Harry Potter is no more, a sad fact that has left millions of fans searching for that new heir to J.K. Rowling's mega-million throne. That quest may never reveal another boy wizard with quite the same superstar appeal. But the mission isn't a fruitless one says Lisa Huie, manager of public relations for Indigo Books & Music in Toronto.

"We're certainly seeing Stephenie Meyer as the heir apparent to J.K. Rowling," says Huie. "Twilight," Meyer's first book in her girl-friendly vampire series, is on 53 top 10 lists on chapters.indigo.ca's online community. "This is the best thing in the universe." I can't wait to finish the next book." Reader commentary like this explained why "Eclipse," the third title in Meyer's series, became the fastest selling youth-adult title within one week of its August 2007 release.

"It's certainly fiction that is engaging and in the kind of fantasy realm that is au courant now," says Huie. Yet Meyer's emergence as the next big contender has more to do with solid fan reaction rather than catchy media spin around the conception of "Twilight," her first book. So Meyer legend has it, the idea came to the 34-year-old Mormon writer in a dream one night in 2003.

The viral verdict

"The biggest factor propelling the attraction to Meyer's series is the internet and the blogosphere," says Huie. "It's the media choice for this generation and that viral opportunity to connect and galvanize people of the same interests is where the curiosity in Meyer's work is being driven."

Thousands of Toronto fans lined up in November to see Meyer at her only Canadian signing. "We're also seeing pre-orders of Meyer's titles really shoot off the radar, much like the Potter books," says Huie.

"Rowling's and Meyer's series are very different. The only real connection between them is that fantasy element," says Huie. Yet both authors' success comes after several years of building not only memorable stories and characters, but enduring brands.

"People forget that the Harry Potter empire represents 10 years, seven different books released over that time, as well as five film adaptations. With Meyer we're talking about three books inside of four years," says Huie. "So I don't think you can call Meyer, or Rowling for that matter, a retailer predicted hit. The success is peer to peer driven."

Other post-Potter picks for 2008

A return to the classics is one way Potter mourners are coping with life after Harry, turning to books like "The Lord of the Rings" or "The Chronicles of Narnia" for their armchair adventures. "These classic books are still big," says Huie. "But other works by authors like Darren Shan who are also worth noting."

Where Meyer has the teen girl market covered, Shan's gory vampire writings resonate well with young male readers.

"That's the one challenge with Meyer," says Huie. "With Harry Potter there was such a crossover between boys and girls. The "Twilight" series is grounded in a love story, so the readership is female driven. That's where Shan comes in and fills out the market."

Newcomers Meyer and Shan, however, aren't the only ones vying for J.K. Rowling's mantle of mega-riches. Other contenders to watch in 2008 include "Gossip Girl" author Cicely von Ziegesar, Christopher Paolini ("Eragon" and "Eldest"), Lisi Harrison ("The Clique Series") and Ann Brashares, author of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series.

Who do you think will succeed Rowling as the next big thing in children's literature? Will the Harry Potter phenomenon ever be duplicated?