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{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer]] -->
| name = J. K. Rowling
| image= Jk-rowling-crop.JPG
| caption =
| birthname = Joanne<!--Her name does NOT contain "Kathleen"; see the section "Name"--> Rowling
| birthdate = {{Birth date and age|1965|7|31|df=yes}}
| birthplace = [[Yate]], [[South Gloucestershire]], [[England]]
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
| occupation = [[Novelist]]
| notableworks = ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series
|influences = <!-- Influences derived from cited examples at wiki page Harry Potter influences and analogues. Please provide a citation for any new additions. -->[[Jane Austen]]<br>[[Geoffrey Chaucer]]<br>[[Elizabeth Goudge]]<br>[[C. S. Lewis]]<br>[[Jessica Mitford]]<br>[[E. Nesbit]]<br>[[William Shakespeare]]<br>[[T. H. White]]
| website = http://www.jkrowling.com
}}
'''Joanne <!--Her name does NOT contain "Kathleen"; see the section "Name"--> "Jo" Murray''', [[née]] '''Rowling''' [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/793844.stm Caine heads birthday honours list]. [[BBC News]]. [[17 June]] [[2000]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2000]].</ref> (born [[31 July]] [[1965]]),<ref>[http://content.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3578 JK Rowling Biography]. Scholastic.com. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref> who writes under the [[pen name]] '''J. K. Rowling''',<ref name="darkmark-bbc" /> is a [[United Kingdom|British]] <!--do not change to "English" or "Scottish" until issue is resolved --> [[writer]] and author of the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' [[fantasy]] series. The ''Potter'' books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, and sold nearly 400 million copies.<ref>Booth, Jenny. {{cite web|title=J.K. Rowling publishes Harry Potter spin-off|date=|work=[[The Times]]|author=|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article2784397.ece|}} [[November 1]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[November 1]] [[2007]].</ref> The 2007 ''[[Sunday Times Rich List]]'' estimated Rowling's fortune at £545 million ($1.07 billion), ranking her as the 136th richest person and the 13th richest woman in Britain.<!--

There are two links in that ref: one lists her ranking as a person, one lists her ranking as a woman.

--><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/richlist/person/0,,47084,00.html Britain‘s Rich List: Joanne Rowling]; [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/richlist/person/0,,48214,00.html Women‘s Rich List: Joanne Rowling]. ''[[The Sunday Times]]''. Accessed [[17 July]] [[2007]].</ref> ''[[Forbes]]'' has named Rowling the second-richest female entertainer in the world,<ref> [http://www8.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/oprah%20is%20richest%20female%20entertainer_1019476 Oprah is Richest Female Entertainer]. Contact Music. Accessed [[20 January]] [[2007]].</ref> and ranked her as the 48th most powerful celebrity of 2007.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_JK-Rowling_CRTT.html #48 J.K. Rowling]. ''[[Forbes Magazine]]''. [[14 June]], [[2007]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time magazine]]'' named Rowling as a runner up for their 2007 [[Time Person of the Year|Person of the Year]] noting the social, moral, and [[Politics of Harry Potter|political inspiration]] she has given [[Harry Potter fandom|her fandom]].<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/personoftheyear/article/0,28804,1690753_1695388_1695436,00.html Person of the Year 2007 Runners-Up: J.K. Rowling]. ''[[Time Magazine]]''. [[23 December]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[23 December]] [[2007]].</ref> She has become a notable [[philanthropist]], supporting such charities as [[Comic Relief (charity)|Comic Relief]], the [[Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain]] and [[One Parent Families]].

''Harry Potter'' is now a global brand worth an estimated £7 billion ([[United States dollar|$]]15 billion),<ref>[http://www.exchange4media.com/kids/KidsFulltory.asp?news_id=26820&tag=21718 Harry Potter, the $15 billion man]. Advertising Age. Accessed [[7 November]] [[2007]]</ref> and the last four ''Harry Potter'' books have consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history.<ref>Pauli, Michelle. "[http://books.guardian.co.uk/harrypotter/story/0,10761,875390,00.html June date for Harry Potter 5]". ''[[The Guardian]]''; "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3005862.stm Potter 'is fastest-selling book ever]". [[BBC News]]. Accessed [[4 August]] [[2007]].</ref><ref name="sales">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6912529.stm Harry Potter finale sales hit 11 m]. [[BBC News]]. [[23 July]] [[2007]]. Accessed on [[27 July]] [[2007]].</ref> The series, totalling 4,195 pages,<ref>Sawyer, Jenny. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0725/p09s02-coop.html Missing from 'Harry Potter' – a real moral struggle]. ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]''. [[25 July]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[27 July]] [[2007]].</ref> has been translated, in whole or in part, into 65 languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/06/29/final_harry_potter_is_expected_to_set_record/|title= Final Harry Potter is expected to set record|work=[[The Boston Globe]]}} [[29 June]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[29 June]] [[2007]].</ref>

==Name==
Although she writes under the [[pen name]] "J. K. Rowling", pronounced ''rolling'' ({{IPAEng|ˈroʊlɪŋ}}),<ref name=bio> [http://www.cliphoto.com/potter/rowling.htm "The Not Especially Fascinating Life So Far of J. K. Rowling"] J. K. Rowling. Originally from jkrowling.com; reprinted by cliphoto.com. Accessed [[21 March]] [[2006]]</ref> she actually has no middle name, hence her full name when her first ''Harry Potter'' book was published was simply "Joanne Rowling". Before publishing her first book, her publisher [[Bloomsbury Publishing Plc|Bloomsbury]] feared that the target audience of young boys might be reluctant to buy books written by a female author. It requested that Rowling use two initials, rather than reveal her first name. As she had no middle name, she chose ''K''. for Kathleen as the second initial of her pseudonym, from her paternal grandmother. The name Kathleen has never been part of her real name.<ref name="darkmark-bbc" /> Following her marriage, her legal name is ''Joanne Murray''.<ref name=david> [http://media.guardian.co.uk/presspublishing/story/0,,2143458,00.html Judge rules against JK Rowling in privacy case]. ''[[Guardian Unlimited]]''. [[7 August]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[21 August]] [[2007]].</ref> She calls herself "Jo" and says, "No one ever called me 'Joanne' when I was young, unless they were angry."<ref>Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. [http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/cookarama/cbcint_1.html "J.K. Rowling: CBC Interview #1"]. ''The Hogwarts Express''. [[26 October]] [[2000]]. Accessed [[19 March]] [[2006]].</ref>

==Early life==
Rowling was born to Peter James Rowling and Anne Rowling (née Volant) on [[31 July]] [[1965]] in [[Yate]], <!--Her birth certificate places her birth in Yate, not Chipping Sodbury, although the two towns are continuous--> [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]] {{convert|10|mi|km|+1}} northeast of [[Bristol]].<ref name="rowling-bio">[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/biography.cfm "J. K. Rowling's biography"]. J.K. Rowling's Official Site. Accessed [[17 March]] [[2006]].</ref> Her sister Dianne (Di) was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old.<ref name="rowling-bio" /> The family moved to the nearby village [[Winterbourne, Gloucestershire|Winterbourne]] when Rowling was four. She attended [[St Michael's Primary School]],<ref>''Winterbourne Family History Online,'' [http://www.frenchaymuseumarchives.co.uk/Archives/Schools/St_Michaels_Register_1966-70.rtf St Michael’s School Admission Register 1966-1970] - Rowling listed as admission No.305. Accessed [[14 August]] [[2006]].</ref> a school founded almost 200 years ago by famed [[abolitionist]] [[William Wilberforce]]<ref>Bowyer, Jerry. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294130,00.html Harry Potter is gateway drug to the good stuff]. [[Fox News]]. [[22 August]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[1 September]] [[2007]].</ref> and education reformer [[Hannah More]]. Her elderly headmaster at St. Michaels, Alfred Dunn, was claimed as the inspiration for the ''Harry Potter'' character [[Albus Dumbledore]].<ref>[http://www.winterbourne.freeuk.com/dumbledore.html Albus Dumbledore]. winterbourne.freeuk.com. Accessed [[1 September]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://www.southglos.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5A3A5BBE-3284-4FA8-809D-90DBB503EC9B/0/PTE070367.pdf Archaeology]. Southlos.gov.uk. Accessed [[1 September]] [[2007]].</ref>

As a child, Rowling enjoyed writing fantasy stories, which she often read to her sister. "I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it," she recalls, "Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee."<ref name=bio />

At the age of nine, Rowling moved to the Gloucestershire village of [[Tutshill]], close to [[Chepstow]], [[South Wales]].<ref name="rowling-bio" /> When she was a young teen, her great aunt, who Rowling said "taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind",<ref name=hons>Rowling, JK. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/11/26/bomit05.xml The first It Girl]. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''. [[26 November]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref> gave her a very old copy of [[Jessica Mitford]]'s autobiography, ''[[Hons and Rebels]].''<ref name=hons /> Mitford became Rowling's heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.<ref name=harryandme>Fraser, Lindsey. [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=1246372002 Harry and me]. ''[[The Scotsman]]''. [[2 November]] [[2002]]: interview with Rowling, edited excerpt from ''Conversations with J.K. Rowling''. [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2002/1102-fraser-scotsman.html Mirror site]</ref>

She attended secondary school at [[Wyedean School and College]]. Rowling has said of her adolescence, "[[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was 11, which I'm not particularly proud of."<ref>Feldman, Roxanne. [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/0999-slj-feldman.htm The Truth about Harry], ''School Library Journal'', September 1999.</ref> Sean Harris, her best friend in the [[Sixth form|Upper Sixth]] owned a turquoise [[Ford Anglia#Anglia 105E|Ford Anglia]], which she says inspired the one in her books. "Ron Weasley isn't a living portrait of Sean, but he really is very Sean-ish."<ref>Fraser, Lindsey. ''Conversations with J.K. Rowling'', pg 19–20, Scholastic.</ref> Of her musical tastes of the time, she said "My favourite group in the world is [[The Smiths]]. And when I was going through a punky phase, it was [[The Clash]]."<ref>Fraser, Lindsey. ''Conversations with J.K. Rowling,'' pg 29 Scholastic.</ref> Rowling read for a BA in [[French language|French]] and [[Classics]] at the [[University of Exeter]], which she says was a "bit of a shock" as she "was expecting to be amongst lots of similar people– thinking radical thoughts."<ref name="fraser34"/> Once she made friends with "some like-minded people" she says she began to enjoy herself.<ref name=fraser34>Fraser, Lindsey. ''Conversations with J.K. Rowling'', pg 34 Scholastic.</ref> With a year of study in [[Paris]], Rowling moved to [[London]] to work as a researcher and bilingual secretary for [[Amnesty International]].<ref>Norman-Culp, Sheila. [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1998/1198-ap-normanculp.html British author rides up the charts on a wizard's tale]. Associated Press. 1998. Accessed [[6 December]] [[2007]].</ref>

In 1990, while she was on a four-hour-delayed train trip from [[Manchester]] to London, the idea for a story of a young boy attending a school of wizardry "came fully formed" into her mind.<ref name=loer/> "I really don't know where the idea came from", she told the ''[[Boston Globe]]'', "It started with Harry, then all these characters and situations came flooding into my head."<ref name=loer>Loer, Stephanie. [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/1099-bostonglobe-loer.html All about Harry Potter from quidditch to the future of the Sorting Hat]. ''[[Boston Globe]]''. [[18 October]] [[1999]]. Accessed [[10 October]] [[2007]].</ref><ref name="rowling-bio" /> When she had reached her [[Clapham Junction]] flat, she began to write immediately.<ref name="rowling-bio" /><ref> [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2002/1102-aebiography.htm "Harry Potter and Me"]. BBC Christmas Special. [[13 November]] [[2002]]. Accessed [[25 February]] [[2007]].</ref>

However, in December of that year, Rowling’s mother succumbed to a 10-year battle with [[multiple sclerosis]].<ref name="rowling-bio"/> Rowling commented, "I was writing ''Harry Potter'' at the moment my mother died. I had never told her about ''Harry Potter''."<ref name=tatler>Greig, Geordie. [http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2006/0110-tatler-grieg.html "There would be so much to tell her..."]. ''[[Tatler]]''. [[10 January]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[10 January]] [[2006]]. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/01/10/nrowl110.xml Shortened version published] in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''.</ref> Rowling said this death heavily affected her writing<ref>J.K. Rowling's Official Site, [http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/links_ms.cfm "MS Society Scotland"]. Accessed [[22 March]] [[2006]].</ref><ref name=tatler /> and that she introduced much more detail about Harry's loss in the first book, because she knew about how it felt.<ref> [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2006/0626-ch4-richardandjudy.html Transcript of Richard and Judy]. ''[[Richard & Judy]]'', Channel Four Corporation (UK). [[26 June]],[[2006]]. Accessed [[4 July]] [[2006]].</ref>

Rowling then moved to [[Porto]], [[Portugal]] to teach English as a foreign language.<ref name=harryandme /> While there, on [[16 October]] [[1992]], she married Portuguese television journalist Jorge Arantes.<ref name="Scotsman" /> Their one child, Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes (named after Jessica Mitford), was born on [[27 July]] [[1993]] in Portugal.<ref name="Scotsman" /> They separated in November 1993.<ref name="Scotsman" /><ref> Weeks, Linton. [http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/1999/1099-post-weeks.htm "Charmed, I'm Sure"]. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. [[20 October]] [[1999]]. Accessed [[21 March]] [[2006]].</ref> In December 1994, Rowling and her daughter moved to be near her sister in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]].<ref name="rowling-bio" /> During this period Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression, and contemplated suicide.<ref name="cnn23mar08"> [http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/03/23/rowling.depressed/index.html "Harry Potter author: I considered suicide"]. CNN. [[March 23]] [[2008]]. Accessed [[March 23]] [[2008]].</ref> It was the feeling of her illness which brought her the idea of [[Dementors]], soulless creatures featured in ''Harry Potter''.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/823330.stm Harry Potter's magician]. [[BBC News]]. [[18 February]], [[2003]]. Accessed [[30 December]] [[2007]].</ref>

Unemployed and living on state benefits, Rowling completed her first novel in numerous cafés (e.g. Nicolson's Café and Elephant House Café), whenever she could get Jessica to fall asleep.<ref name="rowling-bio" /><ref name="hpandme"> [http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2001/1201-bbc-hpandme.htm "Harry Potter and Me"]. BBC Christmas Special. [[28 December]] [[2001]]. Transcribed by "Marvelous Marvolo" and Jimmi Thøgersen. ''Quick Quotes Quill.org''. Accessed [[17 March]] [[2006]].</ref> In a 2001 BBC interview, Rowling denied the rumour that she wrote in local cafés to escape from her unheated flat, remarking, "I am not stupid enough to rent an unheated flat in Edinburgh in midwinter. It had heating."<ref name="hpandme"/> Instead, as she stated on the American TV program ''[[A&E Biography]]'', one of the reasons she wrote in cafés was because taking her baby out for a walk was the best way to make her fall asleep.<ref name="hpandme" />

==''Harry Potter''==
===''Harry Potter'' books===
{{main|Harry Potter}}
<!--Please note: the three booklets Rowling composed for charity are listed in the "Charity" section-->
In 1995, Rowling finished her manuscript for ''[[Harry Potter and the <!-- DO NOT change to Sorcerers's--> Philosopher's Stone]]'' on an old manual typewriter.<ref>Riccio, Heather. [http://www.hilary.com/career/harrypotter.html Interview with JK Rowling, Author of Harry Potter]. ''Hilary Magazine''. Accessed [[26 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Upon the enthusiastic response of Bryony Evans, a reader who had been asked to review the book’s first three chapters, the Fulham-based [[Christopher Little Literary Agents]] agreed to represent Rowling in her quest for a publisher. The book was submitted to twelve publishing houses, all of which rejected the manuscript.<ref name="Scotsman">McGinty, Stephen. [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=662772003 The JK Rowling Story]. ''[[The Scotsman]]''. [[June 16]] [[2003]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref> A year later she was finally given the green light (and a £1500 advance) by editor Barry Cunningham from [[Bloomsbury Publishing Plc|Bloomsbury]], a small British publishing house in London, England.<ref>[http://www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writerdetails.asp?z=y&cid=855300#interview "Meet the Writers: J. K. Rowling"]. [[Barnes and Noble]]. Accessed [[25 March]] [[2006]].</ref><ref name="Scotsman" /> The decision to publish Rowling's book apparently owes much to Alice Newton, the eight-year-old daughter of Bloomsbury’s chairman, who was given the first chapter to review by her father and immediately demanded the next.<ref name="Eight year old saves Potter">Lawless, John. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/6/story.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10333960 Revealed: The eight-year-old girl who saved Harry Potter]. ''[[New Zealand Herald]]''. [[3 July]] [[2005]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Although Bloomsbury agreed to publish the book, Cunningham says that he advised Rowling to get a day job, since she had little chance of making money in children’s books.<ref>Blais, Jacqueline. [http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_print.asp?id=37577 "Harry Potter has been very good to JK Rowling]. wkyc.com. [[7 July]] [[2005]]. Accessed [[9 April]] [[2006]].</ref> Soon after, in 1997, Rowling received an £8000 grant from the [[Scottish Arts Council]] to enable her to continue writing.<ref>[http://www.hpana.com/news.17727.html Scottish Arts Council Wants Payback]. hpna.com. [[30 November]] [[2003]]. Accessed [[9 April]] [[2006]].</ref> The following spring, an auction was held in the United States for the rights to publish the novel, and was won by [[Scholastic Press|Scholastic Inc.]], for $105,000. Rowling has said she “nearly died” when she heard the news.<ref>Reynolds, Nigel. [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1997/spring97-telegraph-reynolds.htm "$100,000 Success Story for Penniless Mother."]. ''[[The Telegraph]]''. [[7 July]] [[1997]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref>

In June 1997, Bloomsbury published ''Philosopher’s<!-- DO NOT change to Sorceror--> Stone'' with an initial print-run of one thousand copies, five hundred of which were distributed to libraries. Today, such copies are valued between £16,000 and £25,000.<ref>Kleffel, Rick. [http://www.metroactive.com/papers/cruz/07.27.05/potter-0530.html Rare Harry Potter books]. metroactive.com. [[22 July]] [[2005]]. Accessed [[9 April]] [[2006]].</ref> Five months later, the book won its first award, a [[Nestlé Smarties Book Prize]]. In February, the novel won the prestigious [[British Book Awards|British Book Award]] for Children’s Book of the Year, and later, the Children’s Book Award. In October 1998, Scholastic published ''Philosopher’s<!-- DO NOT change to Sorceror--> Stone'' in the US under the title of ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone'': a change Rowling claims she now regrets and would have fought if she had been in a better position at the time.<ref name="darkmark-bbc"> [http://www.darkmark.com/c.c?l=interview2&t=J.K.%20Rowling:%20BBC%20Online%20Chat J.K. Rowling: BBC Online Chat]. [[BBC]]. March 2001. Accessed [[19 March]] [[2006]].</ref>

In December 1999, the third novel, ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', won the Smarties Prize, making Rowling the first person to win the award three times running.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/545319.stm Potter's award hat-trick]. [[BBC News]]. [[1 December]] [[1999]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> She later withdrew the fourth ''Harry Potter'' novel from contention to allow other books a fair chance. In January 2000, ''Prisoner of Azkaban'' won the inaugural [[1999 Whitbread Awards|Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year award]], though it lost the Book of the Year prize to [[Seamus Heaney]]’s translation of ''[[Beowulf]]''.<ref>Gibbons, Fiachra. [http://books.guardian.co.uk/specialreports/whitbread/story/0,,128965,00.html "Beowulf slays the wizard"]. ''[[Guardian Unlimited]]''. [[26 January]] [[2000]]. Accessed [[19 March]] [[2006]].</ref>

The fourth book, ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]],'' was released simultaneously in the UK and the US on [[8 July]], [[2000]], and broke sales records in both countries. Some 372,775 copies of the book were sold in its first day in the UK, almost equalling the number ''Prisoner of Azkaban'' sold during its first year.<ref name= culture> [http://www.cesnur.org/recens/potter_048.htm "Potter sales record"]. Reuters/PRNewswire. [[11 July]] [[2000]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> In the US, the book sold three million copies in its first 48 hours, smashing all literary sales records.<ref name= culture /> Rowling admitted that she had had a moment of crisis while writing the novel; "Halfway through writing Four, I realised there was a serious fault with the plot ... I've had some of my blackest moments with this book ... One chapter I rewrote 13 times, though no-one who has read it can spot which one or know the pain it caused me."<ref>Johnstone, Anne. [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/0708-herald-johnstone.html The hype surrounding the fourth Harry Potter book belies the fact that Joanne Rowling had some of her blackest moments writing it - and that the pressure was self-imposed; a kind of magic]. ''[[The Herald]]''. [[8 July]] [[2000]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Rowling was named author of the year in the 2000 British Book Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title=British Book Awards: Previous Winners & Shortlists|url=http://www.britishbookawards.co.uk/pnbb_previouswinners.asp?}} Accessed: [[24 November]] [[2007]]</ref>

A wait of three years occurred between the release of ''Goblet of Fire'' and the fifth ''Harry Potter'' novel, ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''. This gap led to press speculation that Rowling had developed [[writer's block]], speculations she fervently denied.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/1481229.stm Rowling denies wroter's block]. [[BBC News]]. [[8 August]] [[2001]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Rowling later admitted that writing the book was a chore. "I think Phoenix could have been shorter", she told [[Lev Grossman]], "I knew that, and I ran out of time and energy toward the end."<ref>Grossman, Lev. [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-time-grossman.htm "J.K. Rowling Hogwarts And All,"]. ''[[TIME Magazine]]''. [[17 July]] [[2005]]. Accessed [[25 October]], [[2007]].</ref>

The sixth book, ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', was released on [[July 16]], [[2005]]. It too broke all sales records, selling nine million copies in its first 24 hours of release.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8608578/ New Potter book topples U.S. sales records]. [[MSNBC]]. [[18 July]] [[2005]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> While writing, she told a fan online, "Book six has been planned for years, but before I started writing seriously I spend two months re-visiting the plan and making absolutely sure I knew what I was doing."<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2004/0304-wbd.htm JK Rowling's World Book Day Chat]. [[March 4]] [[2004]]. [[BBC]]. Accessed [[25 October]], [[2007]].</ref> She noted on her website that the opening chapter of book six, which features a conversation between the [[Minister of Magic]] and the British Prime Minister, had been intended as the first chapter first for ''Philosopher's Stone'', then ''Chamber of Secrets'' then ''Prisoner of Azkaban''.<ref>[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=6 The Opening Chapter of Book Six] J. K. Rowling's Official Site. Accessed [[25 October]], [[2007]].</ref> In 2006, ''Half-Blood Prince'' received the [[British Book of the Year|Book of the Year]] prize at the [[British Book Awards]].<ref name="bba">{{cite web|url=http://www.britishbookawards.co.uk/pnbb_shortlist2006.asp?|title=Winners & Shortlists 2006|publisher=Publishing News}}Accessed [[24 November]] [[2007]].</ref>

The title of the seventh and final ''Harry Potter'' book was revealed [[21 December]] [[2006]] to be ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''.<ref>Press Release. [http://www.bloomsbury.com/harrypotter/content.asp?sec=4&sec2=1&unart=yes&artTitle=Harry%20Potter%20and%20the%20Deathly%20Hallows Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]. [[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]]. [[21 December]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[7 July]] [[2007]].</ref> On [[1 February]] [[2007]] Rowling wrote on a bust in her hotel room at the Balmoral Hotel in [[Edinburgh]] that she had written the seventh book in that room on [[11 January]] [[2007]].<ref>Cornwell, Tim.[http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=3&id=181062007 Finish or bust - JK Rowling's unlikely message in an Edinburgh hotel room]. ''[[The Scotsman]]''. [[3 February]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[7 February]] [[2007]].</ref> ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'' was released on [[21 July]] [[2007]] (0:00 [[Western European Summer Time|BST]]) and broke its predecessor's record as the fastest-selling book of all time.<ref name="sales" /> It sold 11 million copies in the first day of release in the United Kingdom and United States.<ref name="sales"/> She has said that the last chapter of the book was written "in something like 1990", as part of her earliest work on the entire series.<ref name="last chapter">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5119836.stm|title=Rowling to kill two in final book|publisher=[[BBC News]]}}[[27 June]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[25 July]] [[2007]].</ref> During a year period when Rowling was completing the last book, she allowed herself to be filmed for a documentary which aired in Britain on [[ITV]] on [[30 December]] [[2007]]. It was entitled ''J K Rowling... A Year In The Life'' and showed her returning to her old Edinburgh tenement flat where she lived, and completed the first ''Harry Potter'' book.<ref name="returns">Hastings, Chris. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/23/npotter123.xml Tears as JK Rowling returns to where it began]. ''[[The Telegraph]]''. [[24 December]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[24 December]] [[2007]].</ref> Re-visiting the flat for the first time reduced her to tears, saying it was "really where I turned my life around completely."<ref name="returns"/>

The ''Harry Potter'' books have also gained recognition for sparking an interest in reading among the young at a time when children were thought to be abandoning the book for the computer and the television,<ref>[http://www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/news/press_07252006_CP.htm New Study Finds That the Harry Potter Series Has a Positive Impact on Kids' Reading and Their School Work]. Scholastic. [[25 July]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[10 February]] [[2007]].</ref> although the series' overall impact on children's reading habits has been questioned.<ref>Mehegan, David. {{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2007/07/09/in_end_potter_magic_extends_only_so_far/?page=1|title= In end, Potter magic extends only so far|work=[[The Boston Globe]]}} [[9 July]], [[2007]]. Accessed [[1 April]], [[2008]].</ref>

=== ''Harry Potter'' films ===
{{main|Harry Potter film series}}
In October 1998, [[Warner Bros.]] purchased the film rights to the first two novels for a seven-figure sum.<ref>Walker, Andrew. [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1998/1098-scotsman-walker.htm "Harry Potter is off to Hollywood - writer a Millionairess,"]. ''[[The Scotsman]]''. [[October 9]][[1998]]. Accessed [[October 25]] [[2007]].</ref> A film version of ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''<!-- DO NOT change to Sorceror--> was released on [[16 November]] [[2001]], and ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'' on [[15 November]] [[2002]].<ref name=mojo>[http://boxofficemojo.com/search/?q=harry%20potter&p=.htm Harry Potter release dates]. Box Office Mojo. Accessed [[25 October]], [[2007]].</ref> Both were directed by [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]]. [[4 June]] [[2004]] saw the release of the film version of ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', directed by [[Alfonso Cuarón]].<ref name=mojo /> The fourth film, ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', was directed by yet another new director, [[Mike Newell (director)|Mike Newell]], and released on [[18 November]] [[2005]].<ref name=mojo /> The film of ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' was released on [[11 July]] [[2007]].<ref name=mojo /> [[David Yates]] was its director, and [[Michael Goldenberg]] its screenwriter, having taken over the position from [[Steven Kloves]]. ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)| Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' is in production,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/9/19/half-blood-prince-filming-news-threat-of-strike-to-affect-harry-potter-six|title="Half-Blood Prince" Filming News: Threat of Strike to Affect Harry Potter Six?|accessdate=|date=|publisher=The Leaky Cauldron}}[[19 September]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[19 September]] [[2007]].</ref> scheduled for release on [[21 November]] [[2008]].<ref name=mojo /> David Yates will direct again, and Kloves will return to screenwrite it.<ref>Fienberg, Daniel. [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=371074 Screenwriter will sit out one 'Potter']. ''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]''. [[16 November]] [[2004]]. Accessed [[30 March]] [[2007]]; Spelling, Ian. [http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=41338 Yates Confirmed For Potter VI]. Sci Fi Wire. [[3 May]] [[2007]].</ref> In March 2008, Warner Bros. announced that the final installment of the series, ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'', would be filmed in two segments, with part one released in November 2010 and part two released in May 2011. Yates would again return to direct both films.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final 'Harry Potter' book will be split into two movies|work=Los Angeles Times|Jeff Boucher|date=March 13, 2008|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-potter13mar13,1,5626063.story|accessdate=2008-03-13}}</ref>

Warner Bros took considerable notice of Rowling's desires and thoughts when drafting her contract. One of her principal stipulations was the films be shot in Britain with an all-British cast, which has been adhered to strictly.<ref>Treneman, Ann. [http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2000/0600-times-treneman.html J.K. Rowling, the interview]. ''[[The Times]]''. [[30 June]] [[2000]]. Accessed [[26 July]] [[2006]].</ref> In an unprecedented move, Rowling also demanded that [[Coca-Cola]], the victor in the race to [[tie-in]] their products to the film series, donate $18 million to the American charity [[Reading is Fundamental]], as well as a number of community charity programs.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/1588261.stm Coke backs Harry Potter literacy drive]. [[BBC News]]. [[09 October]] [[2001]]. Accessed [[26 July]] [[2006]].</ref>

The first four films were scripted by Steve Kloves; Rowling assisted him in the writing process, ensuring that his scripts did not contradict future books in the series. She has said that she told him more about the later books than anybody else (prior to their release), but not everything.<ref>Mzimba, Lizo, moderator. [http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2003/0302-newsround-mzimba.htm "Interview with Steve Kloves and J.K. Rowling"]. BBC Newsround. February 2003. Accessed [[21 March]] [[2006]].</ref> She has also said that she told [[Alan Rickman]] ([[Severus Snape|Snape]]) and [[Robbie Coltrane]] ([[Hagrid]]) certain secrets about their characters before they were revealed in the books.<ref>[http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2001/1101-bbc.html "J.K. Rowling: 'Fans will be happy'"]. ''CBBC Newsround''. [[2 November]] [[2001]]. Accessed [[21 March]] [[2006]].</ref> She was also asked by [[Daniel Radcliffe]] ([[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]]) if Harry died and Rowling answered him by saying, "You have a death scene", thereby not explicitly answering the question.<ref>[http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/ENTERTAIN/70727008 J.K. Rowling on 'Today' part 2: what Daniel Radcliffe knew, the final line (with video)]. ''[[Times Herald-Record]]''. [[27 July]], [[2007]]. Accessed [[21 August]], [[2007]].</ref> [[Steven Spielberg]] was approached to direct the first film, but dropped out. The press has repeatedly claimed that Rowling played a role in his departure, but Rowling stated that she has no say in who directs the films and would not have vetoed Spielberg if she had.<ref> [http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/rubbishbin_view.cfm?id=8 Rowling denies vetoing Spielberg]. J. K. Rowling's official site. Accessed [[3 April]] [[2006]].</ref> Rowling's first choice for the director had been [[Monty Python]] member [[Terry Gilliam]], as she is a fan of his work. Warner Bros. wanted a more family friendly film, and eventually they settled on [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]].<ref>[http://www.wizardnews.com/story.20050829.html Wizard News: Terry Gilliam Bitter About "Potter"]. Wizard News. [[August 29]], [[2005]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref>

===After ''Harry Potter''===
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Rowling has stated that she plans to continue writing after the publication of the final ''Harry Potter'' book, ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'', and that she will most likely not use a new pen name as the press would quickly discover her identity.<ref>[http://www.mugglenet.com/jkr/interviews/bbc4.shtml J.K. Rowling and Stephen Fry interview]. Radio 4. [[10 December]] [[2005]]. Accessed [[21 March]] [[2006]].</ref> In 2006, Rowling revealed that she had finished writing a few short stories and another children's book (a "political fairy story") about a monster, aimed at a younger audience than ''Harry Potter'' readers.<ref> [http://in.rediff.com/movies/2006/jan/11potter.htm "J.K. Rowling on Finishing Harry Potter"]. in.rediff.com. [[11 January]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[19 March]] [[2006]].</ref>

She is not planning to write an eighth ''Harry Potter'' book, stating, "I can't say I'll never write another book about that world just because I think, what do I know, in ten years' time I might want to return to it but I think it's unlikely."<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2007/0706-bbc-ross.html Transcript of J. K. Rowling interview on ''Friday Night with Jonathan Ross'']. [[6 July]], [[2007]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref> However, Rowling has said she will be writing an encyclopedia of ''Harry Potter'''s [[wizarding world]] consisting of various unpublished material and notes.<ref>Brown, Jen. [http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/19935372/ Stop your sobbing! More Potter to come]. [[MSNBC]]. [[24 July]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[25 July]] [[2007]].</ref> Any profits from such a book would be given to charity.<ref>[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/faq_view.cfm?id=24 No eighth book]. J. K. Rowling official site. Accessed [[10 April]] [[2006]].</ref> During a news conference at Hollywood's [[Kodak Theatre]] in 2007, Rowling, when asked how the encyclopedia was coming along, said, "It's not coming along, and I haven't started writing it. I never said it was the next thing I'd do."<ref>{{cite web|title=J.K. Rowling brings magic touch to U.S.|url=http://www.calendarlive.com/books/la-et-rowling16oct16,0,5110522.story?coll=cl-books-features|
author=David L. Ulin|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|accessdate=}} [[16 October]], [[2007]]. Accessed [[30 October]] [[2007]].</ref> As of the end of 2007, Rowling has said that the encyclopedia could take up to ten years to complete, stating "There is no point in doing it unless it is amazing. The last thing I want to do is to rush ­something out".<ref name="returns"/>

In July 2007, Rowling said that she wants to dedicate "lots" of her time to her family, but is currently "sort of writing two things", one for children and the other for adults.<ref name=USAToday200707>Memmott, Carol. [http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-07-25-jk-rowling_N.htm A fond look back at Harry]. ''[[USA Today]]''. [[25 July]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[26 July]] [[2007]].</ref> She did not give any details about the two projects but did state that she was excited because the two book situation reminded her of writing the ''Philosopher's Stone'', explaining how she was then writing two books until Harry took over.<ref>[http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=3&id=1174842007 JK's writing two books but she won't be rushing]. ''[[The Scotsman]]''. [[27 July]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> She stated in October 2007 that her future work was unlikely to be in the fantasy genre, explaining, "I think probably I've done my fantasy....it would be incredibly difficult to go out and create another world that didn't in some way overlap with Harry's or maybe borrow a little too much from Harry."<ref>Topel, Fred. {{cite web|title='Harry Potter' Author J.K. Rowling Enchants Readers on Her U.S. Book Tour|work=[[New York Post]]|url=http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/movies/news/n13576.htm|year=2007}} Accessed [[30 October]] [[2007]].</ref> In November 2007, Rowling said that she was working on another book, a "half-finished book for children that I think will probably be the next thing I publish."<ref>{{cite web|title=Rowling completes post-Harry Potter book|work=Associated Press|date=|url=http://omg.yahoo.com/rowling-completes-post-harry-potter-book/news/3619}} [[1 November]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[2 November]] [[2007]]</ref> In March 2008, Rowling confirmed that her "political fairy tale" for children was nearing completion. <ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=JK Rowling in court over photo of son | date=[[2008-03-10]] | publisher= | url =http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/JK-Rowling-in-court-over.3861605.jp | work =The Scotsman | pages = | accessdate = 2008-03-18 | language = }}</ref>

In March 2008, Rowling revealed in interview that she had returned to writing in Edinburgh cafes, intent on composing a new novel for children. "I will continue writing for children because that's what I enjoy," she told ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''. "I am very good at finding a suitable cafe; I blend into the crowd and, of course, I don't sit in the middle of the bar staring all around me."<ref>{{cite web|title=New adventure is child's play for Jo|author=Richard Eden|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/03/02/dp0201.xml
|accessdate=}} [[2 March]] [[2008]]. Accessed [[3 March]] [[2008]].</ref>

==Personal life==
''Forbes'' has named Rowling as the first person to become a U.S.-dollar billionaire by writing books,<ref>Watson, Julie and Kellner, Tomas. [http://www.forbes.com/maserati/billionaires2004/cx_jw_0226rowlingbill04.html "J.K. Rowling And The Billion-Dollar Empire"]. ''[[Forbes.com]]''. [[26 February]] [[2004]]. Accessed [[19 March]] [[2006]].</ref> and ranked her as the 1,062nd richest person in the world.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Joanne-(JK)-Rowling_CRTT.html #1062 Joanne (JK) Rowling]. [[Forbes.com]]. Accessed [[16 March]][[2008]].</ref> When first listed as a billionaire by ''Forbes'' in 2004, Rowling disputed the calculations and said she has plenty of money, but was not a billionaire.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8599597/page/2/ J.K. Rowling, the author with the magic touch]. [[MSN]]. Accessed [[9 August]], [[2007]].</ref> In 2001, Rowling purchased a luxurious 19th-century [[estate house]], [[Killiechassie House]], on the banks of the [[River Tay]], near [[Aberfeldy, Scotland|Aberfeldy]], in [[Perth and Kinross]], Scotland.<ref>Nichols, Michelle. [http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=3&id=1555882001 Hogwarts hideaway for Potter author]. ''[[The Scotsman]]''. [[22 November]], [[2001]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Rowling also owns a home in [[Merchiston]], Edinburgh, and a £4.5 million ($9 million) [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] house in [[Kensington]], West London,<ref name=dailymail>Boshoff, Alison. [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=402027 What does JK Rowling do with her money]. ''[[Daily Mail]]''. [[August 24]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref> on a street with 24-hour security.<ref>Collinson, Patrick. [http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,3604,1470285,00.html "Rub shoulders with Brucie for £4.3m, or Tony for £7,250"]. ''[[Guardian Unlimited]]''. [[26 April]] [[2005]]. Accessed [[29 October]] [[2007]].</ref>

On [[26 December]] [[2001]], Rowling married Neil Michael Murray (born [[30 June]] [[1971]]), an [[anaesthetist]], in a private ceremony at her Aberfeldy home.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/1733882.stm Christmas wedding for Rowling]. [[BBC News]]. [[30 December]], [[2001]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> This was a second marriage for both Rowling and Murray, as Murray had previously been married to Dr. Fiona Duncan in 1996. Murray and Duncan separated in 1999 and divorced in the summer of 2001. Rowling and Murray's son David Gordon Rowling Murray was born on [[24 March]] [[2003]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2883095.stm|title=Baby joy for JK Rowling|work= [[BBC News]]}} [[24 March]], [[2003]]. Accessed [[25 May]] [[2007]]</ref> Shortly after Rowling began writing ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' she took a break from working on the novel to care for him in his early infancy.<ref>J.K. Rowling's Official Site, [http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/news_view.cfm?id=62 "Progress on Book Six"]. [[15 March]] [[2004]]. Accessed [[22 March]] [[2006]].</ref> Rowling's youngest child, daughter Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray, to whom she dedicated ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', was born [[23 January]] [[2005]].<ref> J.K. Rowling's Official Site, [http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/news_view.cfm?id=83 "JKR gives Birth to Baby Girl"]. Accessed [[25 January]] [[2005]].</ref>

Rowling is a member of the [[Church of Scotland]]. She once said, "I believe in God, not magic."<ref>Nelson, Michael. [http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=fantasia_the_gospel_according_to_cs_lewis Fantasia: The Gospel According to C.S. Lewis]. ''[[The American Prospect]]''. [[February 25]], [[2002]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Early on she felt that if readers knew of her [[Christian]] beliefs, they would be able to "guess what is coming in the books."<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-vancouversun-wyman.htm|title='You can lead a fool to a book but you can't make them think'|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|last=Wyman|first=Max|date=|accessdate=}} [[26 October]] [[2000]]. Accessed [[29 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Rowling has stated that she struggles with her own beliefs. In an interview with the ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today Show]]'' in July 2007, she said, "...until we reached Book Seven, views of what happens after death and so on...would give away a lot of what was coming. So … yes, my belief and my struggling with religious belief and so on I think is quite apparent in this book."<ref>Viera, Meredith.[http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/20001720/page/4/ "Harry Potter: The final chapter"]. [[MSNBC]]. Accessed [[30 July]] [[2007]].</ref>

Rowling commented on her political views when she discussed the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 United States presidential election]] with the Spanish-language newspaper ''[[El País]]''. She said she is "obsessed with the United States elections" because "it will have a profound effect on the rest of the world". As of February 2008, she has said that both [[Barack Obama]] and [[Hillary Clinton]] would be "extraordinary" in the White House. In the same interview, she also said her hero was [[Robert F. Kennedy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/Ser/invisible/seria/elpepicul/20080208elpepicul_1/Tes|title=Ser invisible... eso sería lo más|date=|accessdate=|last=Cruz|first=Juan|publisher=[[El País]]}}[[8 February]] [[2008]]. Accessed [[8 February]] [[2008]].</ref>

==Relationship with the press==
Rowling has had a difficult relationship with the press. She admits to being "thin-skinned" and dislikes the fickle nature of reporting.<ref name=Treneman/> "They went in one day from saying, 'She’s got writer’s block' to saying, 'She's been self-indulgent'", she told ''The Times'' in 2003, "And I thought, well, what a difference 24 hours makes."<ref name=Treneman>Treneman, Ann. [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2003/0620-times-treneman.htm "I'm not writing for the money: It's for me and out of loyalty to fans."]. ''[[The Times]]''. [[June 20]], [[2003]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> However, Rowling disputes her reputation as a recluse who hates to be interviewed.<ref name=Treneman /> In 2001, the Press Complaints Commission upheld a complaint by Rowling over a series of unauthorised photographs of her with her daughter on the beach in [[Mauritius]] published in ''[[OK! Magazine]]''.<ref>[http://www.pcc.org.uk/news/index.html?article=MjA0NQ== {Press Complaints Commission: JK Rowling]. pcc.org.uk. 2001. Accessed [[8 December]] [[2007]].</ref> In 2007 Rowling lost a court fight to ban publication of a photograph of her young son.<ref name=david /> The photo, taken by a photographer using a long-range lens, was subsequently published in a ''[[Sunday Express]]'' article featuring Rowling's family life and motherhood.<ref name=david />

Rowling has said she particularly dislikes the British tabloid ''[[The Daily Mail]]'', which made references to a stalker Rowling insists does not exist, and conducted interviews with her estranged ex-husband.<ref name=vernon /> As one journalist noted, "Harry's [[Vernon Dursley|Uncle Vernon]] is a grotesque philistine of violent tendencies and remarkably little brain. It is not difficult to guess which newspaper Rowling gives him to read [in ''Goblet of Fire'']."<ref name=vernon>Lockerbie, Catherine. {{cite web|title="All aboard the Hogwarts Express"|author=|work=[[The Scotsman]]|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/0700-scotsman-lockerbie.html}} [[11 July]] [[2000]]. Accessed [[30 October]] [[2007]].</ref>

Some have speculated that Rowling's fraught relationship with the press was the inspiration behind the character [[Rita Skeeter]]. However, Rowling noted in 2000 that the character actually predates her rise to fame: "People have asked me whether Rita Skeeter was invented [to reflect ''Harry Potter'''s popularity], but in fact she was always planned."<ref>{{cite web|title="About the Books: transcript of J.K. Rowling's live interview on Scholastic.com"|url=http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/books/author/interview2.htm|}} [[16 October]] [[2000]]. Accessed [[30 October]] [[2007]].</ref> "I tried to put Rita in ''Philosopher's Stone''- you know when Harry walks into the Leaky Cauldron for the first time and everyone says, "Mr Potter you're back!", I wanted to put a journalist in there. She wasn't called Rita then but she was a woman. And then I thought, as I looked at the plot overall, I thought, that's not really where she fits best, she fits best in Four when Harry's supposed to come to terms with his fame."<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/fall00-bbc-newsround.html Transcript of interview with J.K. Rowling]. ''BBC Newsround''. 2000. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref>

== Philanthropy ==
In 2000, Rowling established the Volant Charitable Trust, which uses its annual budget of £5.1 million to aid women and children, and to combat [[poverty]] and social inequality. The fund also gives to organizations that aid children, one parent families, and multiple sclerosis research.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Volant Charitable Trust (UK and overseas)|work=Merseyside Funding|year=|url=http://www.mfip.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1085&Itemid=27|}} Accessed [[19 January]] [[2008]].</ref> Rowling said, "I think you have a moral responsibility when you've been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it and give intelligently."<ref name=USAToday200707 />

Rowling, once a single parent herself, is now president of the charity [[One Parent Families]], having already become their first Ambassador in 2000.<ref name="OPF">{{cite web|url=http://www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk/|title=One Parent Families Gingerbread|work=OneParentFamilies|}}. Accessed [[11 July]] [[2007]].</ref><ref> [http://www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk/1/lx3x1olx-5001x1oix1794x1/0/0/110707/0/0/J_K_Rowling_-_One_Parent.htm J K Rowling becomes President of One Parent Families]. oneparentfamilies.org. [[16 November]], [[2004]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Rowling collaborated with [[Sarah Brown (spouse)|Sarah Brown]], wife of British Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]], to write a book of children's stories to aid One Parent Families.<ref> [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labourleadership/story/0,,2078636,00.html Gordon's Women]. ''[[Guardian Unlimited]]''. [[13 May]], [[2007]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref>

In 2001, the UK anti-poverty fundraiser [[Comic Relief (charity)|Comic Relief]] asked three bestselling British authors – cookery writer and TV presenter [[Delia Smith]], [[Bridget Jones]] creator [[Helen Fielding]], and Rowling – to submit booklets related to their most famous works for publication.<ref>Goodson, Rory and Chittenden, Maurice. [http://www.cesnur.org/recens/potter_078.htm "Rowling casts a spell that will give charities millions"]. ''[[The Sunday Times]]''. [[7 January]], [[2001]]. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Rowling's two booklets, ''[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]'' and ''[[Quidditch Through the Ages]]'', are ostensibly facsimiles of books found in the [[Hogwarts]] library. Since going on sale in March, 2001, the books have raised £15.7 million ($30 million) for the fund. The £10.8 million ($20 million) they have raised outside the UK have been channeled into a newly created International Fund for Children and Young People in Crisis.<ref>[http://www.comicrelief.com/stuff-to-buy/harrys-books/the-money/ The Money]. Comic Relief. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref>

In 2005, to improve the lot of vulnerable children in eastern Europe, Rowling and [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] [[Emma Nicholson]] founded the Children's High Level Group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Children's High Level Group|url=http://www.chlg.org/who-we-are.asp|publisher=The Children's Voice}} Accessed [[1 November]] [[2007]].</ref> In January 2006, Rowling went to [[Bucharest]] to highlight the use of caged beds in children's mental institutions.<ref> [http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/news_view.cfm?id=91 Launch of the Children's High Level Group]. J.K. Rowling's Official Site. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref> To further support the CHLG, Rowling auctioned one of seven handwritten and illustrated copies of ''[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]'', a series of fairy tales referred to in ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows''. The book was purchased for £1.95 million by on-line bookseller [[Amazon.com]] on [[13 December]] [[2007]].<ref name="fetches">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7142656.stm Rare JK Rowling book fetches £2m]. [[BBC News]]. [[13 December]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[13 December]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22240285/?GT1=10645 Hand-written Rowling book sells for $3.9 mil]. MSNBC. [[13 December]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[13 December]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/beedlebard Amazon purchase book]. [[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.uk]]. Accessed [[14 December]] [[2007]].</ref> Rowling commented "This will mean so much to children in desperate need of help. It means Christmas has come early to me."<ref name="fetches"/><ref>Majendie, Paul. [http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSL0117459520071101?pageNumber=2 Rowling says goodbye to Potter with fairy tales]. [[Reuters]]. [[1 November]], [[2007]]. Accessed [[1 November]], [[2007]].</ref> Rowling will give away the remaining six copies to those who have a close connection with the ''Harry Potter'' books.<ref name="fetches"/>

Rowling has contributed money and support for research and treatment of [[multiple sclerosis]], from which her mother died in 1990. In 2006, Rowling contributed a substantial sum toward the creation of a new Centre for Regenerative Medicine at [[Edinburgh University]].<ref>MS Society, Scotland [http://www.research-innovation.ed.ac.uk/records/news/MS-research_210406.asp JK Rowling funds new MS centre]. ''Edinburgh Research and Innovation, University of Edinburgh''. [[21 April]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[10 June]] [[2006]].</ref> On [[1 August]] and [[2 August]] [[2006]] she read alongside [[Stephen King]] and [[John Irving]] at [[Radio City Music Hall]] in New York City. Profits from the event were donated to the Haven Foundation, a charity that aids artists and performers left uninsurable and unable to work, and the medical [[NGO]] [[Médecins Sans Frontières]].<ref>[http://www.scholastic.com/harrycarriegarp/Press_Release.pdf Harry, Carrie, Garp]. Scholastic. 2006. Accessed [[25 October]] [[2007]].</ref> In May 2007, Rowling gave $495,000 to a reward fund of over $4.5 million for the safe return of a young British girl, [[Disappearance of Madeleine McCann|Madeleine McCann]], who disappeared in Portugal.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May13/0,4670,PeopleRowling,00.html Potter Author Adds to U.K. Reward Fund]. [[Fox News]]. [[13 May]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[14 May]] [[2007]].</ref><ref name="safe">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6652937.stm Madeleine father sure she is safe]. [[BBC News]]. [[14 May]] [[2007]]. Accessed [[14 May]] [[2007]].</ref> Rowling, along with [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Al Gore]], and [[Alan Greenspan]], wrote an introduction to a collection of Gordon Brown's speeches, the proceeds of which are donated to the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4878754.stm Brown publishes greatest speeches]. [[BBC News]]. [[5 April]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[20 October]] [[2007]].</ref>

==Publications==
;Harry Potter series
# ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' ([[26 June]] [[1997]])
# ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'' ([[2 July]] [[1998]])
# ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' ([[8 July]] [[1999]])
# ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' ([[8 July]] [[2000]])
#''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' ([[21 June]] [[2003]])
# ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' ([[16 July]] [[2005]])
# ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' ([[21 July]] [[2007]])

;Other books
* ''[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]'' (supplement to the Potter series) (2001)
* ''[[Quidditch Through the Ages]]'' (supplement to the Potter series) (2001)
* ''[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]'' (never published, but publicly displayed by Amazon.com) (2007)

;Articles
* "The First It Girl: J.K. Rowling reviews ''Decca: the Letters of [[Jessica Mitford]]'' ed by Peter Y Sussman", ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' [[26 July]] [[2006]]
* Introduction to "Ending Child Poverty" in ''Moving Britain Forward. Selected Speeches 1997-2006'' by [[Gordon Brown]], Bloomsbury (2006)
* Foreword to the anthology ''Magic'', edited by Gil McNeil and [[Sarah Brown (Prime Minister's wife)|Sarah Brown]], Bloomsbury (2002)

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<!-- Dead note "film6-imdb": {{imdb title|id=0417741|title=Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}} : not actually cited at the moment, but there just in case-->

==External links==
{{commons|J. K. Rowling}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{hpw|J._K._Rowling}}
* [http://www.jkrowling.com/en English section of J.K. Rowling's official personal site] ([[Macromedia Flash]]-heavy, with [[pop-up]]s; [http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/ text-only version])
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/11/26/bomit05.xml The first It Girl]: Rowling's article on Jessica Mitford for ''The Telegraph''
* [http://www.bloomsbury.com/magic/ Rowling's foreword to the anthology ''Magic'']
* {{isfdb name|id=J._K._Rowling|name=J. K. Rowling}}
* {{imdb name | id=0746830 | name=J.K. Rowling}}
* {{IBList |type=author|id=146|name=J.K. Rowling}}
{{harrypotter}}
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|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Yate]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowling, J. K.}}
[[Category:English children's writers]]
[[Category:English fantasy writers]]
[[Category:English novelists]]
[[Category:Writers of young adult literature]]
[[Category:British Book Awards]]
[[Category:Hugo Award winning authors]]
[[Category:English philanthropists]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Exeter]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Civil Parish of Winterbourne]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:British billionaires]]
[[Category:Female authors who wrote under male or gender-neutral pseudonyms]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Real people associated with the Harry Potter books]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature]]

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Revision as of 11:15, 11 April 2008

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