!Note from Lisa: removed because it is just a paraphrase of the CoS DVD interview

JK ROWLING says the internet is a wizard way to spy on her fans.

The Harry Potter author goes into chatrooms without revealing her name to find out what they really think about her books.

She takes part and reads the anonymous confessions of her young readers.

Rowling, 37, has been at home in Edinburgh since son David was born last month.

Rowling said the diary that villain Tom Riddle uses in book two to lure Harry into the Chamber of Secrets is like an internet chatroom.

JK said: "When I wrote that, I had never been in an internet chat room. It is very similar - typing your deepest thoughts into the ether and getting answers back.

"You don't know who is answering you."

The idea came from a childhood diary her younger sister, Dianne, confided in.

Top websites dedicated to Harry Potter include www.harrypotter.warner bros.co.uk and www.magic-hogwarts.com.