Last week, we reported that J.K. Rowling's first adult novel, The Casual Vacancy, would be released on September 27th.  But the Harry Potter author hasn't left the wizarding world behind completely.  In addition to this weekend's launch of Pottermore, an interactive experience that takes fans deeper into the world of Harry Potter, Rowling has announced on her website that she'll be penning a Harry Potter encyclopedia and donating the royalties to charity.

Hit the jump for more.

Rowling issued the following statement on her official website [via Yahoo!]:

"For a long time I have been promising an encyclopaedia of Harry's world, and I have started work on this now," said the 46-year-old, whose announcements related to Harry Potter are closely followed by millions of fans.

"Some of it forms the new content in Pottermore."

Pottermore and this encyclopedia are brilliant ways to continue Harry Potter's story without writing another Harry Potter book.  While Rowling has never ruled out the possibility of writing a new Harry Potter novel down the line, I hope she doesn't.  She created something masterful and complete with the series, and I'm happy leaving Harry's story as is.  But I don't want her to completely leave Harry's fascinating world behind.  The wizarding world of Rowling's novels is so rich and vibrant, and I'm eager to know more about its history and culture.  The Tales of Beedle the Bard provided an enticing hint of what Rowling could do when she took readers into the Harry Potter universe without having Harry as the protagonist.  While Potter fans have poured their hearts into creating Wikis for Harry Potter, Rowling's encyclopedia will not only be the definitive guide, but will probably have additions that fans don't know about.

This weekend, I also jumped into Pottermore.  It's a full-featured experience with plenty to offer.  I was hoping the site would provide Rowling's commentary and thought-process on developing the books, and that element has been provided.  I've only gone a few chapters in, but I've already learned not only how Rowling developed Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, but there's also new material on how those characters met, fell in love, and their relationship with Lily and James Potter before Harry was born.  I'm taking the process slow, partly because I'm dreading the Sorting Hat chapter.  I really, really don't want to get placed in Hufflepuff.

Be on the lookout for my review of Pottermore later this week or early next week.  If you want to be my Pottermore friend, my username is OakThorn13127 (the site doesn't let you create a name; it gives you five choices and you pick one).