She is known worldwide as one of the greatest children’s fiction writers that ever lived. JK Rowling has managed time and time again to capture the essence of a magical world we all would love to believe exists. And why not? Anything is possible.
Famous for her bestselling Harry Potter books, JK Rowling has captured and enchanted a truly worldwide audience. The books are sold in over 200 countries and 60 languages.

We recently interviewed Mrs. Rowling on her life, her books and, of course, Harry Potter:
Urbanette Magazine: We’ve heard that with your first book, The Philosopher’s Stone, you had to use a typewriter to write the manuscript, is that true?

JK Rowling: That’s true. The first manuscript I had to do on a typewriter and then had to re-type the entire chapter if I changed a paragraph. Then I had to re-type the whole book all over again because it wasn’t double spaced.
Urbanette: I couldn’t imagine doing that. It must’ve taken a lot of time and effort to get the book just right. When did you come up with the idea for Harry Potter?
JK Rowling: In 1990, my then boyfriend and I decided to get a flat and move to Manchester together. We would flat hunt every once in awhile. One weekend after flat hunting, I took the train back to London on my own and the idea for Harry Potter fell into my head.
I had been writing since I was six, but I had never been as excited about an idea as I was for this book. Coincidentally, I didn’t have a pen and was too shy to ask anyone for one on the train, which frustrated me at the time, but when I look back at it was the best thing for me. It gave me the full four hours on the train to think up all the ideas for the book.
A scrawny, little black haired, bespectacled boy became more and more of a wizard to me. He became more real. I think if I might have slowed down on the ideas and began to write them down. I would’ve stifled some of those ideas. I began to write ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ that very evening. Although, the first couple of pages look nothing like the finished product.
Urbanette: How long did it take you to complete the novel?
JK Rowling: After I began to write “Philosopher’s Stone,” something horrible had happened. My mother died. She was only forty-five. Nine months afterwards, I desperately wanted to get away from everything and took a job in Portugal as an English teacher at a language institute. I took my manuscript with me in hopes of working on it while I was there. My feelings about Harry Potter’s parents’ death became more real to me, and more emotional.
In my first week in Portugal, I wrote my favorite chapter in Philosopher’s Stone – The Mirror of Erised. I had hoped that I would’ve been done with the book by the time I was back from Portugal, but I came back with something better, my daughter, Jessica. The marriage didn’t work out, but the best thing I had ever had came into my life.

Urbanette: Deve ter sido difícil terminar o livro agora com uma criança pequena em sua vida.
JK Rowling: Foi difícil, mas fiz dar certo. Toda vez que Jessica adormecia em seu carrinho de bebê, eu corria para o café mais próximo e escrevia o máximo que podia. Escrevia quase todas as noites. Então, eu tive que digitar tudo sozinho. Às vezes, eu odiava o livro e, o tempo todo, ainda o amava.
Urbanette: Quando você enviou para os agentes, eles pegaram o manuscrito na hora ou você tem que enviar para várias pessoas?
JK Rowling: O primeiro agente para quem enviei meus três primeiros capítulos enviou meu manuscrito de volta tão rápido que parecia que eles o enviaram de volta no mesmo dia em que chegaram. O segundo agente, entretanto, escreveu de volta e pediu para ver o restante do manuscrito. Era uma das melhores cartas que eu já tinha visto e tinha apenas duas frases.
Urbanette: Quanto tempo seu agente levou para encontrar alguém para publicar seu livro?

JK Rowling: Meu agente, Christopher, levou um ano para encontrar uma editora. Muitos deles recusaram. Então, finalmente, em agosto de 1996, Christopher ligou para me avisar que tinha uma oferta da Bloomsbury. Eu não podia acreditar em meus ouvidos. Depois de desligar, gritei e pulei no ar. Jessica, que estava sentada em sua cadeira alta, saboreando seu chá, parecia completamente assustada. E o resto, como você pode imaginar, é história.
JK Rowling conseguiu várias vezes capturar a essência de um mundo mágico que todos nós gostaríamos de acreditar que existe.
Urbanette: Na sua opinião, qual foi o melhor lugar para você escrever?
JK Rowling: Não é segredo que o melhor lugar para escrever, na minha opinião, é em um café. Você não tem que fazer o seu próprio café, você não precisa se sentir em confinamento solitário e, se tiver bloqueio de escritor, pode se levantar e caminhar até o próximo café, dando tempo às baterias para recarregar e ao cérebro para pensar. O melhor café para escrever está lotado o suficiente para você se misturar, mas não tão lotado que você tenha que dividir a mesa com outra pessoa.
Urbanette: Muitas pessoas se perguntam o que são abortos. Você poderia explicar?
JK Rowling: Já me fizeram essa pergunta muitas vezes desde que ela foi introduzida no Câmara de Segredos. Abortos são o oposto de bruxos nascidos trouxas. Eles são pessoas não mágicas nascidas de um pai mágico. Abortos são raros, a magia é um gene dominante e resiliente.
Urbanette: Você tem algum conselho para as pessoas que também desejam publicar seus trabalhos?
JK Rowling: Primeiro, você precisa escrever algo que um editor gostaria de ler. Leva apenas um, mas pode demorar um pouco para encontrá-los. Em seguida, você precisa abordar o editor diretamente ou recomendo que encontre um agente que possa ajudar a agir em seu nome. A melhor maneira de encontrar agentes e editores é consultar o “Anuário do Escritor e do Artista”, que é atualizado todos os anos. Então espere e ore. Foi assim que publiquei Harry Potter.
Qual é o seu livro favorito de Harry Potter? Deixe-nos saber, abaixo!



Great interview! Very helpful for inspirational for aspiring writers!
J.K. Rowling is such an imaginative author. I must admit that she awakens childhood fantasies and imagination through her Harry Potter series 🙂
Her story is so wonderful–she overcame so much to reach success. And she has used her fame to become a positive role model and spokesperson for girls everywhere. Truly an inspiration!
I love that J.K. Rowling manages to write even when she doesn't have tons of time. It's all about making time for what's important to you : )
I own about 2 of her books, it’s a really good read. I also seen all the movies and I’m a complete fan. I also like to write and it’s pretty cool how ideas pop into your mind and then when you add pen +paper it comes to life.. It’s amazing how this idea during a long train ride became a top-selling series with movie adaptions. It just proves hat big things can have small beginnings.
J.K. Rowling is my inspiration. I love the fact that she never gave up.
I love and admire JK Rowling so much! I’m really a big fan!
I’m a true J.K. fan!!!! I find her really amazing!
“Is ‘fat’ really the worst thing a human being can be? Is ‘fat’ worse than ‘vindictive’, ‘jealous’, ‘shallow’, ‘vain’, ‘boring’ or ‘cruel’? Not to me. ”
– J.K. Rowling
She’s no doubt, an inspiration. To children and adults alike.
J K Rowling got me into reading the Harry potter books. never had I ever picked a book up to read until then. I then wrote my first book, now I am on my second one, Jacob Jones and the seven souls. You can not beat holding a book in your hands. I do hope this much dose not change. I suffer from depression writing has helped me so much
Thank you J.K. Rowling
Mac Mackenzie x
I first picked up a HP book when my mom bought all first 4 books when she got home to us from Canada way back in 2000. I was just curious then – who would have thought a book could change my life? That was the beginning of my fondness of books, and perhaps helped me become a writer.
JK Rowling made my life magical from my childhood to my early adult years 🙂
I will definitely REQUIRE my children to read Harry Potter. LOL.