LONDON: Overnight queues at shops are expected to strike again as the author of the phenomenally successful "Harry Potter" series, JK Rowling, publishes her new book on Thursday.

Titled "The Tales of Beedle the Bard", the book provides an insight into the characters and their wizardry. Proceeds from the sale of the collection of short stories will go towards the charity she co-founded to improve life for children in institutional homes in eastern Europe.

Publishers are widely expecting the initial print of 7.5 million copies to be snapped up quickly when the book which provides an insight into the Potter characters and their wizardry, goes on sale in more than 20 countries including Britain, the United States, France, Germany, China and Japan.

“We think it will appeal to established 'Harry Potter' fans, but also to people who want to do something for charity,” said Amy MacLaren, a spokeswoman for the charity, Children’s High Level Group (CHLG).

For every book sold in Britain, the charity would receive US$2.05, and an equivalent amount from foreign sales.

Rowling will host a tea party in her home city of Edinburgh to launch the book on Friday.

Six people who were involved with the Potter books received six of the seven original handwritten copies, while the last copy went on auction on online retailer Amazon, fetching US$2.9 million.

Amazon has placed reviews of the five short stories on its website, promising that they “read like Aesop’s fables and echo the themes of the (Potter) series".

- CNA/jk