JK’s magical lifeline
Harry Potter writer’s snap decision to help despairing fan
BURIED among thousands of tweets, it was a plea for help which a multimillionaire author could easily have ignored. Bombarded hourly by messages from 4.5million followers, JK Rowling would have been forgiven for passing over a cry from the heart from someone whose name, and troubles, she will never know.
But in a typical act of kindness, Miss Rowling responded immediately, offering comfort.
The fan, @BrocaesarTV, who obviously entertained little hope of a reply, asked: ‘This may get lost in the noise… but what would you say to someone who has failed to find meaning and wants to finally give up?’
The Harry Potter creator answered with words and pictures – revealing the type of images which inspired and sustained her during her own troubled times when no one but she believed the boy wizard could liberate a penniless single mother and her child from poverty.
‘I would look at this…’ she told @BrocaesarTV, directing the tweeter to a stunning image of a vast landscape beneath a star- encrusted night, towering over a lone figure framed by a gigantic natural arch.
‘And this…’ adding an image of a huge red moon illuminating ancient hilltop ruins.
‘Then this…’ offering a decidedly cute photograph of a baby sloth clutching a soft toy.
She added: ‘And I’d say, the world is full of wonderful things you haven’t seen yet. Don’t ever give up on the chance of seeing them.’
Coming from one of world’s most famous women, the message was no doubt a confidence-booster. It also offered insight into the personality and philosophy of a mother who has known hard times.
Miss Rowling may be Britain’s wealthiest author, but she was famously no stranger to despair until Harry Potter waved his magic wand. The writer, who lives in Edinburgh, and her child scraped by on state hand-outs.
Those closest to her know that her experience and generosity of spirit would have helped her empathise with her follower.
Before fame and wealth of £580million – generated by sales of 450 million books and the box office gold of their cinema translations – adversity and failure were constant companions. She said recently: ‘Failure taught me things about myself I could have learned in no other way.
‘ You will never t r uly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity.’
Following her success, Miss Rowling has been philanthropic with her wealth, transforming the lives of orphans around the world through her Lumos children’s charity. It is estimated that she has given away £100million, a sum which allied to Britain’s high taxes saw her drop out of the Forbes billionaire list.
She i s , however, a will i ng contributor to the public purse. ‘I pay a lot of tax,’ she said. ‘One of the reasons I stay and pay is my country helped me.’
Her generosity is not, however, well received by all. This week, she revealed Nationalist internet bullies called her a ‘whore, bitch and traitor’ for donating £1million to the Better Together referendum campaign.
No fault could be found, however, with her latest act of kindness, which apparently had the desired effect on @ BrocaesarTV. She replied: ‘I’m tearing up! Humans can truly be amazing. Thank you @jk_rowling.’
‘The world is full of wonderful things’