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J. K. Rowling

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After Harry Potter

Rowling has stated that she plans to continue writing after the publication of the final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and that she will most likely not use a new pen name as the press would quickly discover her identity.[1] In 2006, Rowling revealed that she had finished writing a few short stories and another children's book (a "political fairy story") about a monster, aimed at a younger audience than Harry Potter readers.[2]

She is not planning to write an eighth Harry Potter book, stating, "I can't say I'll never write another book about that world just because I think, what do I know, in ten years' time I might want to return to it but I think it's unlikely."[3] However, Rowling has said she will be writing an encyclopedia of Harry Potter's wizarding world consisting of various unpublished material and notes.[4] Any profits from such a book would be given to charity.[5] During a news conference at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre in 2007, Rowling, when asked how the encyclopedia was coming along, said, "It's not coming along, and I haven't started writing it. I never said it was the next thing I'd do."[6] As of the end of 2007, Rowling has said that the encyclopedia could take up to ten years to complete, stating "There is no point in doing it unless it is amazing. The last thing I want to do is to rush ­something out".[7]

In July 2007, Rowling said that she wants to dedicate "lots" of her time to her family, but is currently "sort of writing two things", one for children and the other for adults.[8] She did not give any details about the two projects but did state that she was excited because the two book situation reminded her of writing the Philosopher's Stone, explaining how she was then writing two books until Harry took over.[9] She stated in October 2007 that her future work was unlikely to be in the fantasy genre, explaining, "I think probably I've done my fantasy....it would be incredibly difficult to go out and create another world that didn't in some way overlap with Harry's or maybe borrow a little too much from Harry."[10] In November 2007, Rowling said that she was working on another book, a "half-finished book for children that I think will probably be the next thing I publish."[11] In March 2008, Rowling confirmed that her "political fairy tale" for children was nearing completion. [12]

In March 2008, Rowling revealed in interview that she had returned to writing in Edinburgh cafes, intent on composing a new novel for children. "I will continue writing for children because that's what I enjoy," she told The Daily Telegraph. "I am very good at finding a suitable cafe; I blend into the crowd and, of course, I don't sit in the middle of the bar staring all around me."[13]

Personal life

Forbes has named Rowling as the first person to become a U.S.-dollar billionaire by writing books,[14] and ranked her as the 1,062nd richest person in the world.[15] When first listed as a billionaire by Forbes in 2004, Rowling disputed the calculations and said she has plenty of money, but was not a billionaire.[16] In 2001, Rowling purchased a luxurious 19th-century estate house, Killiechassie House, on the banks of the River Tay, near Aberfeldy, in Perth and Kinross, Scotland.[17] Rowling also owns a home in Merchiston, Edinburgh, and a £4.5 million ($9 million) Georgian house in Kensington, West London,[18] on a street with 24-hour security.[19]

On 26 December 2001, Rowling married Neil Michael Murray (born 30 June 1971), an anaesthetist, in a private ceremony at her Aberfeldy home.[20] This was a second marriage for both Rowling and Murray, as Murray had previously been married to Dr. Fiona Duncan in 1996. Murray and Duncan separated in 1999 and divorced in the summer of 2001. Rowling and Murray's son David Gordon Rowling Murray was born on 24 March 2003.[21] Shortly after Rowling began writing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince she took a break from working on the novel to care for him in his early infancy.[22] Rowling's youngest child, daughter Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray, to whom she dedicated Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was born 23 January 2005.[23]

Rowling is a member of the Church of Scotland. She once said, "I believe in God, not magic."[24] Early on she felt that if readers knew of her Christian beliefs, they would be able to "guess what is coming in the books."[25] Rowling has stated that she struggles with her own beliefs. In an interview with the Today Show in July 2007, she said, "...until we reached Book Seven, views of what happens after death and so on...would give away a lot of what was coming. So … yes, my belief and my struggling with religious belief and so on I think is quite apparent in this book."[26]

Rowling commented on her political views when she discussed the 2008 United States presidential election with the Spanish-language newspaper El País. She said she is "obsessed with the United States elections" because "it will have a profound effect on the rest of the world". As of February 2008, she has said that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton would be "extraordinary" in the White House. In the same interview, she also said her hero was Robert F. Kennedy.[27]

Relationship with the press

Rowling has had a difficult relationship with the press. She admits to being "thin-skinned" and dislikes the fickle nature of reporting.[28] "They went in one day from saying, 'She’s got writer’s block' to saying, 'She's been self-indulgent'", she told The Times in 2003, "And I thought, well, what a difference 24 hours makes."[28] However, Rowling disputes her reputation as a recluse who hates to be interviewed.[28] In 2001, the Press Complaints Commission upheld a complaint by Rowling over a series of unauthorised photographs of her with her daughter on the beach in Mauritius published in OK! Magazine.[29] In 2007 Rowling lost a court fight to ban publication of a photograph of her young son.[30] The photo, taken by a photographer using a long-range lens, was subsequently published in a Sunday Express article featuring Rowling's family life and motherhood.[30]

Rowling has said she particularly dislikes the British tabloid The Daily Mail, which made references to a stalker Rowling insists does not exist, and conducted interviews with her estranged ex-husband.[31] As one journalist noted, "Harry's Uncle Vernon is a grotesque philistine of violent tendencies and remarkably little brain. It is not difficult to guess which newspaper Rowling gives him to read [in Goblet of Fire]."[31]

Some have speculated that Rowling's fraught relationship with the press was the inspiration behind the character Rita Skeeter. However, Rowling noted in 2000 that the character actually predates her rise to fame: "People have asked me whether Rita Skeeter was invented [to reflect Harry Potter's popularity], but in fact she was always planned."[32] "I tried to put Rita in Philosopher's Stone- you know when Harry walks into the Leaky Cauldron for the first time and everyone says, "Mr Potter you're back!", I wanted to put a journalist in there. She wasn't called Rita then but she was a woman. And then I thought, as I looked at the plot overall, I thought, that's not really where she fits best, she fits best in Four when Harry's supposed to come to terms with his fame."[33]

Philanthropy

In 2000, Rowling established the Volant Charitable Trust, which uses its annual budget of £5.1 million to aid women and children, and to combat poverty and social inequality. The fund also gives to organizations that aid children, one parent families, and multiple sclerosis research.[34] 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."[8]

Rowling, once a single parent herself, is now president of the charity One Parent Families, having already become their first Ambassador in 2000.[35][36] Rowling collaborated with Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, to write a book of children's stories to aid One Parent Families.[37]

In 2001, the UK anti-poverty fundraiser Comic Relief asked three bestselling British authors – cookery writer and TV presenter Delia Smith, Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding, and Rowling – to submit booklets related to their most famous works for publication.[38] Rowling's two booklets, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages, are ostensibly facsimiles of books found in the Hogwarts library. Since going on sale in March, 2001, the books have raised £15.7 million ($30 million) for the fund. The £10.8 million ($20 million) they have raised outside the UK have been channeled into a newly created International Fund for Children and Young People in Crisis.[39]

In 2005, to improve the lot of vulnerable children in eastern Europe, Rowling and MEP Emma Nicholson founded the Children's High Level Group.[40] In January 2006, Rowling went to Bucharest to highlight the use of caged beds in children's mental institutions.[41] 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 on 13 December 2007.[42][43][44] Rowling commented "This will mean so much to children in desperate need of help. It means Christmas has come early to me."[42][45] Rowling will give away the remaining six copies to those who have a close connection with the Harry Potter books.[42]

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.[46] On 1 August and 2 August 2006 she read alongside Stephen King and John Irving at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Profits from the event were donated to the Haven Foundation, a charity that aids artists and performers left uninsurable and unable to work, and the medical NGO Médecins Sans Frontières.[47] In May 2007, Rowling gave $495,000 to a reward fund of over $4.5 million for the safe return of a young British girl, Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in Portugal.[48][49] Rowling, along with Nelson Mandela, Al Gore, and Alan Greenspan, wrote an introduction to a collection of Gordon Brown's speeches, the proceeds of which are donated to the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory.[50]

Publications

Harry Potter series
  1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (26 June 1997)
  2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2 July 1998)
  3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (8 July 1999)
  4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (8 July 2000)
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (21 June 2003)
  6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (16 July 2005)
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (21 July 2007)
Other books
Articles
  • "The First It Girl: J.K. Rowling reviews Decca: the Letters of Jessica Mitford ed by Peter Y Sussman", The Daily Telegraph 26 July 2006
  • Introduction to "Ending Child Poverty" in Moving Britain Forward. Selected Speeches 1997-2006 by Gordon Brown, Bloomsbury (2006)
  • Foreword to the anthology Magic, edited by Gil McNeil and Sarah Brown, Bloomsbury (2002)

References

  1. ^ J.K. Rowling and Stephen Fry interview. Radio 4. 10 December 2005. Accessed 21 March 2006.
  2. ^ "J.K. Rowling on Finishing Harry Potter". in.rediff.com. 11 January 2006. Accessed 19 March 2006.
  3. ^ Transcript of J. K. Rowling interview on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. 6 July, 2007. Accessed 20 October 2007.
  4. ^ Brown, Jen. Stop your sobbing! More Potter to come. MSNBC. 24 July 2007. Accessed 25 July 2007.
  5. ^ No eighth book. J. K. Rowling official site. Accessed 10 April 2006.
  6. ^ David L. Ulin. "J.K. Rowling brings magic touch to U.S." Los Angeles Times. 16 October, 2007. Accessed 30 October 2007.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference returns was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Memmott, Carol. A fond look back at Harry. USA Today. 25 July 2007. Accessed 26 July 2007.
  9. ^ JK's writing two books but she won't be rushing. The Scotsman. 27 July 2007. Accessed 25 October 2007.
  10. ^ Topel, Fred. "'Harry Potter' Author J.K. Rowling Enchants Readers on Her U.S. Book Tour". New York Post. 2007. Accessed 30 October 2007.
  11. ^ "Rowling completes post-Harry Potter book". Associated Press. 1 November 2007. Accessed 2 November 2007
  12. ^ "JK Rowling in court over photo of son". The Scotsman. 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2008-03-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ Richard Eden. "New adventure is child's play for Jo". The Daily Telegraph. 2 March 2008. Accessed 3 March 2008.
  14. ^ Watson, Julie and Kellner, Tomas. "J.K. Rowling And The Billion-Dollar Empire". Forbes.com. 26 February 2004. Accessed 19 March 2006.
  15. ^ #1062 Joanne (JK) Rowling. Forbes.com. Accessed 16 March2008.
  16. ^ J.K. Rowling, the author with the magic touch. MSN. Accessed 9 August, 2007.
  17. ^ Nichols, Michelle. Hogwarts hideaway for Potter author. The Scotsman. 22 November, 2001. Accessed 25 October 2007.
  18. ^ Boshoff, Alison. What does JK Rowling do with her money. Daily Mail. August 24 2006. Accessed 20 October 2007.
  19. ^ Collinson, Patrick. "Rub shoulders with Brucie for £4.3m, or Tony for £7,250". Guardian Unlimited. 26 April 2005. Accessed 29 October 2007.
  20. ^ Christmas wedding for Rowling. BBC News. 30 December, 2001. Accessed 25 October 2007.
  21. ^ "Baby joy for JK Rowling". BBC News. 24 March, 2003. Accessed 25 May 2007
  22. ^ J.K. Rowling's Official Site, "Progress on Book Six". 15 March 2004. Accessed 22 March 2006.
  23. ^ J.K. Rowling's Official Site, "JKR gives Birth to Baby Girl". Accessed 25 January 2005.
  24. ^ Nelson, Michael. Fantasia: The Gospel According to C.S. Lewis. The American Prospect. February 25, 2002. Accessed 20 October 2007.
  25. ^ Wyman, Max, "'You can lead a fool to a book but you can't make them think'", Vancouver Sun 26 October 2000. Accessed 29 October 2007.
  26. ^ Viera, Meredith."Harry Potter: The final chapter". MSNBC. Accessed 30 July 2007.
  27. ^ Cruz, Juan. "Ser invisible... eso sería lo más". El País.8 February 2008. Accessed 8 February 2008.
  28. ^ a b c Treneman, Ann. "I'm not writing for the money: It's for me and out of loyalty to fans.". The Times. June 20, 2003. Accessed 25 October 2007.
  29. ^ {Press Complaints Commission: JK Rowling. pcc.org.uk. 2001. Accessed 8 December 2007.
  30. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference david was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  31. ^ a b Lockerbie, Catherine. ""All aboard the Hogwarts Express"". The Scotsman. 11 July 2000. Accessed 30 October 2007.
  32. ^ ""About the Books: transcript of J.K. Rowling's live interview on Scholastic.com"". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help) 16 October 2000. Accessed 30 October 2007.
  33. ^ Transcript of interview with J.K. Rowling. BBC Newsround. 2000. Accessed 25 October 2007.
  34. ^ "The Volant Charitable Trust (UK and overseas)". Merseyside Funding. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help) Accessed 19 January 2008.
  35. ^ "One Parent Families Gingerbread". OneParentFamilies. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help). Accessed 11 July 2007.
  36. ^ J K Rowling becomes President of One Parent Families. oneparentfamilies.org. 16 November, 2004. Accessed 20 October 2007.
  37. ^ Gordon's Women. Guardian Unlimited. 13 May, 2007. Accessed 20 October 2007.
  38. ^ Goodson, Rory and Chittenden, Maurice. "Rowling casts a spell that will give charities millions". The Sunday Times. 7 January, 2001. Accessed 25 October 2007.
  39. ^ The Money. Comic Relief. Accessed 25 October 2007.
  40. ^ "Children's High Level Group". The Children's Voice. Accessed 1 November 2007.
  41. ^ Launch of the Children's High Level Group. J.K. Rowling's Official Site. Accessed 20 October 2007.
  42. ^ a b c Rare JK Rowling book fetches £2m. BBC News. 13 December 2007. Accessed 13 December 2007.
  43. ^ Hand-written Rowling book sells for $3.9 mil. MSNBC. 13 December 2007. Accessed 13 December 2007.
  44. ^ Amazon purchase book. Amazon.co.uk. Accessed 14 December 2007.
  45. ^ Majendie, Paul. Rowling says goodbye to Potter with fairy tales. Reuters. 1 November, 2007. Accessed 1 November, 2007.
  46. ^ MS Society, Scotland JK Rowling funds new MS centre. Edinburgh Research and Innovation, University of Edinburgh. 21 April 2006. Accessed 10 June 2006.
  47. ^ Harry, Carrie, Garp. Scholastic. 2006. Accessed 25 October 2007.
  48. ^ Potter Author Adds to U.K. Reward Fund. Fox News. 13 May 2007. Accessed 14 May 2007.
  49. ^ Madeleine father sure she is safe. BBC News. 14 May 2007. Accessed 14 May 2007.
  50. ^ Brown publishes greatest speeches. BBC News. 5 April 2006. Accessed 20 October 2007.
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