

Maybe.

Or, maybe that next "Cash Cow" will be from an undiscovered author. Somewhere out there there is an idea brewing for a series that will top Harry Potter and take the throne from J. K. Rowling. We will just have to wait and see what that is!

Possibly, just possibly it could be an eight book series that chronicle the adventures of Merlin's grandson and the quest for hidden relics spread throughout the universe.

Ooooh . . . sounds good!

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