17 fascinating facts about J.K. Rowling
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Most of us have read at least one (if not all) of the 7 Harry Potter Books written by J.K.Rowling. I don't think that this novel series will ever loose popularity- the books and films alike are brimming with adventures and emotions. Together with Harry, Ron and Hermione we encounter creatures and experience events that somehow remind us of our own lives and struggles (to some extent). As a little reminder for the power of Rowling's writing, let's read 3 magical quotes from the books.
3 Magical Harry Potter Quotes
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." Albus Dumbledore, Chamber of Secrets
"I am what I am an’ I’m not ashamed." Rubeus Hagrid, Goblet of Fire
"Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect." Luna Lovegood, Order of the Phoenix
7 Harry Potters and 7 extraordinary journeys
The first novel was called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997), followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007).
Now it's time to look at some pretty interesting facts about Rowling! Things you might not know about J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter:
- Did you know that J.K. Rowling's Harry manuscript was rejected 12 times? Bloomsbury, the publishing house that eventually published her first Harry Potter story, was a small indie publisher back in the 90s. Apparently the chairman of Bloomsbury gave his 8-year-old daughter Alice the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Alice loved it!
- J.K. Rowling lived with her sister in Edinburgh while she was completing first book (on a manual typewriter!). Rowling was struggling to get by financially as she was unemployed and a single mother.
- She studied French at the University of Exeter. Rowling sat the entrance exam for Oxford University but she wasn't accepted.
- The idea of the Dementors is based on Rowling's experiences of clinical depression in her 20s.
- When Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone was published by Bloomsbury, only 500 copies were initially printed. At that time, Rowling’s editor advised her to get a day job! The publishing house obviously assumed that the book wouldn’t sell well.
- J.K. Rowling's real name is Joanne.
- Rowling had to come up with her pen name as her publisher had the sexist assumption that boys would not want to read a book that was written by a woman.
- The novel series has sold more than 450 million copies around the world.
- Rowling based Hermione Granger on herself. As a child Rowling was a big fan of the character Jo March from Louisa M. Alcott’s Little Women. Hermione definitely reminds me a little bit of Jo.
- Rowling wrote her initial Harry Potter ideas on a napkin, whilst on a train journey from Manchester to London. That was in 1990, 7 years before the first Harry Potter Book was published.
- Now Rowling may be the richest author in the world with an estimated net worth of $1 Billion.
- Rowling has three children and lives with her kids and husband in Edinburgh.
- She is a philanthropist and has donated millions to different charities and organisations.
- Rowling was a producer for most of the film adaptations of her book. Initially she was only a consultant for the film scripts.
- The Casual Vacancy (2012) was her first adult book.
- She has 14.5M followers on Twitter!
- Rowling's favourite sport is Basketball. If you think about Quidditch and basketball, you can see some similarities. Another fun fact is that Quidditch is seen as a 'real sport' now and it is played at many universities. (Of course, there are no flying brooms).
