Pottermore: Harry Potter's Going Digital on J.K. Rowling Site

June 23, 2011— -- Harry Potter is finally going digital.

Author J.K. Rowling announced Thursday that her seven Harry Potter novels will be sold as e-books starting in October through her new interactive website, Pottermore.

Rowling unveiled the new site in a YouTube video posted Thursday.

Pottermore, which Rowling created in partnership with Sony, will become an online hub for everything Harry Potter-related, including audio books and, for the first time, e-books.

"You can't hold back progress," Rowling told The Associated Press. "E-books are here, and they are here to stay."

Rowling was one of the last holdouts on digital publishing. But now all the boy wizard's exploits will be available in digital audiobooks and e-books in multiple languages exclusively through her website.

One of the world's most powerful authors, Rowling has bypassed established online retailers such as Amazon, though her e-books will be compatible with popular e-readers, including Amazon's Kindle, Sony's Reader and Apple's iPad.

In the video describing her new site, Rowling promised that Pottermore would provide readers with an interactive experience, allowing fans to contribute to the story.

And she hinted that there will be more Harry Potter to come.

"I will be sharing additional information I've been hoarding for years about the world of Harry Potter," she said in the video.

Even though the site doesn't go live until the fall, some users can log in early. For fans who simply can't wait, Rowling dropped a clue: "Follow the Owl."