Here is one of my favorite things I’ve ever worked on at the Mercury. (Courtney and Erik had a hand in this as well.) It was in the paper the week that book seven came out.
It had some legs, too. Hecklers at the Powell’s release party for Deathly Hallows drove by shouting “Snape kills Hermione! Read the Mercury, retards!” And, of course, we got some amazing hate mail.
NO!
I loved the hate voicemail saying “you should be sued in some way.” That got me thinking about potential new crimes and torts that could encompass publishing spoilers:
Alienation of Potential Delight
Intentional Infliction of Future Knowledge
Attempted Dickwaddery
Assault… on Common Decency
Trespass on Enjoyment
Of course, each of those requiring clear big-mouth aforethought for conviction.
Chas’ intro is the best part of that thing. “… in which we learn that Hermione dies. SPOILERS AHEAD!”