Melissa Anelli,
Thank you soooooo much for writing Harry, A History. I joined the fandom this summer and have been trying to remotely catch up on everything. Old new articals on Leaky and past PotterCasts do help, but it's still not the same. Your book helped me so much, it's incredible!

On a side note, I walked into my Borders Nov. 1st, walked over to the kids/young adults section, and on a display surrounded by paperback editions of Harry Potter (the tenth anniversary edition of Sorcerer's Stone to its right) was Harry, A History! (It was so charming, I would have taken a picture to share if I had a camera!)

Congratulations! This is great news, and well-deserved. I just finished reading the book (devouring it) and I have to say, not to sound over the top, but it was the most engrossing and exciting thing I've read since the Harry Potter books themselves. Above all I found them personally inspiring. I'm twenty-one and in my last year of school, currently fighting through a "What am I going to do! dkdnvkajedkvn!" crisis and was flat-out moved by your story. Plus getting to relive the whole experience was downright fun. You are a wonderful and inspired storyteller, and I want to thank you.

congratulations, melissa! *hug* awesome, awesome. i wouldn't have expected less. just reading the comments above... obviously you've captured the excitement thrill happiness intensity in loving everything harry and have written a splendid book. that jo put a foreword is saying something! =) i hope it reaches manila shores soonest.

ps i'm currently re-reading OotP -- harry potter forever! ;P

Sunday 8:15 AM.
Just Finished!

I never buy books. (Except Jo's.) But I pre-ordered Harry A History.

I've never been to a fan event, except the Deathly Hallows release at my local Borders. I've been checking your website for about 3 years, I took the Wombats, and I LOVE PotterCast! (It's how I get through the drudgery of laundry folding.) Yes, I even read fanfiction. (Fernwithy is the best.)

I'm 32 years old, and I love Harry Potter. It feels like a confession. Thanks for articulating the joy of being a Harry Potter Fan! Thanks for sharing your journey! It was a pleasure and joy to come along and experience all of the events!

Where's the transcript of that 8 hour JKR interview? I loved reading about your visits with Jo. SHE'S WRITING AGAIN!!!

My oldest daughter is getting her own copy of HP1 this Christmas, she's almost ready to start the journey for herself! (I've read 1-4 to her.)

The timeline swings were a bit like the real rollercoaster of fandom, and I got a bit bogged down in the "maths" of publication numbers. But this was a very well written and enjoyable book.

Congrats, Melissa! And I look forward to your next book, whatever the topic!

The book was outstanding Melissa. I bought it on the 4th after voting, but it took me a week to read because of my crazy work schedule. However, I have to say that it was AWESOME. You did a wonderful job telling the story of the fandom. I could remember where I was when you were relaying your story. Thank you for relaying so much of your interview with Jo, it was nice to hear her side as well.

Melissa,

Harry, A History was amazing! You did a fantastic job of telling the story of the fandom - I don't think anyone could have done as well as you did. I was so happy when I found my copy in Target the other day that I went home and read the whole thing in one sitting. I had been so busy with stage managing for my school's fall play that I hadn't had time to go get my copy until then (we had a day off, thankfully and tonight is our closing night).

Congratulations, Melissa! You deserve everything!

Hi Melissa, just picked up my copy today at the local Chapters store and I had to search everywhere to find it...I finally flagged down an employee in the children's section, who said "what, there is another Harry Potter book out?? I thought I knew them all!" so I told her the story of you and the leaky cauldron website and that you were able to interview JKR for the book personally and she looked it up on the computer and said "there should be 6 copies here in the community section". We went to the section and there were none there, but finally we found them on a display table of current events, where there were only three left. I grabbed one and so did she, she was clutching it under her arm like it would fly away on her...hahaha! so I made a sale for you out of an employee at the bookstore :-) Now I have my Friday night reading..I can't wait! Thanks so much!

Melissa

Thanks for such an interesting read. It is fascinating to see what was going on behind the scenes, as it were.

I enjoy the podcasts and look forward to whatever zany things you guys have planned. I keep getting starred at as I break out laughing while out walking. Oh well, their problem not mine.

Congratulations on making the best seller's list.

I am at a loss for words. This book is amazing! I just got past the part with the pictures in the middle. The pictures alone have made me laugh, cry, and squeal among other things. The book as a whole has made me do all of the above, dance, jump up and down, and hyperventilate a couple times. No book has done this to me before. EVER. Amazing. Amazing. AMAZING!!!!!!!
The bit about reading Ootp first time made me moan with longing (I was too young to go to a midnight release party, much less stay up all night reading at the time). All of you adult fans have no idea how lucky you are.
Sadly, I had difficulties FINDING the book at B&N; I figured it'd be on a stand of its own somewhere near the front, but it ended up being in the "Cultural Studies" section in some forgotten corner.

Again: Amazing. Amazing. AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

Way to go. I loved. When is the sequel comingoyt?

Melissa, your book is great beyond words. It is fun to think that the NYT best sellers forced JKR off the main list back in the day, and now you are going onto the same list. How awesome/ironic/giggly is that?!?!?
Melissa rules!

What? Only number 18? We can do better than this! Come on people go to your store and buy a few more copies! :D ;)

Congratulations Melissa! This is really a big, big success.

I've read the book and I just have to say it's well deserved! Congratulations Melissa!!!!

Well done, Melissa. I live in the UK so found difficulty getting hold of it and so decided to order it from Amazon. It arrived today and I started reading about 2 hours ago. I am on page 52 (yes, I am a slow reader...) and it has already had me in tears. I love it. It's amazing. Thank you so much.

Melissa,
... cue music...
THIS BOOK IS SO AWESOME,
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING...

Wow. Just wow. I have to say that I'm so excited for you, Melissa...and I cannot express how grateful I am that you told this story. I know it's your story, but it's also the "fans' story"...it's the story of us. And it's heart warming to see that so many want to read that story!!

*hugs* Congratulations on a huge accomplishment.

--MJ

I work at a Barnes & Noble in Los Angeles and have put the book out as a "staff recommended" book. Plus I put in on our "Noteworthy Non-Fiction" table.

Congratulations on making the list!

If anyone deserves celebratory drinks on the town and happy dances in sweatpants, it's you. A very hearty congrats. Enjoy it all.

Melissa all I can say is "You go girl"! And yes my head went from side to side when I said that. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I am a mother of 4...so that is saying something. Thank you for writing it and I'm so happy for it making the list...but you are number one in our book!

Congratulations, Melissa! You deserve this! I bought the book and am taking my time reading through it. I am about halfway done, and I love every bit of it so far. Thanks for writing it! :)

It's well deserved, Melissa. It's a great book.

HI Melissa:
I was the first to purchase the book on its release date in Sugar Land, TX: I had to ask the store clerk to bring it out of the back room, they had not shelved it yet. I hope that they have by now.
I enjoyed the book, I've been a lurker and occasional poster on Leaky for years, and it was nice to get the insiders' view. Our family are big fans of the HP universe. We have multiple copies of all HP books, all of the movies, a lot of merchandise and have attended book release parties, movie release nights and other events in character costumes. We even have a HP party planned for our youngest daughter's 9 3/4 "Birthday"
My only criticism of your book is that I have had a hard time following the time line. A chapter will start in one year, includes info on what happened in other years either before or after the original year discussed and often you end the chapter with info from another year. I would have liked for the book to have been organized year by year or with more clearly defined flashbacks/flash forwards. But all in all I liked the book and will recommend it to my friends.

Melissa, I posted this on Leaky, but I thought I'd post it here, too:

I’ve just finished reading the book, and I’m still all teary-eyed. I think what made it so good was that you weren’t just telling your story, but OUR story as well, all the fans who’ve gone along on this amazing ride with you. I’ve been more of a lurker on Leaky than a participating member, but hardly a day has gone by in the past few years that I haven’t stopped in to check the latest news and see what everyone is talking about. You and Leaky made it all so personal for us. Thank you—and congratulations on getting on the NYT bestseller list. I’m so proud of you I could bust!

PS—I can’t tell you how tickled I am that Jo has a TLC sticker in her office. I’ve got one on my car, not far above my HP-themed licence plate. *grins*

Wooooooooooooooooooooooo go you ! Can't wait to read the book :D 6 days woooooooooo.

and hey... thankyou !

Congratulations Melissa! Tell Mushka I said "Hi!" I love the book and can't thank you enough for writing it and filling in what was going on in the Potter fan world around me as I was merely a casual online spectator to the fandom but me and the few freinds that have read Potter and know the goodness have shared many awesome theory conversations together.

NO WAY!!!!

Melissa, that's awesome! WELL DONE!!! You're a New York Times Bestseller!!!! *Think I can hear you screaming and squeeing for joy from over here in the UK*

Congratulations, Melissa!
I loved it so far, but I'm not quite finished yet.

So when is the next one coming..? ;)

Melissa

I'm not surprised at all!
Congratulations!

We're all proud of you, but I bet no-one more than Jo.

Congrats Melissa~

Landing on the NYT List is a well-deserved kudo...the book is fabulous, and I'm so thrilled that your fellow fans are reacting in kind.

On the flip side, where do you go from here??? :-)

Congrats! I'm proud to say I bought my copy!

I wrote a review type thing--I'm only halfway done.
http://devynburton.com/ff/?p=22

xo
Devyn

p.s.
A group of my friends and I are putting together a charity anthology book, we have some cool authors involved--all for chairty... If interested send me a e-mail.. *gigglesnort*

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I'm so excited for you. Yay!

I'm sooooo excited for you Melissa! Harry is back on the NY Times best seller list!!! And YOU put him there! Now I just have to wait to get my hands on it in just over a week. I still can't work out why I didn't just get Amazon to ship me one, ah well. It'll be worth the wait, I'm sure!
Congratulations again!!!!!

woo hoo!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I read this on Leaky and now the Harry, A History Website, I was soooo happy for you :D This was a well deserved book to be on that list and I love every single page in the book! Congrats once again and again and again!!

Phillip :)

Congrats Melissa!
My small Waldenbooks has sold 10 copies! Which is more than we usually sell (in the same time period) of any James Patterson or Nora Roberts. It's on my staff pics and I keep recommending it to everyone interested in "Beedle." Here's to hoping you stay on the list for a little while!

Congratulations!!! I don't think there is anyone more deserving!!!

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST - I knew-it. Congrats- It doesn't get any better than this

I posted some of this on Leaky, but figured I put it here as well - Thank you, Melissa! I wish I could come up with the words to explain just how much I loved Harry, A History, but nothing seems to truly capture the feeling. I literally laughed and cried while reading. And I was torn between feeling so happy and so grateful for having joined the fandom when I did, and feeling so sad that I hadn’t come into it earlier because I missed so many great moments (I didn’t read the books until the January after HBP was released.) Most of all, though, Harry, A History reaffirmed my love for all things HP – I’m already looking forward to rereading it, since I flew through so quickly the first time. Congratulations on the success of the book – it is very well-deserved!

Congratulations Melissa! This is wonderful news. You deserve it because you wrote and amazing book!

Melissa,
Congratulations! You deserve it! Now we need to move it to number one!

What an amazing honor. I just finished Harry A History this evening and it was breath taking. You really deserve this, enjoy!!!!!

Congratulations Melissa! I pre-ordered your fabulous book, it arrived last week and I just finished savouring it. I enjoyed it so very much. You are a very talented writer. It makes me feel less guilty (and less crazy) about being a grown up HP fanatic. In 2002 I read Philospher's Stone aloud to my older daughter (in grade 1 at the time) and we were both hooked. We had to buy two copies of Deathly Hallows at midnight so we could both read through the night. I am so looking forward to reading the series to my younger daughter when she is ready in about a year! Cheers to you and thanks for explaining the fandom so well. PS - I chuckled when I read your "thank you's" at the end and you thanked your Nonna. I'm Italian-Canadian, so I can totally relate!

Congrats Melissa! You deserve it! I'm about halfway through the book right now, and it is one of the best things that I have read for awhile. I always knew that I was invested in the fandom, but I never realized to the extent that I was there until reading your book. I have been here from the begining. I read the first books in 1999 at the golorious age of 11, and now at 20 they still hold a special spot in my heart. With every passing page I can remember more things that I witnessed from the sidelines. I can remember checking HPUFC and then switching to Leaky. I remember Memerson and when things were "delusional." I remember my first Harry and the Potters concert and how crazy everyone thought I was for going. Most of all I remember the glorious secret of Harry obsession that I share with so many others in the world. Thank you Melissa for sharing everything that I could not out into words with the world. Congrats again!

Sweet.
Merciful.
Christ.

You deserve it. When we are together again, we will celebrate. And then we will watch Buffy and make a feast. And make coffee.

*sigh* Cannot wait.

Melissa, that is absolutely fantastic, and I can't think of anyone who deserves it as much as you do. I'd say more, but I'm going to wait till I finish the book, which thus far been nothing short of mesmerizing. Congratulations.

Congratulations! That is so awesome!!! I haven't finished the book yet, but what I have read so far...I have laughed I've cried, and I have remembered my first experiences with Harry! Thank you Melissa!

Wow, your first published book is a NYT Bestseller! Think about that. It's got to feel good. Hearty congratulations on a job well done Melissa! Enjoy your moment. This is truly something to celebrate!

I think I might be taking up far more space than should be allowed in terms of comments on leaky and here and facebook and the chat rooms--my gosh. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.

Congratulations, Melissa! I bought a copy last week from a small local bookstore (1 of 3 - I was in this evening, and I noticed there's only 1 copy left now!). It was such a wonderful read, and brought back so many fantastic memories. Thanks so much.

Congratulations Melissa! You deserve all this success because of your hard work, talent, humbleness and good nature.

Congratulations Melissa!!! You deserve it!

I walked into Barnes and Noble this past weekend and Harry A History was sitting right in front on the Noteworthy Non-fiction table, I was so excited. I then went into the other two bookstores around here and found the book and took it upon myself to add it to the "what we recommend" end caps (There was an open spot and I thought that it belonged to you).

Enjoy your celebration! It is much deserved! :)

Congratulations, Melissa! The book is absolutely fantastic. *cough*

I was at the Borders near my house on November 3 to get the book, and as I know most of the employees there, I kept trying to find the book and Travis and Joe (two of my friends working that night) were pointing me in all the wrong directions. It took a half-hour of believing what they were saying, and then realizing there were fifteen copies right in front of me, but I dove into it and finished the book the next night in time to watch the election returns. xD

You deserve that spot on the NYT Bestsellers' list 110%. (Can they move you up to #1?)

Cripes!! And a well deserved cripes at that!! I thought you'd stop at Blimey (!!) ... There's no stopping you: Maserati Anelli - just keeps racing up that List!! It's a really good read Melissa. Well done.

I must admit, I've secretly been checking the NYT Bestseller list all week to see if HaH would make it. I hope it continues to do well. Your success is another great example of people following what they love and achieving amazing things. Congrats.

That's incredible, Melissa. Congratulations!

I've been waiting for the NYT lists this weekend.
Congratulations. I suspected you'd make it.
You deserve it and more.

Thanks for your hard work and dedication.

Would love it if you made it to a signing here in S FL.

OMT

OHMYGOSH, This is the moment I've been waiting for!
Congratulations, once again on EVERYTHING you've achieved and completed.

Much love,
Sylvie

Congratulations, Melissa! And thank YOU! Your book is amazing, and the spot on the bestseller list is well deserved.

I got the book in the mail on Thursday afternoon, and had finished it by Friday night. I loved it! You have captured the whole fandom experience perfectly, and it makes me really proud to be a part of this phenomenon. Great job!

Harry, A History equals awesome! Congratulations on the NYT spot.

Oh, Melissa! I am so happy for you! I'm proud of you! AH, I don't know what else to say! Congratulations on making the NYT Bestseller List!!!

Congrats! Truly deserved.

I was at my local Barnes and Noble last Saturday to pick up a book for a writing project when I saw HaH. I took one look at it, smiled, chuckled and realized I wasn't getting any writing done on my project this weekend! My second thought was "Boy, I hope I have enough energy drinks at home," and my third thought was, "Boy, I hope my iPod is fully charged."

So I went home and treated it as if it were an HP book, which meant staying up all night reading it on my favorite comfy chair.

Definitely worth the purchase, read and loss of sleep! Well done!

Juan-John
(fellow Hoya, class of '91)

Melissa,
Congratulations!!! I wish you all the success in the world! You have definitely earned it.

John

Congrats, congrats, congrats, Melissa! And enjoy your celebration with your sister! :) All of us Leaky fans have been rooting for you all along, and it's so good to see the book succeed -- not just in our hearts but in the eyes of the world as well.

I hope you congratulate you again in person (!) at the TriBeCa event on Friday. (Hooray for being a new New Yorker!)

Congratulation Melissa! I think I can hear you in Melbourne Australia.... ;) Can't wait for it to come out here.

congratulations!!!! you really deserve it

Congratulations!!! I am loving the book. Thanks,

-wishes she lived in Brooklyn at the moment-

Congratulations!

Congratulations. A major part of Jo's success is that she's a nice, caring person who makes everyone happy. I think that the same thing goes for four of you at PotterCast, and certainly for you as well, Melissa.