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Birth
J.K. Rowling is born in Yate, Gloucestershire, England to Peter James Rowling and Anne Rowling. -
Early School Years
Joanna Rowling attended Wydean School and College Secondary School. There, she studied hard. Hermione Granger on herself during her younger days. She was also voted head girl during her last year of school.
During lunchtime, Rowling told her friends stories of heroes and adventures. -
Early School Days Cont.
Rowling learned French, following the advice of her parents. Later in life, she lived for a short time in France. This knowledge came in handy later when Rowling got a job with Amnesty International, working as a secretary.
When younger, J.K. Rowling read the autobiography of Jessica Mitford, an English author. She became Rowling’s idol. -
Early School Days Cont.
One of Rowling's best friends, Sean Harris, owned a turquoise Ford Anglia that made an appearance in her books as the flying car in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Sean is also supposedly the inspiration for Ron Weasley. Her headmaster at St Michael’s Primary School was named Alfred Dunn. It’s been suggested that he was the inspiration for Albus Dumbledore. One of Rowling’s teachers (while her mother worked as a lab technician there, her supervisor) was likely the inspiration for Snape. -
Teen Years
Rowling's mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Rowling was fifteen years old at the time. -
College
Rowling attended the University of Exeter. -
Inspiration
Rowling had the idea for Harry Potter on a train from Manchester to London. A few months later, her mother died. -
First Drafts
While teaching English in Portugal, Rowling begins her first draft of Harry Potter, writing it entirely by hand. -
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Marriage and Divorce
Jo marries Jorge Arantes, a television journalist. Rowling had her daughter, Jessica (named after Jessica Mitford). They divorce November of the next year. -
More First Drafts
Rowling moves to Edinburgh, Scotland with her daughter Jessica. There, she finishes the first draft of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. -
The Publishing Dilemma
Rowling was rejected by twelve publishers. The thirteenth was a success. -
Publishing
Bloomsbury publishes Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone in the US, since the word 'Philosopher' has a different meaning). -
Published, Again
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is published in the USA. The book won the Nestle Smarties Book Prize. -
Awards
'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' won both the Children's Book Award and British Book Award for Children's Book of the Year. -
The Sequel And Movies
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is published in the USA. Warner Brother's purchase movie rights. -
Making History
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is published. Rowling is the first author ever to win the Smartie's Prize three times in a row. -
Meeting the Queen
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is published. Rowling is given an honorary Dlitt degree, and Queen Elizabeth makes her an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. -
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was published, along with Quidditch Through the Ages. Both were written for charity. On December 26, 2001, J.K. Rowling married an anesthetist named Neil Murray. She brought Jessica with her from her previous marriage. She and Dr. Murray had two children together. -
More Books
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was published. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series (by mid-2002) had made over 150 million dollars and been translated into over 50 different languages. Only the Bible has been translated more. Since 1997, over 450 million copies of J.K. Rowling’s novels have been sold. -
And MORE Books
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is published. -
From Rags to Riches
Rowling is named the second-richest woman in the world by Forbes magazine. She was also named "the greatest living author," according to a poll. -
Breaking Records
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released. It broke sales records in both the UK and the US.