Hello Everyone! Today please welcome Thomas Sailor, author of Chronicles of a Harry Potter Fan.
For many years, Thomas Sailer was active in the virtual Harry Potter fandom: After he had developed a huge fancy for the story in autumn 2004, he started to help out on the renowned fan portal 'Emma Watson Empire' the next spring; and it did not take long until he advanced to the site's representative.
Two years later, he founded the 'Knight Bus,' a widescale directory for Harry Potter websites. And finally, he even tried to mobilise fans from all countries by means of an organisation.
During his years as an active member of the fan community, he has accomplished quite a lot and made contacts to fans and website owners from all over the world. However, what he has basically intended with his activity, did not happen to become real.
In this book, he talks about his work in the international fandom, his motives and how the Harry Potter story has influenced his life. When first released in November 2012, the original German version of the book caused a stir within the fan community: Although it has never been on a bestseller-list, there appeared to be several reports about Thomas Sailer's story on many fan based websites from all around the world.
Looking back now in 2013, it has been a long while since I started
becoming active in the online Harry Potter fandom: I remember clearly when, in
the spring of 2005, I started looking for HP sources on the web – eager to get
active in one of these communities. For me, being a fan always meant more than
just enjoying the books and movies. I wanted more … and I wanted to get
involved.
As I always try to find ways to change my dreams into action, I
managed to work my way from a normal fan up to a recognized name within the
virtual Harry Potter fandom. And, for a very long time, my activity in the
fandom appeared to me like a window and maybe even a possible gateway, to
something amazing.
What I really enjoyed about my work was all the creative projects
which I thought up and later put into practice. I loved the various tasks which
this activity gave me. For instance, to inform other webmasters about project
ideas or to work in my friend’s garage and try desperately to complete a wooden
keepsake box for Emma Watson’s 18th birthday from the fans.
In the course of my project activities, I got to meet many new
people from all over the world; many of whom I am still in contact with and
enjoy talking to from time to time. They were webmasters, staff members of
Harry Potter sites or normal fans who did not
take part in the virtual fandom the way I did. It was a real pleasure to
meet such a variety of new and interesting people.
The decision to write a book came along at a time when I felt like
I was over and done with HP. In the end of 2009 I started to realise how many
things I had done, moved and achieved within the HP fandom. So I considered it
a great chance to gather my memories and thus share my experience.
Writing this book did not happen at once; I had to interrupt my work very soon, as it was some weeks before Christmas and I had no idea how to get all my stuff for university done. And in the beginning of the new year, I had the incentive to write a novel – what put this project on ice for the moment. Further, I was not able to put a proper ending to the book, as at that time I was not finished with my activity in the fandom.
Writing this book did not happen at once; I had to interrupt my work very soon, as it was some weeks before Christmas and I had no idea how to get all my stuff for university done. And in the beginning of the new year, I had the incentive to write a novel – what put this project on ice for the moment. Further, I was not able to put a proper ending to the book, as at that time I was not finished with my activity in the fandom.
Almost two years later, in the last days of December 2011, I made
the decision that it was time to finish this book. So, along with writing my
second novel, I completed it during 2012. It was a great experience to confront
myself with all those memories once again and to work them out a structured
book.
Good for you, Thomas! What a great story. It's so great to create something positive out of all your experiences, and follow through in finishing a difficult project.
Check out Chronicles of a Harry Potter Fan at the following links:
Website
Amazon
Check out Chronicles of a Harry Potter Fan at the following links:
Website
Amazon
What do YOU think about the premise of Thomas's book?
Heey
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for being a part of the tour! I've linked you up on my blog :)
Juli @ Universe in Words