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Born
Joanne Kathleen Rowling (J.K Rowling) is born on July 31st in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. -
School
Jo attends the Wydean School and College Secondary School, where she meets figures who go on to influence Professors in her series including Sean Harris of whom Chamber of Secrets is dedicated to. -
University
Jo attends the University of Exeter, where she studies Classics and French. -
From London to Manchester
Jo decides to move from London to Manchester, with her boyfriend at the time. On the way home from flat hunting in Manchester, she comes up with the idea for 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' on a train and starts work on the project. -
First Chapters
Jo moved to Portugal to teach English, where she wrote first drafts of Chapters for 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. -
Marriage
Joanne married Portugese television journalist Jorge Arantes. -
Marriage
Joanne married Portugese television journalist Jorge Arantes. -
Birth & Divorce
Joanne and Jorge's child Jessica is born, but they divorce by November. -
Birth & Divorce
Joanne and Jorge's child Jessica is born, but they divorce by November. -
Finish of the 1st Harry Potter Book
Jo moves to Edinburgh in Scotland with her daughter, and finishes 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. -
Rejection
Christopher Little Literary Agents agree to represent Jo in a search for a publisher. Jo's works are rejected by 12 publishing companies. -
Bloomsbury
Finally, Bloomsbury gets set to publish 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. -
Auction & Prize
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was auctioned to Scholastic Inc. in the USA for $105,000. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is published by Bloomsbury in the UK, with an initial run of 1,000 copies, 500 of which went to libraries. The book wins the Nestle Smarties Book Prize. -
Awards & Film-making
'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' wins the British Book Award for Children's Book of the Year, and the Children's Book Award. 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' is published. In the USA, 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' is published under the name 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'. Warner Brother's purchase the rights to turn the first two books in the series into films. -
3rd Harry Potter Book Release
'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' is released. Prisoner of Azkaban wins the Smartie's Prize, making Jo the first Author to win the prize three times in a row. -
4th Harry Potter Book Release
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is released. Queen Elizabeth II of England makes Jo an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. The University of Exeter awards her with an honoury Dlitt degree. -
2nd Marriage
Jo publishes two books for charity: 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', and 'Quidditch Through the Ages' - books based on textbooks in her Harry Potter series. Jo purchases houses in Perth and Scotland, and marries Neil Michael Murray. -
5th Harry Potter Book Release
'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' is released. Jo and Neil's son David is born. -
6th Harry Potter Book Release
Jo and Neil's daughter Mackenzie is born. 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince' is released. -
Life
Jo is named the greatest living British writer in a poll by 'The Book Magazine'. Forbes names her the second-richest female entertainer in the world. -
7th Harry Potter Book Release
Jo finishes writing 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' in a hotel room in Edinburgh. The book is released and becomes the fastest selling book of all time. -
Awards
Jo writes an 800 word Prequel based on James Potter and Sirius Black for charity, as well as 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'. She wins the following awards: British Books Lifetime Achievement Award, Edinburgh Award, South Bank Show Outstanding Achievement in the Arts Award, Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur and the James Joyce Award. -
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, based on her series, is officially opened in Orlando, Florida.