Harry Potter Rules!

Do you want to find a series that will make you want to sit and read for hours? Do you love fantasy and want an amazing story of a brave hero? Do you want to find a series for someone who just refuses to read? If you answered yes to any of these questions then start reading the Harry Potter series. You will realize how indulging and interesting these books are. Here is little bit of backstory about Harry Potter series.

Harry Potter was written by a young woman named J.K. Rowling. Her real name is Joanne Rowling. The reason she was called J.K. Rowling was because when her book was being published the editors thought that more people would read her books if she had a sort-of boyish name. The “K” in her name stands for her grandmother’s name Kathleen.

One interesting fact about Rowling is that she wasn’t that big of a fan of fantasy books but, Harry Potter made her a billionaire! Many people might wonder where she got the idea for Harry Potter and the answer is on a train!

Rowling’s Books

Rowling has published a total of 7 books, all in the Harry Potter series. There’s no telling which one of her books is the most popular because all of the books sold millions of copies! They each tell a story of young teenager Harry Potter. In each of the books he unravels a new mystery and has a new adventure. You can never get bored with Harry Potter! The characters and plots are very interesting and unique as well.

Timeline of Rowling’s Life

1965   On July 31, Joanne Rowling is born at Chipping Sodbury General Hospital in Gloucestershire, England.

1971   Family moves from Yate to Winterbourne, near Bristol; she and her younger sister Di play with an adventurous brother and sister whose last name is Potter.

1974   Rowling family moves to Tutshill, near Chepstow in Wales, on the edge of the Forest of Dean; begins to collect novels by her favorite children’s authors.

1976   Enrolls at Wyedean Comprehensive; best friend Sean Harris provides the model for Ron Weasley.

1980   Rowling’s mother is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

1982   Becomes head girl, or lead pupil, at Wyedean Comprehensive.

1983   Enrolls at University of Exeter; studies French and classics.

1985   Spends one year in Paris as teaching assistant as part of degree.

1987   Graduates from Exeter, then works briefly as a research assistant for Amnesty International; writes during lunch hours in pubs and cafés.

1988   Employed as secretary in Manchester.

1990   During long train ride from Manchester to London, suddenly imagines boy who is a wizard but he does not know it; mother dies at age 45 from multiple sclerosis.

1991   Teaches English as a foreign language in Oporto, Portugal; writes 10 different first chapters for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

1992   Marries Portuguese television journalist.

1993   Gives birth to daughter, Jessica; divorces; returns to Britain with her daughter and settles in Edinburgh, Scotland, to be near her sister.

1994   Struggles to make ends meet as single parent who cannot find a job that pays well enough to provide daycare for her daughter; continues to work on Harry Potter manuscript whenever she can during the day and at night.

1995   Sends finished manuscript to two agents and one publisher.

1996   Works as French teacher while she waits to hear about her manuscript.

1997   Scottish Arts Council gives her a large grant to continue writing;Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is published in Britain; Scholastic purchases U.S. rights.

1998   Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is published in Britain.

1999   Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is published in Britain, becoming the No. 1 best seller; Harry Potter books are also the top three titles on the New York Times fiction bestseller list.

2000   Makes Forbes magazine’s annual Celebrity 100 list as the 24th-highest celebrity earner in the world; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fireis published in Britain and the United States at the same time.

2001   Warner Bros. releases the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

2002   Warner Bros. releases the second Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

2003   Preorders for the book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixmake it Amazon’s No. 1 best seller five months before its June 21 publishing date.

2004   Film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is released.

2005   Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is published; the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is released.

2007   Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is published.

2009   The film version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is released.

2010   The film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows–Part 1 is released.

2011   The film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows–Part 2 is released.

2012   The Casual Vacancy is released on September 27.

2013   Releases The Cuckoo’s Calling (under the pen name Robert Galbrait)