The-Author-Who-Lived: J. K. Rowling's Refusal to Accept the Death of the Author in the Internet Age

As technology continues to evolve, authors, critics, and readers are forced to renegotiate their relationship as they navigate an increasingly digital reading experience on the Internet and in print. J. K. Rowling’s prominent online presence reveals her fear that she will be forgotten as the Harry Potter phenomenon continues to grow. She has recently released enhanced digital editions of Harry Potter, another Cormoran Strike novel, a redesigned Pottermore website, and new information about the Fantastic Beasts movie and the Cursed Child play. Because of Rowling’s extratextual revelations and annotations, readers must be aware of Rowling’s authorial presence, and cognizant of her impact on their reading experience. Whether Rowling’s extratext is truly canonical is up for debate, but it is up to the reader to decide what her texts say after examining the texts themselves and Rowling’s commentary, in light of what appears in the original Potter texts.