Lexicon Steve

Update: possible change of schedule

Wed, 20 May 2009 15:11:01 GMT

The video shoot might be moved to Tuesday now. More when I hear back. Sorry about the confusion ...

Something fun on a Friday morning

Tue, 19 May 2009 19:24:46 GMT

Calling West Michigan Potter fans and friends of fans! Can you help out on a video shoot this Friday at 10am? Even if you can't be there, please pass the word to the Potter fans you know who might want to be part of this fun project. Have them email me at steve.lexicon@gmail.com for details.

Steve's Britain tour schedule

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:53:41 GMT

Here's where I'll be and when. Please come on out, say hello, celebrate Harry Potter with me!

Oxford
18 April Saturday 3.30 pm
Borders
9 Magdalen Street

London
19 April Sunday 3.00 pm
Book Release Party
Cochrane Theatre
Southampton Row

Bristol
21 April Tuesday 5.30 pm
Borders
Clifton Promenade
48-56 Queens Road

Birmingham
22 April Wednesday 6.00 pm
Borders
Bullring Shipping Centre

Cambridge
23 April Thursday 6.00 pm
Borders
12-13 Market Street

Edinburgh
24 April Friday 6.00 pm
Blackwell's Bookshop
52-63 South Bridge

Edinburgh
25 April Satruday 1.00 pm
Borders
Fort Kinnaird Retail Park
Newcraighall Road

PLEASE COME to the Book Release Party in London!

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:20:38 GMT

PARTY PARTY (just to get your attention)

I would love to see everyone at the Lexicon Book Release Party on the 19th of April. The event starts at 3 pm at the Cochrane Theatre, Southampton Row WC1B 4AP, London.

This will be a great chance to see you all, so please be there! I'll only be in Britain for two weeks this time around, and a good portion of that time will be touring around the country for book signings (Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, London/Islington, Birmingham).

So please be at the party if you possibly can, and let people know, will you? Pass the word!!

Steve

Merry Christmas

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:37:48 GMT

Happy holidays, everyone!

I hope you have plenty of celebrating and good times with friends and family, and an exciting and blessed 2009.

I'm looking forward to a lot of travelling to promote the Lexicon book over the next few months, so I'm hoping to see a lot of you along the way.

Steve

foolishness

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:13:40 GMT

T-Mobile just spent 42 cents to send me a bill for 37 cents. I expect I should write them a check and send it right away. Wouldn't want a late fee on that.

Yeah.

Steve
(excitedly busy today)

In Search of Harry Potter

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:53:48 GMT

I am very excited to let you all know that my book In Search of Harry Potter is finally published after some delays with page layouts and finalising the cover with Rowling's lawyers. I've been told that it's turning up in shops in London, and so some of you owe me some photos (you know who you are). From what I’ve been told, it could be in the stores in the US in just a few weeks. In the meantime, it’s available from Amazon.

I’ve had quite a few questions about the book, so I’ve put together a page about it which I hope will be helpful. I've tried to give some idea of what the book is about. I'm looking into publishing an excerpt as well, but I have to clear that with the publicity people at Methuen.

The book is hardcover and illustrated with colour photographs and maps (photos by me, cover and maps by Camilla Engelby). It's a first-person account of my exploration of Britain looking for places which would evoke the magic and excitement of places in the Harry Potter books. How close could I come to the Wizarding world? Surprisingly close. Along the way, I discovered some wonderful local lore, ghost stories, legends, unusual customs and the like, and I've included a lot of that in the book as well.

Contacting me

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:31:49 GMT

Recently, some of my friends have been receiving unwanted and annoying phone calls from members of the press, trying to get in contact with me. This is definitely not appreciated. One friend has had to change her phone number several times to avoid these kinds of calls, but is still receiving them.

To avoid this kind of harassment, I’ve created an email account which can be used to contact me directly. The address is steve.lexicon@googlemail.com. Please use this method of reaching me and do not call my friends and family, as they will not be willing to talk to you and will not put you in touch with me.

Steve

Still waiting ...

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:31:24 GMT

The Lexicon is still in transition. I am so sorry for the inconvenience. We're working on getting the problem fixed.

In the meantime, the site is still there. Here are two ways to access the Lexicon during this extremely frustrating down time:

Replace the domain (www.hp-lexicon.info) with the IP, which is 69.61.53.28

Search Google and add the word Lexicon to your search (e.g. rictusempra lexicon) and then go to their cached version of the page.

I hope that we'll have this problem sorted out soon, and I really apologise to everyone.

Steve

Lexicon outage

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:10:12 GMT

Many people have contacted me about the Lexicon being down. I'm sorry about that. We're in the process of transferring the domain and the DNS hasn't changed yet. Hopefully we'll be back up soon.

Steve

two requests

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:43:36 GMT

Does anyone have Queen's 'Sheer Heart Attack'? I have every other Queen album except that one, inexplicably. And it's my favourite. I have the CD and the LP (and possibly even the 8-track) back in the States, but that doesn't do me much good here. (N.B. Not the SONG 'Sheer Heart Attack', which is actually on the album 'News of the World' and several of the live albums). There are times when a song like 'Dear Friends' is exactly what is needed...

I'll be in London on Tuesday for meetings with the publishers, probably in the morning. I'm going to the meetup in the evening. Anyone care to get together for lunch/tea/drinks/coffee at some point during the afternoon?

earthquake

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:25:17 GMT

We had an earthquake in London last night. I was just finishing up my work on the Lexicon for the night, about 1 am, when everything started to shake very gently. Funny, I knew almost immediately what it was. I'm not sure how I knew, since the shaking wasn't all that strong -- just enough to make little ripples in my coffee cup and make me glance down at my chair (not sure why I looked at my chair...what did I expect to see?). My first impression was that it was the neighbours, but right after that realized what it really was.

What is it about an earthquake that feels different from, say, a truck rumbling by? The lack of the sound of a truck, maybe. An earthquake does feel different, though. At any rate, it lasted about ten seconds and it was pretty cool. They say that London is a city that has everything. I guess they're right.

Seriously cool toy

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:31:03 GMT

Check out this cool new technology:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid713271701?bclid=713073346&bctid=709364416

I want one.

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 06:17:08 GMT

Well, I'm off and running with another show. This time it's "Seussical: The Musical" and I've spent the better part of the last two days designing the show with the music director and choreographer. Now it's way too late at night (again) and I still have to work out the details of one more production number and assign actors to be part of the Circus McGurkus scene.

Remind me why I do this...

Of course, the set will include two mini-trampolines, rope ladders dangling from the balcony, and a hydrolic lift to raise the Cat in the Hat out of a trapdoor in the stage, so how cool is that.

Steve
in theatre director mode

Set Report...sort of!

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 23:34:00 GMT

Okay, you all know that I visited the sets of the Order of the Phoenix film some weeks back. I and all the other press members who were along signed a media embargo at that time which forbade us from talking about it until next July. One exception was that we could publish a teaser report when the first trailer came out.

Well, the trailer is out...and so is my teaser report. I have so much more I wish I could tell you, but that will have to wait. If you'd like to read what I can tell you so far, check it out here:
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/films/lex-op-set-teaser.html

Steve

ps Thanks to Elanor for editing...

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 05:47:40 GMT

I joke about that fact that I shouldn't be allowed to use power tools. I proved that fact Saturday morning. Apparently, if you hold a hedge trimmer in just the wrong place, then plug it in and accidentally press the little button, it rips some rather nasty holes in your fingers.

Now you know.

On a vaguely related note, did you know that duct tape makes a very servicable bandage?

Steve
always useful as a negative example

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 04:14:37 GMT

In a few days I'll be in London, visiting the sets of the Order of the Phoenix. I've heard that it's possible that I will be given the opportunity to interview some of the cast members. I would love to have some really good questions to ask them, something that they haven't been asked a thousand times before. Any suggestions?

I hope I get rid of this cold before then. Figures...

Steve

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 01:31:20 GMT

Well, it's been ages since I've posted. For a teacher, this time of year is really crazy. I know, I know, you all are saying "Don't complain, you get summers off!" And that's true. But even so, getting back into the swing of school is just plain exhausting. I have to get up so early and everything. And do work and stuff. It's hard.

Okay, fine, you don't feel the least bit sorry for me. And you REALLY won't feel sorry for me when I tell you that I'm going to London in a few weeks to visit the Order of the Phoenix sets. Warner contacted me a week ago and invited me, out of the blue. Can you imagine? I am so excited, I can't even tell you. And yes, they're paying for it, the whole trip. Amazing.

I will be writing a set visit report, of course, and we'll post it on the Lexicon as soon as Warner gives the green light to publish.

*happy dance*

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:26:53 GMT

I get email quite often from people who wonder why we don't work harder on the Lexicon. Sometimes they've sent an email to us pointing out an error that we still haven't fixed or maybe they have been wondering why the new maps of Britain aren't complete when we've been working on them for months. What they don't realize is that a lot of the work we've been doing lately hasn't been visible. We've been working on a number of projects which are all part of a long-term upgrade to the whole site. These projects have required a lot of planning and organization in order to make sure they're going to fit together as the whole site changes.

One of these new projects is the Remembrall search tool which Clint created. If you haven't had a chance to try it, go to the Lexicon and click on search. It's really very cool.

Another of these projects is the new timeline which some of you had a chance to see in Copenhagen and which I described in one of my talks at Lumos. I would love to put out a beta version for you all to play with, but we're still working on a few things. Watch for this soon.

Yet another new feature is the new What's New page, which went live yesterday. Since it's blogged, you can add comments and subscribe to the RSS feed. I've asked my staff to post often, even if "what's new" isn't some huge earth-shattering new thing. I think it will be interesting for all of you to get a glimpse of the work that they do as they edit and change and add and consider new information for the Lexicon. It also gives users a chance to share their insights and expertise. I just read some of the comments about St Mungos. They add so much depth and additional information. That's the kind of interaction that is a natural fit with the Lexicon.

Steve

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:07:08 GMT

Is it really August 11 already? Seems like my summer just got started, what with doing Pride and Prejudice in June and traveling all over the world in July. I really should be working on school things, getting ready to start my year and all that. Instead I'm just working in the yarrd and managing the Lexicon team and sleeping in later than I should.

And I'm okay with that.

What I'm NOT okay with is the British press. I've been burned twice. Never again. So if you're a reporter for a British newspaper, bite me.

Steve

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 04:41:15 GMT

It's been a great day. I finished cleaning out the garage, for one thing. I still can't park my truck in there, but at least I can walk around and get to my gardening stuff. Amazing how much junk was in there, considering that I did a Complete and Thorough Cleaning [tm] last summer too, and tossed all sorts of things. Still. It's clean again. There was great rejoicing.

Now this evening I've been working on all sorts of new and secret Lexicon projects, which is always fun, especially because I have the best staff in the universe to work with on these things. I want to make sure you all realize how hard these wonderful people work to make the Lexicon what it is. They do it for you, not for money or glory. I'm afraid the money part is unlikely, but maybe I can direct a little well-deserved glory their way. If you get a chance, email them and tell them how much you appreciate their work. Here's the list:

clint@hp-lexicon.org - programming and coding...thank him for the Remembrall search tool...and all the really cool stuff we can't show you yet (but which you saw if you were at Patronus!)

belinda@hp-lexicon.org - editing, especially our fantastic jkr.com section and the floo page...and for al her work on the trivia contest at Lumos

penny@hp-lexicon.org - communications...in other words, she handles all that incoming email and managing things like the translation teams, which is a huge job, believe me

john@hp-lexicon.org - editing, most recently the Gazetteer, but many other places as well (and say hi to his lovely wife Caroline, who we met at Lumos!)

kip@hp-lexicon.org - forum...a true and a very very loyal friend

michele@hp-lexicon.org - she's been editing the Lexicon longer than anyone else but me, and is my cowriter for the Reader's Guides; without her, I would never have kept up with the new material when book five came out

lisa@hp-lexicon.org - editing, especially the character section, she's also the webmistress of Madam Scoops and Quick Quotes and someone whose advice I am always glad of

paula@hp-lexicon.org - edits the essay section, which is a huge job and which she does so well!

These people are a joy to work with and an inspiration to me. Tell them how much you appreciate their work.

Steve

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 15:20:54 GMT

Yesterday was one of those days when the weather can't make up its mind and every time you think you're going to be able to start some project or other it starts to rain. For a while there it was actually misting, which was interesting. It was kind of like Scotland, in other words. As a result, I decided that yesteday would be a day for doing not much of anything and sort of recuperate from a long stretch of travel and excitement. That means that I pretty much sat at my desk all day and messed around online.

Side note: If you live in Scotland, you must have developed the skill of being able to get stuff done when the weather is always going to screw you over. Interesting.

Now it's Friday. Tonight I'm going out with friends who are bound and determined to shrink my bloated ego back to normal, so it should be fun in a wrenching, poke-fun-of-Steve sort of way. I have a nice long list of things to do today, and that list includes gardening, which I desperately need to do. That list also includes cleaning out the garage, which I also desperately need to do, but which absolutely sucks compared to gardening, so I'll probably concentrate on yanking weeds and deadheading flowers. Gardening is a violent yet satisfying experience. All that violence will be good preparation for the evening's ego-squashing.

And of course, messing around online is also on my list. It always is.

Steve

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 05:11:44 GMT

Back from NYC, reading and catching up. Seems like it's been a month since I was caught up on email and lj's and sleep and, well, life.

This. heat. sucks.

On top of that, I hurt from walking around the Metropolitan Museum of Art all day today.

Sleeping will be tough tonight.

Steve

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 04:24:31 GMT

Well, this is it. I'm all packed and now I'm walking around the house trying to remember what I've forgotten. I fly out in about 7 hours.

Maybe it's time to get some sleep.

I have to admit that this isn't nearly as cool as flying to Copenhagen. I want to hang out with the Patronus gang again. Heck, I want to hang out with Kristina's folks again. I want to see how their flat turned out. And I want to know how her mom liked Philosopher's Stone.

Oh, by the way, I added some more photos to Flickr.

Steve

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 06:00:55 GMT

Seems hard to believe that in just a week we'll all be converged on the Marriott in Vegas. I wonder if the staff of that hotel has any clue what they're in for.

It's also really cool to think that I'll be meeting some members of the Lexicon staff for the very first time. These are people that have worked closely with me for years, who have devoted hours and hours of their time to the Lexicon, and who deserve a huge thank you from the Harry Potter community. It's truly amazing what this group of people has created. If you happen to see any of them, thank them, okay?

But now it's 2 am and I'm working on various presentations, getting ready for Vegas, and listening to iTunes...and thinking that a week isn't really enough time to get this all ready. Oh well.

Steve