JK Rowling biography
Joanne Rowling, better known and indeed, EXTREMELY well known around the world as JK Rowling was born in the town of Yate, South Gloucestershire in 1965. She is the most successful literary author of all time and her world-famous Harry Potter series has so far sold a staggering 400,000,000 copies worldwide and has been translated into over sixty five different languages.
JK Rowling went to the University of Exeter where she studied French and the Classics. After leaving university she worked for Amnesty International in London as a researcher and bilingual secretary.
JK Rowling has written fiction since a child, and always wanted to be an author. Her parents loved reading, and their house in Chepstow was full of books. In fact, JK Rowling wrote her first 'book' at the age of six - a story about a rabbit called Rabbit.
The idea for Harry Potter occured to JK Rowling on the train from Manchester to London, where she says Harry Potter "just strolled into my head fully formed", and by the time she had arrived at King's Cross, many of the characters had taken shape. During the next five years she outlined the plots for each book and began writing the first in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which was first published by Bloomsbury in 1997.
JK Rowling when asked by Jeremy Paxman about whether she wrote until exhaustion stopped her.
Rowling is a great donator to charity and in the future she intends to publish a Harry Potter encyclopedia with all profits going to charity. Coca-Cola were forced to give $18m to the American charity Reading is Fundamental in return for being allowed to rights to the movie tie-ins.
JK Rowling has also written two other companion books, Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, in aid of Comic Relief.
JK Rowling awards
- Nestle Smarties Book Prize (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
- Children’s Book of the Year - British Book Awards (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
- Children’s Book Award (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
- JK Rowling has won the Hugo, Bram Stoker and Whitebread awards for the Harry Potter series.
JK Rowling records
- Last 3 volumes of the Harry Potter series have been the fastest selling books in history.
- Book 6 (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the fastest selling book ever.
- JK Rowling is the first person to win the Smarties Prize for literature 3 years in a row.
- In the USA, each Harry Potter book reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
JK Rowling influences
- Jane Austen - Rowling's all time favourite writer
- Paul Gallico - writer of Manxmouse
- C.S. Lewis - the Narnia Chronicles
- Noel Streatfield
JK Rowling books
- 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)
Latest news: JK Rowling
Fantasy news round-up – March 3, 2010
In the US: Kindle books now available on Blackberry Amazon has released a free Kindle for BlackBerry application that makes the online shop's electronic books available for reading on the Research in Motion smartphones. The application, available for download online at www.amazon.com/kindlebb lets [...]
The Eyes of a King by Catherine Banner reviewed on Fantasy Book Review
Five-year-old Cassius escaped the brutal assassination of his parents, the king and queen of Malonia, and was exiled to modern-day England. Now fifteen, Cassius continues to be hidden in England under the protection of his tutor, the great Alderbaran, who's ancient prophecy says that Cassius will, o [...]
Interview with Chris Dolley of the Book View Café (February 2010)
Book View Café is a cooperative site created by a group of writers - including internationally renowned authors Katharine Kerr, Ursula Le Guin and Vonda N. McIntyre - who want to take advantage of the internet’s possibilities for reaching a wider audience and to distribute their work directly to th [...]
Official photographs of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Universal Orlando Resort, together with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, has revealed first-ever details about the incredible scope of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal also announced that the highly anticipated land will open in spring 2010. Inspired by JK Rowling’s compelling stori [...]
Fantasy news round-up – February 11, 2010
The Gruffalo announced as firm favourite of Irish mothers and their children Two-thirds of Irish mothers begin reading to their child before he or she is a year old and more than a quarter read to their child from birth, according to a new survey. It found that 71 per cent of mothers read a bedt [...]
Sussex Centre for Folklore, Fairy Tales and Fantasy to open this month
This month will see the launch of the new Sussex Centre for Folklore, Fairy Tales and Fantasy, a project which will explore the importance of fairy takes in literary and culture. Professor Bill Gray, an English lecturer at the University of Chichester, is the brainchild behind the centre that will [...]
It’s almost opening time for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Universal Orlando’s upcoming addition to their Islands of Adventure. The new island is set to open officially in Spring 2010 and is being billed as Universal's ultimate rival to Disney World. Featuring several themed attractions, shops and a restaurant the par [...]
The ins and outs of the Google Book Settlement
The families of John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie have decided to opt in to the revised Google Book Search settlement. Gail Steinbeck, who initially opposed the settlement and Arlo Guthrie, said they would not bring a separate lawsuit against Google. Ms. Steinbeck is the wife of the late John Steinbe [...]
Fantasy news round-up – January/February 2010
Fantasy authors donate towards the Haiti appeal Harry Potter author JK Rowling donated a full UK edition set of her books, as well as a handwritten card, to Helping Haiti Heal. These rare items join more than 100 special gifts, including a signed book by author Neil Gaiman, five dedicated books [...]
Fantasy Book Review: Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett
There's a werewolf with the pre-lunar tension in Ankh-Morpork. And a dwarf with attitude and a golem who's begun to think for itself. But for Commander Vimes, Head of Ankh-Morpork City Watch, that's only the start...There's treason in the air. A crime has happened. He's not only got to find out whod [...]
JK Rowling interviews
Jeremy Paxman, from the BBC, performed an exclusive Newsnight interview with J. K. Rowling. This is an intriguing interview and the normally savage Paxman pulls his claws in for the duration. The BBC interview with J. K. Rowling >>
In the first interview since the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J. K. Rowling explains why the end to the series was rather vague, or "nebulous" and "poetic" and what she plans to do next. J. K. Rowling interview with the TODAYshow.com >>
Stories from the Web interviews J. K. Rowling. A short but sweet in interview in which she talks about the inspirations behind her work, whether or not the characters are based on real people and where the names in the Harry Potter derive from. Stories from the Web interviews J. K. Rowling >>
JK Rowling critical acclaim
"And you though wizardry was for children. Harry Potter will make you think again. He casts his spells on grown-ups too" James Naughtie
"Full of surprises and jokes; comparisons with Dahl are, this time, justified" Sunday Times
Book of the Month
Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill
Some doors are better left closed . . . In Barrington House, an upmarket block in London, there is an empty apartment. No one goes in, no one comes out. And it’s been that way for fifty years. Until the night watchman hears a disturbance after midnight and investigates. What he experiences is enough to change his life forever.
Latest interviews
Interviews plus question and answer sessions with authors, narrators and publishers.
Must-reads
The following reviews are of books that begin the very best fantasy series available.
Special Feature: Fantasy Book Review talks to the Book View Cafe
Book View Cafe is a cooperative site created by a group of writers - including internationally renowned authors Katharine Kerr, Ursula Le Guin and Vonda N. McIntyre - who want to take advantage of the internet's possibilities for reaching a wider audience and to distribute their work directly to their readers. The Book View Cafe is a place where you can find free, original fiction plus the authors' best and out-of-print work for a fee. Fantasy Book Review spoke to Book View Cafe member, science fiction author and memoirist Chris Dolley in February 2010.
Special Feature: Understanding the author of Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll, the elusive author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, has been the subject of enduring fascination for the past hundred years. The destruction of many major documents about his personal life by his descendants has only magnified the mystery. Jenny Woolf's biography, published to coincide with the release of the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film, lays waste to the myths and suspicions that have obscured Carroll's reputation by placing him firmly in the context of his own time.
