J.K. Rowling appeared in London on Thursday (September 27) night, just hours after her eagerly anticipated book hit the shelves.<br/> <br />The Casual Vacancy is Rowling's first book for adults about life in a small English town.<br/> <br />While its received mixed reviews, the Harry Potter author told the audience at the Southbank Centre she was avoiding the critics.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: AUTHOR OF THE NOVEL 'THE CASUAL VACANCY', J.K.ROWLING, SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"I did spend the first two years on this book telling myself: 'You don't have to publish this.,' not because it's this, just because I was revelling in the thought that I had no contract, no-one knew what I was doing, it was just a lovely place to be in after Potter which, latterly, there was so much pressure involved, you know, people were always waiting for the next book, three seconds after I published a Harry Potter book. And so I spent a couple of years really luxuriating in the feeling that no-one knew what I was doing, but I always knew I was going to publish it. You know, I did, setting aside Salinger, you write to be published. So tonight is lovely, it's a celebration, it feels good."<br/> <br />Hefty sales are expected for the writer who has sold 450 million books.<br/> <br />And its not the only title the author is planning post-Potter.<br/> <br />Two more children's books are already being developed, and Rowling says she also has ideas about her second adult book as well.
