J.K. Rowling Biography

Picture from Updated Version, Writing and synopsis based on the 2002 version

Title: Mythmaker, Who Wrote That? The Story of J.K. Rowling

Author: Charles J. Shields

ISBN Number:  079106719X

Age Range: 9+

Genre: Biography

Summary:Everyone knows the story of Harry Potter unless you have been living in a rock for the past decade and a half. J.K. Rowling is the mastermind storyteller behind the beloved Harry Potter series and this biography gives an in-depth look at the life J.K. Rowling dealt with which led her to a path that she could not have even imagined. J.K. Rowling's writing career began at a very young age. Inspired by nightly readings of The Wind and the Willows, J.K. Rowling created an imaginary story about Ms. Rabbit and Ms. Bee and their comings and goings. She entertained her younger sister Vi and dreamed of becoming a great writer. However, life was not always easy. J.K. Rowling graduated her High School as Valedictorian and was excepted into a prestigious French program because her father said that writing was not a suitable career. So, unhappily, Jo went into the French Major. Unable to do anything with this career choice, Jo went to Portugal to teach English to French speaking students and met her first husband and her baby's father. Becoming a mother influenced her writing in a major way as well as her mother being diagnosed with MS. Jo's mother's death was absolutely devastating. J.K. Rowling's biggest regret is not telling her mother about Harry Potter and his adventures. Jo was too shy and did not feel it ready. J.K. Rowling was inspired by a long, drawn out train ride and Harry's face swarmed into her view. Who was he? Where did he come from? Things like and J.K. Rowling on that very train ride began to map out Harry's adventure. J.K. struggled to make ends meet for her daughter Jessica, balancing her measly wage to be able to put food on the table and toys for Jessica, J.K. Rowling desperately clung tot eh imaginative world of Harry Potter. It took her five years to write the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and liked the name Christopher Little and sent her manuscript to him. Christopher Little instantly took a liking to it and began to shop around where he landed a deal with Scholastic, in order to distribute into America. This book is extremely fascinating to learn all the juicy tidbits about one of the world's favorite authors and really inspires the reader to realize that all you need in life is love.