I honestly don’t know what possessed me to not read the Harry Potter series sooner. I’ll admit, I’ve always had a secret desire to be a children’s book author, and worshiped Ann M. Martin (author of The Baby-Sitter’s Club series) throughout my childhood. I was kind of jealous of J.K. Rowling and her successes with Harry Potter. I decided that the series was for those “sci-fi nerds” and I chose not to read it.

Last Friday, I went to Barnes and Noble with my 12-year-old sister and my 18-year-old sister for the big Harry Potter #7 unveiling. I instantly fell in love and caught the “Harry Potter mania.” I picked up the first book that Friday night and was instantly hooked. I have been watching each movie with the book concurrently. It’s funny that my favorite character is Hagrid, because that was my nickname in college with my close friends. Why? Because at 5′11″, I’m taller than most average 22-year-old females.

Rowling got the idea for Harry Potter on a crowded train. She was on her way back to London after looking in Manchester for apartments with her then boyfriend. She frantically searched for a pen to scribble down thoughts about the most famous boy wizard in literary history. The train was delayed for four hours as Rowling wrote and wrote.

In 1990, Rowling’s mother died and Harry’s feelings about his dead parents became much more real. Rowling used her deep connection with her mother to channel Harry’s emotions toward his parents. Rowling married a Portugese man and had a daughter named Jessica in 1994. It makes me wonder how Jessica feels now having such a famous mother.

In 1996, Bloomsbury Publishing made an offer on Harry Potter and 11 years later, the rest is history! I know Rowling has definitely gained a fan in me this week!

- information from J.K. Rowling’s Official Web Site jkrowling.com