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     JK Rowling     

           (1966-      )                                 

“I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world.  I’m sure that I will always be a writer.  It was wonderful enough just to be published.” 

       Joanne Kathleen Rowling is the extraordinary writer who brought the world Harry Potter.  She was born in 1966, in Bristol, England.  When she grew up, she went to Exeter University.  She worked as a secretary, and then she moved to Portugal and taught English.  JK Rowling liked teaching, but needed to move on.

        She moved to Scotland, and while on a long train ride, she thought up the story of Harry Potter.  She says Harry just came to her fully formed, and she began writing in a café during the few hours her daughter slept.  She worked extremely hard and even sometimes wrote on napkins.  When she was finally done, she tried to get it published, but many publishers turned her down.  Finally, the American publishers Scholastic, published her book. 

        The first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, came out in 1998, and was a huge success.  JK Rowling  continued the series, and two more books came out in 1999.  By then, there were many readers who loved Harry Potter.  When the fourth book came out on June 8, 2000, there were parties, and many excited readers all over the world.  The parties returned even bigger during the summer of 2003 when  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix came out. 

        JK Rowling’s books have been translated into 55 languages, and sold in over 200 countries.  Motion pictures have been made of the first two books, and more are coming.  JK Rowling has won many awards for her books.  She has won the Hugo Award, the Bram Stoker Award, the Whitbread Award, and has received a special commendation for the Ann Spencer Lindbergh Prize.  She also won the Smarties Prize 3 times.  JK Rowling has also appeared on 60 Minutes, Larry King Live, and The Today Show. 

        JK Rowling’s inspiration was her favorite writers, E. Nesbit, Paul Gallico, and CS Lewis.  Her favorite childhood book, The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge, and the first book she wrote, Rabbit, also inspired her.

        JK Rowling’s life now is much easier than it had been.  She is now richer than the queen of England,  extremely famous, and has many fans all over the world.  She spends a lot of her time travelling, and loves New York.  “[ I write ] any time, any place, and in longhand.”  JK Rowling’s dream is to continue to write all her life.

        “The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers.”

- by asil

Books Written by JK Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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