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Birth
Joanne Rowling is born in the British town of Chipping Sodbury. She has no middle inital. Side Fact: This would become Harry Potter's birthday as well. -
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The LIfe of J.K. Rowling
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School
Attended the University of Exeter where she studied French -
An Idea is Born
While stuck on a train between Manchester and London, Rowling is struck with an idea about a boy wizard. She begins writing that night. -
Marriage
While in Portugal teaching English as a second language, she marries a TV journalist Jorge Arantes. -
First Child
J.K. Rowling's daughter Jessica is born -
Moving to Scotland
After divoricing her husband, she, her daughter and her manuscript, move to Edinburgh, Scotland to be closer to he sister Di. -
Writing Away
Writing whenever she can, mostly in cafes, J.K. finishes her first book, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Her agent warns her that people do not normally make a fortune on children's books. Special note: TWELVE publishers go on to reject the manuscript, finding it too long and slow. -
Someone Likes It
Bloomsbury Press, a British publisher, accepts the book. J.K. receives a $4,000 advance -
Coming to America
Scholastic Books and its division Arhtur A Levine Books, wins the auction for the U.S. rights. They give J.K. a $100,000 advance and record for a foreign children's book. J.K. is now able to devote all her time to writing. -
Published!
The first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is published in the UK. With only a print run of 500 copies, Bloomsbury is afraid that young boys will not read a book written by a woman. They suggest she use her intitals as a pen name. Rowling uses her grandmother's name, Kathleen, and produces the J.K. Side note: the book is an instant success and sells extremely well. Winning several awards in the process. -
The Awards are Coming
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is awarded the British Book Award for Children's Book of the Year, as well as, Children's Book Award. -
A Second One
The second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is published in the UK. First print run over 10,000 copies. -
US's Turn
Scholastic publishes the first book. Renaming it Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and puncuation are changed from British version to American English. The first print run is 50,000 -
Second in the Series
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is published in the US with an initial print run of 250,000 copies. The original release date was scheduled for September, however the discovery of the fans ordering the UK version prompted Scholastic to move up the date. Its soars to the Bestsellers list -
Third one in the UK
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is published in the UK. It sells over 68,000 copies in the first two days -
That Makes Three for the US
The third book is published in the US, again ahead of schedule. It has a first print run of 500,000. The Harry Potter books hold the top three spots on the New York Times bestseller list. -
A lawsuit???
An author, Nancy Stouffer, who wrote a 1984 book titled The Legend of Rah and the Muggles, publicly claimed that J.K. stole her idea. Scholastic, and Warner Bros (who own the film rights for the series) sue her, stating that there was no violation to both trademark and copyright. Side note: After the from Ms. Stouffer, the courts rule in favor of J.K. in 2002. -
Three Peat!!!
J.K. Rowling is the first person to win the Smarties Prize three years in a row for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. -
A Director is Found
Director Chris Columbus is chosen to direct the first Harry Potter film -
And Yet Another Award
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban won the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year Award -
Kneel Before the Queen
Queen Elizabeth II makes J.K. an officer of the ORder of ther British Empire -
Alma Mata
The University of Exeter awards J.K. with an honory Dlitt degree -
There's a Fourth
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is published simultaniously in both the US and UK with the record setting combined first printing of over 5 million copies. This is first time the book is released in both countires, and on a Saturday, a practice that would happen with the remaining books in the series. Side note: The book reached 734 pages and was much darker than the pervious books. -
A List of Their Own
Until this time, the Harry Potter series have been near the top of the New York Time Bestsellets list. Beginning this week (the first where the Goblet of Fire appears) the children's book world will have a list of their own, in order to stop the competition between with adult titles. -
A Cast is Found
After an extremely long search, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rubert Grint are selected to portray Harry, Hermonie and Ron in the movie. All three never acted in a movie before. -
Read what they Read in the Series
Two of the schoolbooks mentioned in the series, "Fanastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and "Quidditch Through the Ages," are released. All of the profits go to Comic Relief a charity in Britian. -
Up on the Big Screen
The first film is released opening on over 3,700 screens (a record) in the US alone. During its opening weekend, it grosses $90 million in the US and 16 million pounds in UK. This sets a record in both countries. -
Second Marriage
J.K. marries her second husband, an anesthesiologist Neil Murray -
The losing of a Character
Famed actor Richard Harris< who portraited Dumbledore in the movies, passes away. He did complete the second enstallement of the movie series though before his death. Side note: Michael Gambon takes over the role of Dumbledore -
Second one to Hit Theaters
The second film, again directed by Chris Columbus, opens. This results in the third-largest opening weekend in America with $88 million. In the UK the film pulls in a record 18 milllion pounds -
Another Child
J.K. second child, a son, David Gordon is born -
The Fifth in the Series
The fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is released, with a first printing of 6.4 million (the largest by a extermely large margin). It also counts in at 870 pages, three times the size of the first book. -
A Third Movie
The third film in the series opens in the UK with a record setting opening day of 5.3 million pounds ( a new record). Four days later the film opens in the US grossing $93.7 million for its opening weekend. Side note: A new director is attached as well, Alfonso Cuaron. -
Please Welcome...
J.K. and her husband welcome a second child (her third) Mackenzie Jean. -
The Sixth Book please
The sixth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is relased, with a US record-shattering 10.8 million copies. Side note: Both the Braille and large print editions are released on the same day as other editions. -
Fourth film hits the Theaters
The fourth film is released. It has the biggest opening weekend of any of the previous Harry Potter films, with the US taking in $101.4 million and 14.9 million pounds in the UK. Side note: A new director is also attached to this movie. Director Mike Newell. -
The Final Book has a Name
The publication date for the seventh and final book is announced to be July 21, 2007 at 12:01 a.m. The title, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is also announced along with J.K. statement that two characters will die. Many assume it to Harry Potter himself. -
From a Galaxy Far Far Away
An asterriod was named Rowling in honor of her -
A Fossil gets a Name
A newly found dinosaur is named Dracorex howartsia in honor of her and her series. -
What a Honor
J.K. is named the "The Greatest Living British Writer" by a poll from the Book Magazine -
Wow that's some Cash
Forbes magazine names her the second richest female entertainer in the world. -
Coming soon....Hogswort
Warner Brothers Enternainment and Universal Orlando Resort annouces their plans to create "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" theme park. It is described as a theme-park within a theme-park. -
The Fifth Film
The film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix opens around the world. In the opening weekend it brings in a total of $330 million with $77.4 million in the US alone. The film has the most successful opening of any of the films, and sets the record for the biggest non-holiday five-day opening taking in $140 million in the US -
Say it isn't so
The seventh, and final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is released and becamethe fastest-selling book of all time. It sold 11 million copies in the first 24 hours. -
Say What?!?!?
In an interview J.K. states that Dumbledore as gay -
Beedle the Bard
J.K. writes seven hand written copies of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" and presents them to special people associated with the series. Side note: One is later auctioned off and all profits go to charity -
Announcement for the final movie
The final film is set to be released worldwide and in two parts. -
That's a lot of Books
To date the book series has sold over 400 million copies -
The Public Gets Beedle the Bard
The Tales of Beedle the Bard is published for the public. -
Add Another Award to the Pile
J.K. wins the Legion d'honneur Award by French President Nicholas Sarkozy -
Sixth movie on the Screen
The sixth film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is relased. It grossed over $300 million in the US alone. -
Hogwarts in Florida
"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" officially opens in Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando Florida -
Part 1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 is released. The movie has a opening weekend of $330 million -
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 is to be released.
