J.K. Rowling announces surprise new book The Ickabog

Taking to Twitter, J.K. Rowling has announced plans to release a new children's book, The Ickabog – releasing the work for free online, chapter by chapter, to help ease the boredom of lockdown. At 3pm today, May 26, the first two chapters of the book are set to be available on a newly launched website – with more details to be announced shortly.

Although Rowling was keen to stress that the new book is "not a Harry Potter spin-off", the announcement has nonetheless sent fans into a frenzy. She describes The Ickabog as a "stand-alone fairy tale", written over ten years.

"I always meant to publish it, but after the last Potter was released I wrote two novels for adults and, after some dithering, decided to put those out next," she continues. "Until very recently, the only people who'd heard the story of The Ickabog were my two younger children."

Rowling has also called for children to contribute their illustrations for the book.

"The best picutres in each publishing territory will be included in the books we intend to publish in November 2020," she revealed – encouraging parents or guardians to share the artwork online using the hastag #TheIckabog.

She concludes the Twitter post by revealing that she will donate her "author royalties from the published books to projects and organisations helping the groups most impacted by Covid-19."

The first two chapters of The Ickabog will be going live in a couple of hours time. Whether you read it yourself, or have it read to you, I hope you enjoy it ❤️

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— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 26, 2020