J.K. Rowling Fact and Fiction

• Her first story was called "Rabbit" and was about Rabbit and Miss Bee.
• She loved to write throughout her entire childhood.
• She got the idea for Harry Potter on a train ride home.
• She picked the name "Potter" because that was the last name of one of her childhood friends, and she had always liked the name.
• The press asked her to shorten her pen name from Joanne Kathleen Rowling to J.K. Rowling because they were afraid that young boys may not be attracted to a book with a girl's name on the front cover.
• J.K. Rowling never expected her book to be famous in the least. In fact, she was pleasantly surprised at the modest offer of 2,000 lero ($4,000) for her first book, hardly a year's salary.
• She got to ride on the actual Hogwarts Express.
• Her favorite writing spot before becoming a celebrity was Nicolson Cafe, and she even insisted that some of her early interviews take place there. She had to stop, however, after the little coffee shop quickly became a tourist area.
• J.K. Rowling prefers small readings and book signings, but she is not able to due to the mass popularity of her books. She says, "If I did that now, I would never see my daughter. I would never write another book. I would never eat or sleep."
• She was very cautious about producing the Harry Potter movies, and she actually went into the interview with the movie producer ready to hate him.
• Rowling strongly objects to having Harry mediaized. Says Rowling, "I would do anything to prevent Harry from turning up in fast-food boxes everywhere. I would do my utmost. That would be my worst nightmare."
• The main reason J.K. Rowling has been so delayed in her fifth book is her new life. She has fairly recently gotten married and had another baby, so she just hasn't had the time to write.