It was author J K Rowling's fault. If she hadn't to mention running out of paper not so long ago, her fans wouldn't have decided to step in.
The minute she complained about a shortage of 'normal, lined paper' in her hometown Edinburgh, Potter fanatics from around the world began sending in paper.
Reams and reams of it.
Some sent in single sheets.
Others sent entire notepads.
Some recommended particular shops.
Others enclosed maps.
One man even sent an embossed set of notebooks with Rowling's name on each sheet!
It must have driven fans crazy -- the idea of the seventh and final title in the Potter series being delayed on account of a lack of paper.
While mentioning the shortage on her web site a month ago, the author had explained why she preferred pen and paper to a computer, to draft her novels. It made her feel like 'something out of the 18th century,' she added. Fans duly took note though, and Rowling now has 'enough paper to write several book sevens.'
She has called for a halt to the deluge.
'Be careful what you wish for,' says Rowling on her site, 'it might come true.'
In related news, the author has attacked critics who recently accused her of being prejudiced against overweight people.
Not so long ago, she had talked about her fear of her daughters growing up to be 'empty-headed, self-obsessed, emaciated clones' because of the media's obsession with weight. Some criticised her comments, saying that overweight characters in her novels were often portrayed as figures of fun.
Rowling has defended her books though, pointing out that several of her most important and admirable characters are on the plumper side.