J.K.Rowling
By: Morgan Tripp
About J.K.Rowling
Joanne Kathleen Rowling (Rolling) was born in thesummer of 1965 (July 31st ) at Yate GeneralHospital in England and grew up in Chepstow,Gwent where she went to Wyedean Comprehension.
Rowling left Chepstow for Exeter University, whereshe earned a French and Classics degree, andwhere her course included 12 months in Paris. Asa post- graduate she moved to London(UK) to workat Amnesty International doing research intohuman rights abuses in Francophone, Africa. Shestarted writing the Harry Potter series during aManchester to London King’s Cross trainjourney,and during the next five years,outlinedthe plots for each book and began writing thefirst novel.
About J.K. Rowling
Rowling then moved to Portugal,where she taughtEnglish to foreign language. She married inOctober 1992 and gave birth to her daughterJessica in 1993. When her marriage ended, shereturned to Edinburgh,where Harry Potter & thePhilosopher's Stone was eventually completed, andin 1996 she received an offer of publication. Thefollowing summer the world was introduced toHarry Potter.
Rowling married Dr. Neil Murray in 2001,and abrother for Jessica,David, was born in 2003. Asister,Mackenzie, followed in January 2005.
Time Line
1965~Born on July 31st in Chipping Sodbury, GreatBritain
1987~Graduates from University of Exeter where shestudied French and Classics
1990~Moves to Manchester,England,and begins writing
1991~Moves to Oporto,Portugal,to teach English
1994~Moves to Edinburgh,Scotland
1995~Completes her first novel and hires a literaryagent
1997~Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ispublished in Britain
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Time Line
1998~Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ispublished in the United States with the title HarryPotter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2000~Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire becomes thefastest-selling book in history
2001~First Harry Potter movie appears in cinemas
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone,HarryPotter and the Goblet of Fire,and Harry Potterand the Sorcerer's Stone are all in Italicsbecause they are the names of books.
Rowling's Achievements
J.K.Rowling was voted author of the year at the 1999British Book Awards (Nibbies) and won the BooksellersAssociation Author of the Year award two years in arow (1998 and 1999).She won the W H Smith Children'sBook of the Year for 2000 and in 2004, she was awardedthe WH Smith’s Fiction Award. In 2006,Rowling wasWinner of the Nibbie’s (Children’s Book of the Year)for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood
An Interview With J.K.Rowling
Did you make up the plot in every aspect first by chartingthe characters and knowing exactly what you would do withthem, or did you just piece a lot of it together as youwrote?I always have a basic plot outline, but I like to leavesome things to be decided while I write. It's more fun. :-)
Do you now or have you in the past kept a journal? If so,do you believe that it helps in your writing?I've never managed to keep a journal longer than twoweeks. I get bored with my life. I prefer inventingthings.
How long have you been writing?As far back as I can remember. The first story I finishedwas when I was 6 years old.
What makes some witches/wizards become ghosts after they die andsome not?You don't really find that out until Book VII (5), but I can say that thehappiest people do not become ghosts. As you might guess MoaningMyrtle!
Since Harry Potter's parents were sorcerers and Petunia was Harry'smother's sister. Shouldn't Petunia be a witch or wizard?No. As Hagrid explains in Book I (1), sometimes a witch or a wizardoccurs in an otherwise Muggle family, just as a Squib is a non-magicperson who occurs in an otherwise magic family.
Do you think that you will write about Harry after he graduates fromHogwarts? Isn't there a University of Wizardry?No, there's no University for Wizards. At the moment I'm only planning towrite seven Harry Potter books. I won't say "never," but I have no plans towrite an eighth book.
When you were my age, did you ever write a book? I am in the 5th grade.Yes, as a matter of fact I did. I wrote a story about seven cursed diamonds. Ithought it was a novel. I think now it was really a very long short story.
How many books have you read byJ.K.Rowling?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone:20/20 100%
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets:5/20 25%
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 6/20 30%
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 6/20 30%
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix 5/20 25%
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 4/20 20%
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2/20 10%
The Tales of Beadle the Bard:20/20 100%
Quidditch through the Ages20/20 100%
Fantastic Beasts and where to Find Them:8/20 40%
