LONDON:

Pen and notebook in hand in Edinburgh cafes, author JK Rowling has been spotted working on her latest work: a detective novel, a British newspaper reported on August 18.

The British author, who famously wrote initial drafts of her boy wizard story in the Scottish city’s coffee houses, is turning her hand to crime fiction, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.

It said that Ian Rankin, a fellow author and neighbour of Rowling, told a reporter at an Edinburgh literary festival that the writer had recently been seen at work in local cafes.

“My wife spotted her writing her Edinburgh criminal detective novel,” the newspaper, which was available late Saturday, quoted Rankin as saying.

Rankin, famous for his own police novels set in the historic Scottish city, said he had not discussed the project with Rowling personally, and declined to reveal how he had learned about her plans.

“It is great that she has not abandoned writing or Edinburgh cafes,” Rankin said.

In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Rowling said she believed she was unlikely to repeat the success of the series, but confirmed she planned to work on new books.

“I’ll do exactly what I did with Harry — I’ll write what I really want to write,” Rowling said.

The office of Rowling’s literary agent Christopher Little was not immediately available for comment late Saturday. — AP