Success Story: J. K. Rowling








It was in 1990 whilst on board a delayed train trip from Manchester to London’s Kings Cross that the idea of writing a book about a boy came to Joanne Rowling’s (a.k.a. J. K. Rowling) mind. In the next six years Joanne would write Harry Potter’s story; six years of imagining a wizardly world cuddled up with a devastating personal life.

Joanne Rowling was born on June 31,1965 in a sizable town of Yate, Gloucestershire, England. It can be said that Rowling grew up in a loving family and a peaceful neighborhood, never worrying about food or money.

Rowling lost her mother when she was 25, something that self-admittedly devastated her. This happened six after she started writing Harry Potter. Hence, the similarity of her personal life and that of Harry’s background. Her mother never knew that she was writing.

The young Joanne then moved to Portugal after her mother’s death where she taught English for Foreign Language classes. She got married to Portuguese journalist Jorge Arantes and gave birth to her daughter, Jessica. But the marriage only lasted for 13 months.

On December of 1993, she went back to Edinburgh with her child and the first 3 chapters of Harry Potter.

Things became more complicated after. She was a single mother and unemployed, contemplating suicide and was diagnosed with clinical depression. Eventually, Rowling signed up for welfare benefits from the state. The single mother received 70 pounds per week which she spent on cheap food and some clothes for Jessica. Seven years after being a college graduate, Joanne felt like a huge failure.

She divorced her husband on August 1994.

Miss Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 1995. She submitted manuscripts to literary agents, saying that the story was too long and that it would be uninteresting for children. This hit Joanne, thinking that maybe that’s the end of her dream. 

Thanks to her sister’s encouragement, she pursued in getting her book published. She finally met famed literary agent Christopher Little. But Mr. Little is not in love with children’s books. Hence, Harry Potter was put into the archive. Thankfully an employee read the manuscript and loved its plot; she sneakily slid it on his boss’ table. The latter, after reading it and realizing its potential, decided to represent Miss Rowling through his company Christopher Little Literary Agents.

Harry Potter was rejected about 12 times until in 1996, Barry Cunningham made an offer to publish the book under Bloomsbury Publishing to Rowling’s delight! His 8-year-old daughter played a big part in the story. Cunningham gave her the first chapter of the book for review and immediately asked for the next chapter. Nonetheless, Barry Cunningham advised Joanne to get a job for she won’t make money making children’s books.

In June 1997 Bloomsbury published 1,000 copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Store, have of which was sent to libraries. She used the pen name J. K. Rowling because her publisher realized that young boys won’t particularly read a book by a female writer. The J was from Joanne and K was from her paternal grandmother’s name Kathleen. She doesn’t have a middle name.


Within just a few months, the book received several awards already. In 1998 it eventually went to US bookshelves under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The book launched several sequels and was turned into movies, prompting J. K. Rowling into the limelight of success.

"When people are very damaged, they can often meet the world with a kind of defiance."
                                                                                                                     - J. K. Rowling
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