My nine year-old daughter, who just read Harry Potter 5 for the 12th time will be giddy with delight when she wakes up this morning to hear the news that J.K. Rowling has completed her sixth novel.

Rowling's next book will be called "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

J.K. Rowling announced the news on Monday from her Web site.

The U.K. queen of Hogwarts said:

I know you all expected this to happen on Christmas Day, but I was sure that those of you who celebrate Christmas have better things to do on the day itself than fight your way into my study, whereas those of you who DON'T celebrate Christmas would definitely prefer not to wait until the 25th.

While Rowling is pregnant with her third child, she said she has had the time needed to tinker with the manuscript to her satisfaction. She said:

I am as happy as I have ever been with the end result.

I only hope you feel it was worth the wait when you finally read it.

Indeed; I'm sure we will.

Expect another post sometime later today after Rowling's U.S. publisher, Scholastic Inc. and her British publisher, Bloomsbury, announce when the sixth Harry Potter book will be released.

The release date is expected to "apparate" sometime this morning.

Harry Potter fans are hoping the new book will come out in 2005.

Many children and adults have put Warner Bro's. most recent Harry Potter DVD release on their 2004 Christmas wish list.

More than 100 million copies of Harry Potter I, II, III, IV and V have been sold to date. The first debuted in 1997.

The fifth book, Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix sold 5 million copies within 24 hours of publication.

After introducing Harry Potter to the world, Joanne "J.K." Rowling has won the Hugo Award, the Bram Stoker Award, the Whitbread Award for Best Children's Book, a special commendation for the Anne Spencer Lindbergh Prize, and a special certificate for being a three-year winner of the Smarties Prize, among many other awards.

Rowling has also been named an Officer of the British Empire.

She currently resides in Scotland with her husband and two children.

For further details, straight from the author herself, go to:

The message can be found when you figure out how to open the door on the site.

Congratulations J.K.!

I plan to wrap up the cover of The Order of the Phoenix with a big "6" taped over it as a Christmas gift for my daughters along with this announcement. You have just made one mother's holiday gift giving a huge hit, no matter what Santa puts under the tree this year. Thank you!

Inspired & Be Inspired (R).

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and "the second to last dose of Harry Potter" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King