J.K Rowling: A Life of Challanges and Success

J. K. Rowling is the writer of the Harry Potter books, which started in 1997 with, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The hero of the books, Harry Potter was a seemingly normal kid who found out that he was a wizard on his eleventh birthday. He receives training to become a wizard at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The books are a constant struggle between good and evil. Harry uses the magic he learns, to protect his friends and defeat his enemies. One of the things J.K Rowling and her hero have in common is that their lives haven’t always been so magical. Both have experienced death, disappointment, and hardship. However, the obstacles she has had to overcome have made J.K Rowling into the strong, wonderful person readers know today.

The British author entered the world on July 31, 1965. She was born in Gloucestershire, England at Yate General Hospital (Pollack 9). J.K Rowling is the daughter of Anne and Peter Rowling. She has one sister, Di or Diana, who is two years yonger. (Pollack 8). “J.K Rowling’s real name is Joanne but she prefers being called ‘Jo’. Her parents did not actually give her a middle name but she took the 2nd initial K for her favorite grandmother Kathleen when she published Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (MacDonald 34).

Jo was always very creative and had an interest in writing. She knew from an early age she wanted to be a writer (Pollack 1). The first story she ever told was to her sister Di. In this story, Di fell into a rabbit hole and a family of rabbits fed her strawberries (Pollack 9). The first story she wrote when she six, was also about a rabbit. This particular rabbit contracted measles in the story (MacDonald 33). This story showed that even at a young age Rowling...

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“Rowling, J.K.” Biography Reference Bank (Bio Ref Bank) (2010): Biography Reference Bank (H.W. Wilson). Web. 22 Oct. 2013

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. First American edition. New York: Scholastic, 1998.

Rowling, J K, and Mary GrandPré. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007. Print.

Toby,Mcdonald. “J.K Rowling and the loan that made Harry possible.” Sunday Times, n.d.: The Newspaper Source. Web 22 Oct. 2013

VARGAS, ELIZABETH. “J.K: A Year In The Life.” News Special Report (ABC) (2009): 1. Newspaper Source. Web. 22 Oct 2013