J K Rowling, the woman behind the infeasibly popular Harry Potter series, has sold her latest creation to her publishers for half a million pounds.
"It's been a while since Jo wrote anything," said publisher and publicist Pugh Ballasista. "So we were really excited to discover that she has returned to writing."
The new work is not very long, and appears to be aimed at housewives, a new market for Rowling.
"I've got to admit," said Ballasista, "it's not my kind of thing. Then again, neither were the Potter books, and they've proven popular, so perhaps I'm wrong about this latest masterpiece."
Joanne Murray, AKA J.K. Rowling, has never enjoyed being interviewed by the press, but she was tracked down to the Waitrose in Edinburgh for an impromptu interview about her latest work. She was in the vegetable section looking lost and confused.
On being asked what had prompted her to write this new work that was sure to be a massive hit when it is finally published, she at first looked as though she did not know what was being talked about. After patiently explaining about the new short piece that her publisher would soon be publishing, realisation dawned for the multi-millionaire author.
"It's not a new work of fiction," she said, looking relieved. "I met my publisher this morning about a possible new book. I must have left my shopping list on the table. That explains why I can't find it now."
She picked up an aubergine. "Did you read it? You don't know if I need one of these do you?"