JK Rowling is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished writers in this era and age. She had a difficult past as a single mother, but later boasted of a fascinating life after her widely acclaimed book – Harry Potter – became the reference book in the UK and beyond.
Before fame and success, Rowling faced so many hardships on her way. From her mother’s illness to being kicked out by her first husband, struggling to make ends meet, becoming the best mother to her first daughter and writing Harry Potter from the comfort of her home, the iconic British writer really suffered a lot from things – his only assets at the time were his indestructible spirit and an unfathomable passion for writing.
JK Rowling’s success story and her life in general are truly inspiring. Her life tells many stories and has been a major inspiration to many who struggle to succeed in their various fields of interest.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane on the beginning of the veteran author’s journey to stardom.
Biography of JK Rowling (Age)
JK Rowling, née Joanne Rowling, is filled with Anne Volant Rowling, a half-Scottish and French scientific technician, and Peter James Rowling, an engineer at Rolls-Royce. She was born on June 31, 1965, in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, and raised with her younger sister, Dianne Rowling.
Joanne attended St. Michael’s Primary School, Belfast, where she found English to be her favorite subject. She then continued her education at Wyedean School, England, where she graduated in 1983.
Joanne Rowling was educated at the University of Exeter in the South West of England, where she studied French. She originally applied to Oxford University but was refused entry despite passing the entrance exam.
The British author graduated from Exeter in 1986, a year after completing her internship in Paris. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Classics.
Joanne’s parents, Peter and Anne met in 1964 and married the following year. They moved several times to several cities in the United Kingdom. At 15, Rowling lost her grandmother, her relationship with her father deteriorated, and her mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She eventually died in 1990 of the disease.
JK Rowling’s Family – husband, daughter and other children
JK Rowling met her first husband, Jorge Arantes, a Portuguese television journalist, eighteen months after moving to Porto, a city in Portugal. The British author decided to leave London for Portugal, nine months after the death of his mother, to start a new life.
After a brief courtship, Rowling and Arantes finally tied the knot on October 16, 1992 in Portugal. Shortly after their marriage, her husband was called in for training and was away for a few months.
When Arantes finally returned home, he couldn’t find a job. It was during this period that Rowling gave birth to their first daughter – Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes (born July 27, 1993). The couple’s marriage began to face difficulties a few months after Isabel’s arrival. Arantes ended up hitting and throwing his wife and daughter out of the house. A devastated Rowling had to travel in December 1993 to Edinburgh, Scotland, to her sister’s home with her infant daughter.
JK Rowling married her second husband, Dr. Neil Scott Murray, a Scottish anesthesiologist, on December 26, 2001, in a private wedding ceremony held at Rowling’s home in Perthshire. Neil and the iconic writer welcomed their first baby together on March 24, 2003. His name was David Gordon Rowling Murray. Their second child, a daughter named Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray, arrived on January 23, 2005.
His religion
Questions about JK Rowling’s faith have been a topic of interest for her fans and so many readers of her stories. According to the British author, she was born a Christian and practiced the religion all her life. His revelation stems from the hotly debated question of whether religious background influenced his books. Also, she boldly revealed that Christianity inspired Harry Potter, especially her latest novel “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”.
JK Rowling, who also insists Christianity is her main source of inspiration, is a member of the Church of Scotland, despite being brought up as an Anglican.
Quick facts about the author
1. His pseudonym
Joanne Rowling was born without a middle name. She took the name Kathleen after her editor insisted that she do. Kathleen is the name of her favorite grandmother.
2. Recreation
In addition to writing, the British author loves to do a lot of other things. In her spare time, she listens to music, cooks, bakes, takes her children out for fun and writes songs. She has a song called: Blind Pig, which she wrote for the 2016 film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Joanne’s favorite food and color are sushi and rose respectively while her favorite sport and drink are Quidditch and gin and tonic in the order given. Her least favorite sound is hearing her husband snore, her least favorite food is tripe, and the quality she most admires in a person is courage.
3.Harry Potter
After first, several publishing houses refused to publish his first book. The London-based publisher – Bloomsbury – has finally agreed to publish his book after a long time.
JK Rowling’s series of novels – Harry Potter – has sold over 450 million copies and can be read in 73 different languages. The book is also the best-selling book series in history, as they have brought the British novelist numerous accolades, including the Order of the British Empire (OBE), which she received from His Highness Royal the Prince of Wales in 2001.
The Harry Potter series, which is estimated to be worth $15 billion, has 4,195 pages in total. She finished her first book after five years. The project has also served as the basis for a series of films, with Harry Potter being the most popular of them.
The names of all Harry Potter movies are Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ( 2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2010).
All of Rowling’s Harry Potter-related material is available at Pottermore.com. She launched the site on June 23, 2011 to allow readers to purchase Harry Potter series eBooks and digital audiobooks.
4. In her young age, Rowling enjoyed painting, modeling clay pottery and learning literature.
5. During her studies, her math teacher, Mrs. Morgan, was very hostile towards her.
6. The renowned author gave Harry Potter, his main character, his birthday on July 31.
7. His mother, Anne, made him love literature. As a child, his mother read him stories. In fact, by the age of five, Joanne was able to re-read every book her mother read to her almost by heart.
8. She wrote her first book titled: Rabbit when she was six years old. Her younger sister, Dianne, was the first to listen to her stories.
9. Joanne’s favorite author is English novelist Jane Austen, while her favorite living novelist is Irish playwright, screenwriter and author Roddy Doyle.
10. She has had problems with depression before.
11. JK Rowling stopped talking to her father, Peter Rowling, in 2003.