Joanne Rowling, probably best known under her pen name J.K. Rowling is our woman of the week. As the author of the best selling book series of all time, she is another human being that probably doesn’t need an extensive introduction.
Her Story
Rowling conceived the idea of a school of Wizardry in 1990 while stuck in a train and started writing as soon as she came home. During the 7 years before the first novel got published, she experienced the death of her mother, moved to Portugal, married, got a child, divorced and came back to Scotland with three chapters written. There, depressed and living in poverty with a child to take care of, she finished the first novel. Many life experiences that impacted for sure her writing.
Initially, she couldn’t find a publisher for the first novel. But soon after its initial run of 1000 copies, it won its first award which eventually led to its publication by Scholastic for 105000 US dollars. The next three books were released with a one-year interval, winning prizes and breaking sale records. From there on, her life was changed.
The Harry Potter Series
I doubt there is much need to present one of the most famous book and movie series from the 2000s. (If you happen to have spent the last 20 years in a cavern, go read the books!)
For me, the books had a profound impact on me while growing up. Thanks to a school teacher, I discovered the first book at the age of 10, at a time in Belgium where the series wasn’t the big hype it would become a few years later. It didn’t take long for me to get the first 3 books (and the 4th when it came out) and devour them.
But by the time the 5th came out, my excitement for the series had started to fade. All because each new movie was constantly disappointing me. It’s only a few years ago that I came to peace with the movies and managed to watch and enjoy them for what they are.
In many ways, Harry Potter has been as important during my childhood and teenage years as Star Wars or Jurassic Park. Yet, because of the movies, I never really cite it as one of my major literary or cinematographic sources of inspirations. So for me, this week is about making justice to the Harry Potter series and giving its due place as part of my photography.
Your photo
What will you create this week? Will you take inspiration from the Harry Potter universe, or rather from Rowling’s life experiences? Be sure to tag your photos on social media with #SiPgoes53 and #SiP_JK_Rowling!
(The header photo uses a photo by Daniel Ogren and one by Anna Fox, both licensed under CC BY 2.0)
Sharing the Adventures in The North of my Plastic Friends.
