J.K. Rowling to publish first adult novel

“Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling reached all ages with her books about “the boy who lived,” but her next work will be specifically for adults, publisher Little, Brown said Thursday.

This will be Rowling’s first adult novel, but other than that, little is known about her new effort. The publisher says more information about the title, story and release date are to come later this year.

Rowling, who started an international phenomenon with her seven-book “Harry Potter” series, said in a statement that her new work of fiction will definitely be a departure from Harry and his Hogwarts crew.

“Although I’ve enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the ‘Harry Potter’ series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world,” Rowling said in a statement. “The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher.”

In its statement, Little, Brown says it will publish Rowling’s upcoming novel in print and e-book in English worldwide.