J.K. Rowling is an author who gained global recognition with the Harry Potter series, which she wrote during the 1990s. Her works have evolved into a broad range of publications and media content appealing to different genres and age groups. In addition to her writing career, she is also active in the field of social responsibility through her support for various charitable organizations.
Life and Education
Joanne Rowling was born on July 31, 1965, in Yate, England. Her father, Peter Rowling, worked as an engineer at Rolls-Royce, and her mother, Anne Rowling, was a chemistry technician. She spent her childhood and teenage years in Gloucestershire and Chepstow. Rowling completed her primary education at St. Michael’s Primary School and secondary education at Wyedean Comprehensive School. She studied French Language and Literature and Classics at the University of Exeter, spending one year in Paris as part of her university studies. After graduation, she worked as a secretary at Amnesty International in London.
Writing Career
The initial idea for the Harry Potter character emerged during a Manchester-to-London train journey in 1990. In 1992, Rowling moved to Portugal to work as an English teacher, where she got married and had a daughter. After returning to Edinburgh in 1993, while receiving social assistance, she wrote Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which was published in 1997. The book was first published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom and later by Scholastic in the United States.
Literary Approach
J.K. Rowling’s writing process is based on meticulous planning and character development. Before starting the Harry Potter series, she designed the structure as a seven-book arc. Rowling typically drafted her work by hand, taking extensive notes on characters and plotlines.
Her works frequently explore themes such as family, death, choice, power, and loyalty. Following her mother's death in 1990, the theme of death became more prominent in her writings, particularly in the Harry Potter series, which highlights topics like parental loss, fear of death, and resistance against death.
Rowling's language and narrative style are influenced by classical mythology, Latin, medieval symbols, and English folklore. Many spells at Hogwarts derive from Latin or Latin-rooted words. She has also cited influences from authors such as Jane Austen, Jessica Mitford, and C.S. Lewis.
Rowling has shared insights into her writing process in various interviews and notably discussed the impact of failure during her 2008 Harvard University commencement address. In 2020, she released a three-part video series titled On Writing, where she explained her personal writing techniques.
Philanthropic Activities
J.K. Rowling is known for her commitment to social causes. In 2005, she founded the Lumos Foundation, which aims to ensure children grow up in family environments rather than institutional care. The foundation operates mainly in Europe and Central America.
In 2010, she donated £10 million to the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on research into motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s, and dementia. In 2019, she made a second donation of £15.3 million to the same clinic.
Rowling has also supported various undisclosed charitable initiatives. Proceeds from special Harry Potter editions prepared for Comic Relief campaigns have been directed toward charitable organizations.
Works
Harry Potter Series
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – 1997
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – 1998
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – 1999
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – 2000
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – 2003
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – 2005
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – 2007
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (script) – 2016
Other Books Related to the Harry Potter Universe
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – 2001
- Quidditch Through the Ages – 2001
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard – 2007
- Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists – 2016
- Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies – 2016
- Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide – 2016
Fantastic Beasts Film Series (Screenplays)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – 2016
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – 2018
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – 2022
Cormoran Strike Series (as Robert Galbraith)
- The Cuckoo’s Calling – 2013
- The Silkworm – 2014
- Career of Evil – 2015
- Lethal White – 2018
- Troubled Blood – 2020
- The Ink Black Heart – 2022
- The Running Grave – 2023
- The Hallmarked Man – 2025
Other Works
- The Casual Vacancy – 2012
- Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination – 2015
- The Ickabog – 2020
- The Christmas Pig – 2021
Adaptations
Harry Potter Film Series (2001–2011)
8 films produced by Warner Bros.:
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Fantastic Beasts Film Series
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – 2016
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – 2018
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – 2022
Television Adaptations
- Strike (BBC & HBO – based on the Cormoran Strike novels)
- Harry Potter HBO series (announced, in production)
Awards and Honors
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) – 2001
- Légion d’Honneur (France’s Legion of Honor) – 2009
- Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award – 2010
- Hugo Award for Best Novel – 2001 (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)
- British Book Awards – various categories
- Smarties Prize – 1997, 1998, 1999
- Blue Peter Book Award
- Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
- Children’s Book of the Year Award
