About J. K. Rowling
Joanne Rowling ( ROH-ling; born 31 July 1965), better known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author, philanthropist, producer, and screenwriter. She is best known for writing Harry Potter, a seven-volume series about a young wizard which is the best-selling book series in history, with over 600 million copies sold. She also writes Cormoran Strike, an ongoing crime fiction series, under the alias Robert Galbraith. Rowling conceived the idea for the Harry Potter series in 1990. The seven-year period that followed saw the death of her mother, the birth of her first child, divorce from her first husband, and relative poverty until the first novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was published in 1997. Six sequels followed, concluding with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007). In 2008, Forbes named her the world's highest-paid author. The books have been translated into 84 languages and have spawned a global media franchise including films and video games. The series revived fantasy as a genre in the children's market, spawned a host of imitators, and inspired an active fandom. Critical reception has been more mixed. Many reviewers see Rowling's writing as conventional; some regard her portrayal of gender and social division as regressive. There were also religious debates over the Harry Potter series. Rowling has won many accolades for her work. She was named to the Order of the British Empire and was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to literature and philanthropy. Harry Potter brought her wealth and recognition, which she has used to advance philanthropic endeavours and political causes. Rowling's philanthropy includes donations to medical causes, supporting at-risk women and children, the British Labour Party, and opposition to Scottish independence and Brexit. Forbes has estimated that Rowling's total charitable giving between 2005 and 2025 exceeded US$200 million. Rowling has attracted criticism for trans-exclusionary positions she has taken from 2019 onwards, including opposition to gender self-identification and to allowing transgender women into women's toilets and changing rooms. She has supported the campaign group For Women Scotland, the plaintiffs in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers. Rowling's first attempt at writing, a story called "Rabbit" composed when she was six, was inspired by Scarry's creatures. She established the Volant Charitable Trust in 2000, and co-founded the charity Lumos in 2005. Published from 1997 to 2007, the fantasy novels are the best-selling book series in history, with over 600 million copies sold.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.