Inspiring People

J. K. Rowling

Some of the qualities of J.K Rowling are:
her enthusiasm, she is very creative and she has shown true kindness

Joanne Rowling was born on 31st July 1965 at Yate, Gloucestershire is a British writer and author of the Harry Potter fantasy series, the idea came to her whilst on a train journey in 1990 and she wrote her first story in Edinburgh. Her books have gained worldwide attention, won many awards, and sold nearly 400 million copies.

Rowling read for a BA in French and Classics at the University of Exeter, with a year of study in Paris, Rowling moved to London to work for Amnesty International. In 1990, while she was on a delayed train trip from Manchester to London, the idea for a story of a young boy attending a school of wizardry "came fully formed" into her mind. When she had reached her Clapham Junction flat, she began to write immediately. However, in December of that year, Rowling's mother succumbed to a 10 year battle with multiple sclerosis. Rowling said this death heavily affected her writing and that she introduced much more detail about Harry's loss in the first book, because she knew about how it felt.

Unemployed and living on state benefits, Rowling completed her first novel in numerous cafés in Edinburgh and since then she has received world wide success, encouraging children and adults to get back into reading. Forbes has named Rowling as the first person to become a U.S.-dollar billionaire by writing books, the second-richest female entertainer and the 1,062nd richest person in the world.

In 2000, Rowling established the Volant Charitable Trust, which aids women and children, and to combat poverty and social inequality. The fund also gives to organisations that aid children, one parent families, and multiple sclerosis research. Rowling said, "I think you have a moral responsibility when you've been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it and give intelligently."

In 2001, the UK anti-poverty fundraiser Comic Relief asked Rowling to submit a booklet related to her most famous works. Rowling's two booklets, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages, and since going on sale in March, 2001, the books have raised £15.7 million for the fund. The £10.8 million they have raised outside the UK have been channeled into a newly created International Fund for Children and Young People in Crisis.

In 2005, to improve the lot of vulnerable children in eastern Europe, Rowling and MEP Emma Nicholson founded the Children's High Level Group. In 2006, Rowling went to Bucharest to highlight the use of caged beds in children's mental institutions. To further support the CHLG, Rowling auctioned one of seven handwritten and illustrated copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a series of fairy tales referred to in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The book was purchased for £1.95 million by on-line bookseller Amazon.com. Rowling commented "This will mean so much to children in desperate need of help. It means Christmas has come early to me."

Rowling has contributed money and support for research and treatment of multiple sclerosis, from which her mother died in 1990. In 2006, Rowling contributed a substantial sum toward the creation of a new Centre for Regenerative Medicine at Edinburgh University.

"I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. I'm sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers."

J K Rowling was runner up in the 'Person of the Year' 2007 for her social, moral and political inspiration she has given her fans.

As well as writing she supports charities such as Comic relief, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and one parent families.

She is an inspiration to both adults and children through her writing. The Harry Potter series has encouraged children and adults to read. Also her achievements as an author have inspired others to write.