J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling is a British author best known for the Harry Potter series. She was born in Yate, England, in 1965. Her seven Harry Potter books became some of the best-selling books in history. She went from struggling to make ends meet to becoming one of the most successful authors ever.

Early Life

Rowling loved writing stories from a young age. She wrote her first story at age six. After college, she worked various jobs. She was a single mother living on very little money when she started writing Harry Potter.

Big Achievements

The first Harry Potter book was rejected by 12 publishers before being accepted. The series went on to sell over 500 million copies worldwide. The books were turned into eight blockbuster movies. She also writes books for adults and donates millions to charity.

Fun Facts

• Rowling wrote parts of the first Harry Potter book in a cafe in Edinburgh, Scotland.
• The first Harry Potter book was rejected by 12 publishers.
• She became the first billionaire author in history.

Did You Know?

Rowling's publisher told her to use initials instead of her first name because they thought boys would not want to read a book by a woman. Her real first name is Joanne, and she does not have a middle name.