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Joanne Kathleen Rowling (pronounced "rolling") was born July 31st, 1966. Her parents were Peter and Ann Rowling.
She dreamed of being a writer when she was a child. Jo had one sister, Di. Her first story was titled "Rabbit," and about a rabbit who caught the measles, who was visited by friends. Her favorite books as a child were Manxmouse, The Little White Horse, and The Chronicles of Narnia series. She also liked the authors Jane Austen, Ian Fleming, Noel Streatfeild and E. Nesbit, as well as others.
She also had friends as a child, namely, Ian and Vikki Potter. They used to play "witches and wizards." She "really liked the surname Potter."
Later she attended Exeter University, a "liberal school," where she mastered French, and fell in love, but after they graduated, they no longer were together.
Then she worked as a researcher for Amnesty International, as well as some secretarial jobs - but she was always writing. Then she worked as an office worker for the Manchester Chamber of Commerce - but she was always writing. At that time, she received a letter from her old boyfriend from Exeter University, saying that he wanted to see her again in Manchester. She saw her old boyfriend while, of course, still writing. On a train ride from Manchester to her London home, the Harry Potter books idea was born. She started to write the first Harry book. Sadly, her mother, Ann, died during this time of multiple sclerosis, and Joanne lost her job. On top of that, the relationship with her boyfriend seemed to be going nowhere.
She then decided to work as an assistant teacher in Paris, and then as a teacher of English as a second language at a school in Oporto, Portugal, while still working on the Potter books. Also, in Portugal, Ms. Rowling fell in love yet again, this time to a journalist for a TV station in Portugal. Within months, they were married.
Then in 1992, Joanne became pregnant, and her baby girl, Jessica, was born in 1993. During this time, Rowling was divorced and depressed. She received a phone call from her sister living in Edinburgh, Scotland, who suggested she move to Edinburgh. Joanne did, with her daughter and some of the first Harry Potter book at her side.
In Edinburgh, she lived in a tiny flat. She felt humiliated asking for public assistance, which she needed. She still continued to write about Harry. It was cold and dreary flat, so Joanne would often go to caf with Jessica and write while Jessica slept.
She completed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 1994, and sent two copies of her book to two agents. She received a grant from the Scottish Arts Council, and began work in Edinburgh as a teacher of French at Leth Academy and a college.
Rowling was off welfare, and planning the second Harry book. She found out her book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, would be published! Jo was overjoyed. Then she found out that Mr. Little, from the USA, wanted to publish her book for a large amount of money, and, of course, she agreed.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was published in 1997 in England, which was an immediate success, even winning lots of awards. Rowling decided to move out of the tiny flat and rent a house in Edinburgh. Jessica started to go to pre-school, yet Rowling still went to cafs to write.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone came out in the USA in August (or September?) 1998. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second Harry Potter book, came out in 1998. Of course, Jo continued to write, and there was a new HP book born, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Some religious groups protested the Harry Potter books, saying that they promote evil and Satanism in children, which unsettled Jo, yet she ignored them. An offer to make a HP movie and merchandise was offered, and accepted by Joanne. The fourth popular book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, was released July 8th, 2000.
She married Dr. Neil Murray at their home in Scotland on December 26,2001.Rowling's eight-year-old daughter, Jessica, from her first marriage was one of the bridesmaids, as was Rowling's sister, Dianne, and Murray's sister, Lorna.
She is considered one of the best authors ever. She will probably continue to write books after Harry.
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