J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling (Joanne Kathleen Rowling) was born on July 31st, 1965 and is currently 61 years old. J.K. Rowling was born in Yate, Gloustershire, England. Rowling attended The University of Exeter where she received a B.A. French and Classics.

J.K. Rowling is known for writing in the Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult Fiction, Children's Books, and Crime Fiction genres.

J.K. Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter series which currently consists of 8 novels. The Harry Potter series started in 1997 with the novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's / Philosopher's Stone. The most recently released novel in the Harry Potter series was Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- A Play which was released in 2016. There are no upcoming novels for the Harry Potter series.

J.K. Rowling has also written the Cormoran Strike series which has 8 books including The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm.

J.K. Rowling: Awards & Accolades

J.K. Rowling has won multiple awards including: The British Book Awards UK Author of the Year, in 2000, British Book Awards Outstanding Achievement, in 2008 and the Mythopoeic Award Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, in 2008.

Many of J.K. Rowling's books have won awards, including:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer\'s / Philosopher\'s Stone won the British Book Awards, Children's Book of the Year, in 1998 as well as the British Book Awards - 30 from 30 Special Award in 2020.
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets won the British Book Awards, Children's Book of the Year, in 1999 as well as the Scottish Arts Council Book Awards - Children’s Book of the Year in 1999.
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban won the Bram Stoker Awards, Superior Achievement in Work for Young Readers, in 1999.
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire won the Hugo Award, Best Novel, in 2001 as well as the Audie Award - Best Male Narrator in 2001.
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix won the Bram Stoker Awards, Superior Achievement in Work for Young Readers, in 2003 as well as the Audie Award - Audiobook of the Year in 2004.
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince won the British Book Awards, Book of the Year, in 2006.
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows won the Audie Award, Best Male Narrator, in 2008.
• The Casual Vacancy won the Goodreads Awards, Best Fiction, in 2012.
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- A Play won the Goodreads Awards, Best Fantasy, in 2016 as well as the Nielsen Awards - Platinum Bestseller in 2017, British Book Awards - Bestseller Award in 2017.

The following novels by J.K. Rowling were also nominated for these awards:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's / Philosopher's Stone: Mythopoeic Award, Fantasy Award for Children's Literature (1999). Goodreads Awards, Best Audiobook (2025).
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Hugo Award, Best Novel (2000). Mythopoeic Award, Fantasy Award for Children's Literature (2000).
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Bram Stoker Awards, Superior Achievement in Work for Young Readers (2000).
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Audie Award, Best Male Narrator (2004).
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Audie Award, Audiobook of the Year (2006).
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Audie Award, Audiobook of the Year (2008).
• The Casual Vacancy: British Book Awards, UK Author of the Year (2012).
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- A Play: Waterstones, Book of the Year (2016). British Book Awards, Children's Book of the Year (2017).
• The Ickabog: British Book Awards, Children's Book of the Year (2021).
• The Christmas Pig: British Book Awards, Children's Book of the Year (2022).

J.K. Rowling: Lists & Other Mentions

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's / Philosopher's Stone:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1999.
  2. AbeBooks: 100 (Fiction) Books to Read in a Lifetime Selection in 2018.
  3. NPR: 100 Best Beach Books Selection in 2009.
  4. Good Housekeeping: 100 Best Books to Read by Women Authors Selection in 2021.
  5. Ex Libris: 100 Books to Read and Reread Selection in 2020.
  6. Amazon US: 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime Selection in 2014.
  7. Amazon UK: 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime Selection in 2014.
  8. BBC: 100 Greatest Childrens Books of All Time Selection in 2023.
  9. BBC: 100 Novels That Shaped Our World Selection in 2019.
  10. New York Public Library: 125 Books We Love for Adults Selection in 2020.
  11. The Guardian: 50 Best-Loved Novels Written by a Woman Selection in 2003.
  12. Flavor Wire: 50 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels That Everyone Should Read Selection in 2013.
  13. WordsRated: America’s 100 Favorite Books Selection in 2024.
  14. People Magazine: Best Books From the 1990s Selection in 2024.
  15. Paste Magazine: Best Books of the Decade(2000-2009) Selection in 2009.
  16. Book Riot: From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books Selection in 2013.
  17. BBC: Radio Oxford 100 Books You Must Read Before You Die Selection in 2020.
  18. TES Magazine: Teacher's Favourite Books List Selection in 2013.
  19. Parade: The 75 Best Books of the Past 75 Years Selection in 2016.
  20. BBC: The Big Read Selection in 2003.
  21. Waterstones: The Books You've Always Meant to Read Selection in 2020.
  22. PBS: The Great American Read Selection in 2018.
  23. The Telegraph: The Perfect Library Selection in 2008.
  24. Gilmore Girls: The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge Selection in 2007.
  25. The Sunday Times: The Top 100 Bestsellers Selection in 2024.
  26. Entertainment Weekly: Top 100 Novels Selection in 2013.
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1999 and 2000.
  2. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2016.
  3. The Guardian: 50 Best-Loved Novels Written by a Woman Selection in 2003.
  4. BBC: The Big Read Selection in 2003.
  5. Entertainment Weekly: Top 100 Novels Selection in 2013.
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1999.
  2. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2023.
  3. BBC: 100 Greatest Childrens Books of All Time Selection in 2023.
  4. The Guardian: 50 Best-Loved Novels Written by a Woman Selection in 2003.
  5. WordsRated: America’s 100 Favorite Books Selection in 2024.
  6. BBC: The Big Read Selection in 2003.
  7. Entertainment Weekly: Top 100 Novels Selection in 2013.
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire:
  1. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2019.
  2. The Guardian: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Selection in 2019.
  3. The Guardian: 50 Best-Loved Novels Written by a Woman Selection in 2003.
  4. WordsRated: America’s 100 Favorite Books Selection in 2024.
  5. BBC: The Big Read Selection in 2003.
  6. Entertainment Weekly: The New Classics - 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008 Selection in 2008.
  7. Gilmore Girls: The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge Selection in 2007.
  8. Entertainment Weekly: Top 100 Novels Selection in 2013.
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix:
  1. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2022.
  2. WordsRated: America’s 100 Favorite Books Selection in 2024.
  3. Entertainment Weekly: Top 100 Novels Selection in 2013.
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince:
  1. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2005.
  2. Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2005.
  3. The Onion AV Club: The Best Books of the 2000s Selection in 2009.
  4. Entertainment Weekly: Top 100 Novels Selection in 2013.
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:
  1. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2007.
  2. Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2007.
  3. Entertainment Weekly: Top 100 Novels Selection in 2013.
• The Casual Vacancy:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2012.
  2. Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2012.
  3. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2012.
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard: Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2008.
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- A Play: Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2016.

The entire Harry Potter series was included in the BBC 100 Novels That Shaped Our World list, TES Magazine's Teacher's Favourite Books List, the Ex Libris 100 Books to Read and Reread list, The Telegraph The Perfect Library list and Audible's The Top 100 Book Series of All Time list in 2024.

J.K. Rowling: TV/Movies Based on Books

Some of J.K. Rowling's Cormoran Strike books, written under the pseudonym of Robert Gailbraith, were made into a TV series. The following Detective Cormoran Strike books were made into a TV series:.

The first two novels, "The Cuckoo's Calling" and "The Silkworm" were adapted for BBC One and aired as a series of six episodes in the summer 2017. A second series, based on the third book "Career of Evil", aired as two episodes in February and March 2018. A third series, an adaptation of "Lethal White", aired as four episodes in August and September 2020.

The 7 original novels in the Harry Potter series were made into movies, with the final novel being split into two movies.

Following is a list of the names of the movies, the year of their release, who directed them and who starred in them:

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was released in 2001. It was directed by Chris Columbus and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, and Maggie Smith. It grossed $317.58 million.

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" was released in 2002. It was also directed by Chris Columbus and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Richard Harris. It grossed $261.99 million.

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" was released in 2004. It was directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Richard Griffiths. It grossed $249.26 million.

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" was released in 2005. It was directed by Mike Newell and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Eric Sykes. It grossed $290.01 million.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" was released in 2007. It was directed by David Yates and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Brendan Gleeson. It grossed $292.00 million.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was released in 2009. It was directed by David Yates and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Michael Gambon. It grossed $301.96 million.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" was released in 2010. It was directed by David Yates and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Bill Nighy. It grossed $295.98 million.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2", was released in 2011. It was directed by David Yates and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Michael Gambon. It grossed $381.01 million.


There are now three Fantastic Beasts movies which, combined, are a prequel to the Harry Potter films--a spin-off of sorts. These were not based on books, but the movies were written by J.K. Rowling.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" was released in 2016. It was directed by David Yates and starred Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterson, Alison Sudol, and Dan Fogler. It grossed $234.04 million.

"Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" was released in 2018. It was directed by David Yates and starred Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, and Johnny Depp.

"Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" was released in April 2022. It was directed by David Yates, written by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, and starred Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller.

Related Authors

Fans of J.K. Rowling also enjoy these authors:

1. Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl Series.
2. Django Wexler, author of The Shadow Campaigns Series.
3. Elle Cosimano, author of the Finlay Donovan Series.
4. John Connolly, author of the Charlie Parker Series.
5. Victoria Schwab, author of the Monsters of Verity Series.
6. Carol Goodman, author of: The Night Visitors.
7. Andrew Klavan, author of the Cameron Winter Mystery Series.
8. Jim Butcher, author of The Dresden Files Series.
9. Jo Nesbø, author of the Harry Hole Series .
10. Holly Black, author of the Folk Of The Air Series.

J.K. Rowling: F.A.Q