The Spanish Harry Potter fansite, BlogHogwarts, recently interviewed Steve Vander Ark, author of the Harry Potter Lexicon, and was kind enough to send us a transcript of the interview. The interview was mainly about the HP Lexicon's ongoing battle with JK Rowling and Warner Brothers about their Harry Potter encylopedia. To read the interview, click Full Story.

BlogHogwarts: Do you think that, if Lexicon wins the case, the Harry Potter fansites are going to be affected in any way(Lexicon Online included)?

Steve Vander Ark: A victory for RDR Books will protect the rights of fans to create based on someone else's work. If RDR Books loses, copyright holders will be given broad new control over fan activity, control which will allow them to shut down sites, stop authors from writing about their works, etc. So a win for RDR Books is definitely in the best interest of fans who create websites, write fanfiction, make wands, compose wizard rock, and so on. I am surprised how many fans have missed this point. Their freedom to create is on the line here.

BH: ¿How many pages does the Lexicon book have?

SVA: The Lexicon book will have around 400 pages. It's 160,000 words. The book has four authors. I am the main author, but three of my Lexicon editors worked on the book as well.

BH: If the Lexicon is published, once the Scottish Book gets out, will you still update Lexicon Online and Book?

SVA: I'm as excited to buy Rowling's Scottish book as anyone! It will be very different from the Lexicon book, with a lot of new and exciting information which only Rowling can provide. I will continue to update the Lexicon website. I love working on the Lexicon and will do so even if I have no staff and even when people don't read Harry Potter much anymore. Beyond that, I have written another book, called In Search of Harry Potter, which will be published in July. I'm starting on another one as well. I intend this series of books to comprise a complete independent reference library to Harry Potter. The second and third books will not generate the kind of legal concern that the Lexicon book has, thankfully.

BH: Do you consider that your fanatism or admiration to J.K. Rowling is less now after all that have happened?

SVA: My admiration for the Harry Potter books is as great as ever. I'm still a huge fan. I'm also still a fan of Rowling, although I think her current actions are unfortunate and badly advised. I still admire her as a writer and a person and I don't expect that to change just because she and I have a disagreement over a legal issue. Friends can disagree and still be friends.