J. K. Rowling, whose real name is Joanne Rowling, is an English novelist best known as the creator of the Harry Potter fantasy series. She is one of the most influential writers of modern popular literature, achieving worldwide fame through her imaginative storytelling, richly developed fictional universe, and themes of friendship, courage, and moral choice.

Joanne Rowling was born on July 31, 1965, in Yate, South Gloucestershire, near Bristol, England. Her father, Peter Rowling, worked as an aircraft engineer at Rolls-Royce, while her mother, Anne Rowling, was a laboratory technician in the chemistry department at Wyedean Comprehensive School. Although her full public name is Joanne Kathleen Rowling, the middle name “Kathleen” was not given at birth; she adopted it later in honor of her grandmother.

Rowling attended St Michael’s Primary School in Gloucestershire. At the age of nine, her family moved first to Bristol and later to Chepstow in South Wales. She completed her secondary education at Wyedean Comprehensive School. Rowling later studied French Language and Literature at the University of Exeter, during which time she spent a year living in Paris, sharing accommodation with students from Italy, Russia, and Spain.

Her passion for writing began at an early age. At six, she wrote her first story titled Rabbit. By the age of eleven, she had already written a novel about seven cursed diamonds and the people who owned them. After graduating from university, she moved to London and worked as a researcher and a bilingual secretary at the London office of Amnesty International.

In 1990, during a long train journey from Manchester to London, Rowling conceived the idea for Harry Potter. That evening, she began writing what would become the first book of the series, though completing it would take several years. Her intense focus on the fictional world she was creating eventually cost her job.

In 1991, Rowling moved to Portugal to teach English. During this period, she continued working on her novel. On October 16, 1992, she married Portuguese television journalist Jorge Arantes. Their daughter, Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes, was born on July 27, 1993. The marriage ended shortly afterward, and although they separated in November 1993, their divorce was finalized in 1995. Around this time, Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression.

In December 1993, Rowling returned to the United Kingdom and settled in Edinburgh, Scotland, near her sister. Living on unemployment benefits, she completed her first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, often writing in cafés, including Nicolson’s Café, now a Chinese restaurant. During this period, she also completed postgraduate studies at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1996.

The decision to publish under the name J. K. Rowling was influenced by her publisher, Bloomsbury, which believed that male readers might be reluctant to read a fantasy novel written by a woman. The first book was published in 1997 and quickly gained popularity. Following its success in the United Kingdom, the American publisher Scholastic acquired the U.S. rights for a substantial sum.

In 1998, Warner Bros. purchased the film rights to the series. The film adaptations significantly increased the global reach of the books, turning Harry Potter into one of the most recognizable media franchises in history. The series sold more than 400 million copies worldwide, making Rowling the first author to become a billionaire through book sales alone.

Rowling married her second husband, Scottish doctor Neil Murray, on December 26, 2001. The couple have two children together, David Gordon Rowling Murray (born March 24, 2003) and Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray (born January 23, 2005). The family lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In addition to the Harry Potter series, Rowling has written adult fiction such as The Casual Vacancy. She also authored the Cormoran Strike crime novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, including The Cuckoo’s Calling, The Silkworm, and Career of Evil.

In 2015, Rowling co-wrote the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which was later published as a script and became a major commercial success. The Harry Potter universe has also expanded through the Fantastic Beasts franchise.

Rowling is known for her philanthropy, donating large sums to charities and causes such as neurological research, the International PEN Club, and the UK Labour Party. In 2010, she founded a neurological research center in her mother’s name, making further significant donations in subsequent years.

Harry Potter Series

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
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Other Works

The Casual Vacancy
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Quidditch Through the Ages
The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Cormoran Strike Series (as Robert Galbraith)

The Cuckoo’s Calling
The Silkworm
Career of Evil

Source: Biyografiler.com