J.K. Rowling began to craft Philosopher's Stone in the middle of a move to Manchester. She was returning to London, when she started on the manuscript.

She took the growing manuscript back up to Manchester but events took a tragic turn when Rowling's mother died.

Trying to raise a baby daughter and write entailed mad dashes to a coffee shop when Rowling's daughter was sleeping so that Rowling could work on the book.

The book was rejected. Repeatedly.

In 1996 Rowling received an offer for publication. The following summer the world met up with Harry Potter--and the rest, as they say, is history.

J.K. Rowling Awards

• Author of the Year, British Book Awards, 1999

• Author of the Year, Booksellers Association, 1998, 1999

• W H Smith Children's Book of the Year Award, 2000

• OBE, 2000

• Prince of Asturias Award, 2003

• W H Smith Fiction Award, 2004

• Children's Book of the Year, (Nibbies), 2006

J. K. Rowling Endeavors

• J.K. Rowling is president of One Parent Families

• Patron of MSS of Scotland

• Co-founder, co-chair, Children's High Level Group