JK’s legacy of readers
WHEN J.K Rowling was sitting in an Edinburgh cafe writing her first novel, I bet she never for a moment imagined she would end up with an estimated fortune of £650 million.
But this week the author was named as wealthiest British entertainer on the Forbes Rich List – and was also made a Companion of Honour in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. What a journey. It’s the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone – the book which got millions of children reading.
This means a lot to the quiet, Scottish writer who is proud of the fact that, because of her determination to create Harry and write stories she believed in, those children have grown into adults who are book-lovers.
So thank Ms Rowling for doing what so many parents and teachers failed to do – turn children on to books.
The many charities which she supports have also greatly benefited from the adventures of the schoolboy wizard.
What a force for good Harry Potter – and the woman who created him – have become.