Line #76 Creator/JKRowling


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3	%% Due to J.K. Rowling's controversial political opinions (particularly regarding transgender people), the Rule Of Cautious Editing Judgment applies here.
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5	%% Please reach out to the ROCEJ thread before making any significant unilateral changes, as the current wording was agreed via that thread.
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7	%% Thread link: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=15639329360A22915500
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11	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jk-rowling_4925.jpg]]
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13	->''"I would like to be remembered as someone who did the best she could with the talent she had."''
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15	Joanne Rowling, [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever OBE]] (born 31 July 1965), better known by her pen name J.K. Rowling,[[note]]She has no middle name, but was advised by her publisher to use initials so as not to [[GirlShowGhetto steer young boys away from reading a book written by a woman]]; she adopted Kathleen from her paternal grandmother[[/note]] is a British writer, most notable for being the author of the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' heptalogy. She is one of the richest and most influential women alive today, with the distinction of being the first US-dollar billionaire exclusively through writing.
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17	Rowling's life story is also famous -- at least the ''Potter''-related details of it.
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19	The initial idea for Harry Potter "fell into her head" as she was riding on a train; even though the idea seized her, she had nothing on which to write and was too shy to ask a stranger to loan some paper. Early on in the writing process on ''Philosopher's Stone'', Rowling's mother passed away, which "changed her world and Harry's forever", intensifying Harry's feelings of being orphaned.
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21	Further intensifying Harry's loneliness is the fact that Rowling was poor when she began writing; she and her baby girl lived on benefits at a time of high government cuts. The oft-spread image of Rowling writing in a cafe is one born since moving was the easiest way to make her daughter fall asleep, and she would duck into the nearest cafe to write. She has repeatedly refuted the persistent myth that she did so because her apartment was unheated, such as in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrJiAG8GmnQ this interview]].
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23	After that, history took its course. ''Harry Potter'' is one of the biggest brands in existence today; in an age of [[TheInternet Internet]], {{Video Games}} and mass {{UsefulNotes/Television}} saturation, Harry made reading cool again. This may be Rowling's most important contribution of all.
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25	Rowling has developed a SignatureStyle ([[Literature/TheCuckoosCalling though, apparently, she's also good at hiding it]]). If you're reading one of her books, expect a story set TwentyMinutesIntoThePast with an IntroOnlyPointOfView, a PlotTriggeringDeath, numerous characters with {{Meaningful Name}}s ([[AnyoneCanDie just don't get too attached to them]]), {{Said Bookism}}s, generous [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] {{Narm}}, and plentiful {{Foreshadowing}} for her overstuffed ChekhovsArmoury.
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27	Rowling's first post-''Potter'' book was ''Literature/TheCasualVacancy'', released on 27 September 2012 and marketed as her "first novel for adults." After mixed reviews, Rowling followed up with ''Literature/TheCuckoosCalling'', a crime novel starring [[HardboiledDetective hardboiled]] [[PrivateDetective P.I.]] Cormoran Strike. This time, she published under [[MoustacheDePlume a pseudonym]], Robert Galbraith, and [[RefugeInAudacity stayed under the radar]] for ''four months'' before being outed. A sequel, ''Literature/TheSilkworm'' was published in 2014, still under the pen name. As of 2023, three more novels in the series have been released.
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29	On 12 September 2013, Creator/WarnerBros announced they will produce a new series of ''Harry Potter'' SpinOff films based on Rowling's ''Literature/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'', with the book's fictional author Newt Scamander as the protagonist. It takes place in the same world as ''Harry Potter'', but set 70 years before the events of the first book. Rowling wrote the screenplay for the first two films by herself but Creator/SteveKloves was brought on to help her with the third as a co-writer, though he’d helped enough with the first two to get a producing credit. The series is set to have five instalments, with three released as of April 2023.
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31	In 2020, she published ''Literature/TheIckabog'', her first children's book unrelated to ''Harry Potter''.
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33	Since late 2019, Rowling has been a vocal opponent of self-identification for transgender people. This has attracted controversy and led to further scrutiny of her writing, with many highlighting the presence of questionable tropes such as [[HappinessInSlavery house elves loving their enslavement]] and a perception of [[SpaceJews goblins as antisemitic caricatures]].
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35	!!Bibliography:
36	[[index]]
37	!!!''Literature/HarryPotter''
38	* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'' (1997, film released in 2001, [[ExecutiveMeddling renamed]] ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' in the United States)
39	* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets''
40	* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban''
41	* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire''
42	* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix''
43	* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince''
44	* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'' (2007, made it to the silver screen in 2010 [[DividedForAdaptation and]] 2011)
45	* ''Theatre/HarryPotterAndTheCursedChild'' (stage play; story cowritten with John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, turned into a script written by Thorne)
46	!!!Additional content in the ''Potter'' world
47	* ''Literature/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'' as Newt Scamander. Proceeds originally went to a charity.
48	* ''Literature/QuidditchThroughTheAges'', under the pen name Kennilworthy Whisp. Proceeds, again, went to a charity.
49	* ''Literature/TheTalesOfBeedleTheBard'', released in December 2008. Prior to its commercial release, Rowling made seven copies which were hand-written by her and given to her close friends, save one, which was auctioned for charity.
50	* ''Film/FantasticBeasts''
51	** ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'' (the screenplay was published in late 2016)
52	** ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald'' (also with an accompanying screenplay, published in late 2018)
53	** ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheSecretsOfDumbledore'' (with Creator/SteveKloves, 2022)
54	!!!Non-''Potter'' works
55	* ''Literature/TheCasualVacancy'' (2012)
56	* ''Literature/{{Cormoran Strike\|Novels}}'' novels [[MoustacheDePlume as Robert Galbraith]]:
57	** ''Literature/TheCuckoosCalling'' (2013)
58	** ''Literature/TheSilkworm'' (2014)
59	** ''Literature/CareerOfEvil'' (2015)
60	** ''Literature/LethalWhite'' (2018)
61	** ''Literature/TroubledBlood'' (2020)
62	** ''Literature/TheInkBlackHeart'' (2022)
63	** ''Literature/TheRunningGrave'' (2023)
64	* ''Literature/TheIckabog'' (2020)
65	* ''Literature/TheChristmasPig'' (2021)
66	[[/index]]
67	!!Media portrayals:
68	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTGbKbEEE8o Appeared as herself]] on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.
69	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9onI92OxBHY Played by Jennifer Saunders]] for ''Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do''.
70	* Played by Angela Scowen on an episode of ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'', where she did battle with Creator/StephenKing.
71	* Played by Creator/AmyPoehler in a ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' [[http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/dumbledore/178704/ sketch following]] the WordOfGay on Dumbledore.
72	* Played by Chad Morgan in one of ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'''s "Dicks with Time Machine" sketches, in which one of the title time travellers tries to prevent her from writing the ''Harry Potter'' series.
73	* She was the subject of a [[MadeForTVMovie Made For TV]] {{Biopic}} named ''Film/MagicBeyondWordsTheJKRowlingStory'', in which she was played by Poppy Montgomery of ''Series/WithoutATrace'' fame.
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75	!!Associated tropes
76	* AcclaimedFlop: She wrote a detective novel called ''Literature/TheCuckoosCalling'' under the pen name Robert Galbraith that received strong reviews but only sold about 1,500 copies. However, sales increased sharply after the author's true identity was revealed.
77	* AdamWesting: Mildly in her brief appearance on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. To date, this is the only time Rowling has played herself in any fictional context (and it was just two lines).[[note]]Creator/RussellTDavies had proposed having her appear on ''Series/DoctorWho'' as herself for a Christmas special idea that never happened.[[/note]]
78	--> '''Lisa:''' You've turned a generation of kids onto reading.\
79	'''Rowling:''' Thank you, young Muggle.\
80	'''Lisa:''' Can you tell me what happens at the end of the series?\
81	'''Rowling:''' ''[exasperated]'' He grows up and marries you. Is ''that'' what you want to hear?\
82	'''Lisa:''' ''[dreamily]'' ''Yes...''\
83	'''Rowling:''' ''[rolls eyes and walks off]''
84	* AuthorAvatar:
85	** [[Franchise/HarryPotter Hermione]] is based on a younger Rowling. Apparently, she split her personality into three parts when designing the Golden Trio, but, according to WordOfGod, Hermione is the one with the most aspects of her personality.
86	** [[Literature/TheCuckoosCalling Robin Ellacott]] is, again, based on WordOfGod, modelled after her early adult self.
87	* AuthorUsurpation: While Rowling has written successful books after finishing ''Harry Potter'', discussion about her career always focuses on ''Harry Potter'' and nothing else.
88	* BeamMeUpScotty:
89	** She never actually wrote the first book on the back of a napkin (she had napkins but was too shy to borrow a pen, so she had to spend the entire trip juggling the story in her head). When she heard this rumour, she laughed and joked that they'll be saying that she wrote it on teabags next.
90	** Nor is she the playwright for ''Theatre/HarryPotterAndTheCursedChild'', as was also widely reported; Jack Thorne wrote the book based on a story by Rowling, Thorne and John Tiffany. This confusion is at least more understandable, as she ''did'' write the screenplay for ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem''.
91	%%* BlackComedy: All her novels are full of it.
92	* ClusterFBomb: In all of her adult novels to date, almost every other word uttered by some of the characters is an F-bomb.
93	* CountryMatters: She's very versatile with the word "cunt", especially in ''Literature/TheCasualVacancy''. Though it should be noted that, while it's still a strong curse word, "cunt" isn't considered ''[[DidNotDoTheBloodyResearch quite]]'' as shocking in the UK as it is in the States.
94	* CreatorBacklash: She's not too happy about her work being the TropeNamer for [[invoked]]DracoInLeatherPants. For the most part, she laughed it off but is concerned about the influence this mindset might have on young women.
95	* CreatorBreakdown: Early on in the makings of ''Harry Potter'' her mother passing away from a years-long battle with multiple sclerosis influenced the more emotionally heavy moments in the story. The theme of death in the last novel was rooted to a lot of Rowling's own feelings about the subject and her faith.
96	* DearNegativeReader: While Rowling has largely embraced the fandom of Harry Potter, she has gone on record of disliking the [[invoked]]MisaimedFandom that [[DracoInLeatherPants Draco Malfoy]] had developed, and is uncomfortable with the more lewd fanfictions, considering how the series revolves around minors.
97	* {{Deuteragonist}}: All of her work since ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'' has focused on more than one central character (even her [[Theatre/HarryPotterAndTheCursedChild expansions to]] [[Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem the Potter universe]]).
98	* {{Doorstopper}}: All of her work between ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'' and ''Literature/CareerOfEvil'' was at least 400 pages long. The streak was finally broken with the published script for ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'' (304 pages); though this is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by it being a film script rather than a novel, and 300+ pages is still extremely hefty for a script.
99	* ExecutiveMeddling: Actually, [[InvertedTrope she was the executive]], and prevented some more "questionable" decisions that Warner Bros. was looking to do with the stories, one of the most famous being her demand that the films be filmed in the UK with a cast of UK actors.
100	* GodNeverSaidThat:
101	** The rather infamous ShipSinking [[http://www.mugglenet.com/jkrinterview2.shtml interview with Mugglenet]]. Rowling got attributed with a certain faction of shippers for calling them delusional when it was actually the interviewers who stated it.
102	--->'''Emerson Spartz''': We thought it was clearer than ever that Harry and Ginny are an item and Ron and Hermione - although we think you made it painfully obvious in the first five books -\
103	'''Creator/JKRowling''': [points to herself and whispers] So do I!\
104	'''Emerson Spartz''': What was that?\
105	'''J.K. Rowling''': [More loudly] Well. so do I! So do I!\
106	'''Emerson Spartz''': Harry/Hermione shippers: delusional!\
107	'''J.K. Rowling''': Well no, I'm not going to - Emerson, I am not going to say they're delusional! They are still valued members of my readership! I am not going to use the word delusional.
108	** To wit, she admitted that the pairing of Ron/Hermione was partly WishFulfilment, and that it might not have worked out as an adult relationship, while simultaneously confessing that she felt that Harry/Hermione ''could'' have worked (which, frankly, she has stated before). She mentioned (in the same interview) that while Ron and Hermione could still work, she could have written it better and for the right reasons.
109	** And while we're at it, no, Nagini is not the boa constrictor that Harry set free in ''Philosopher's Stone.''
110	* GodwinsLaw: Used in [[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/10891509/JK-Rowlings-anti-Scottish-independence-statement-in-full.html her essay on Scottish independence]] when she compared some separatists to the [[Characters/HarryPotterDeathEaters Death Eaters]] after they accused her of not being Scottish enough to express an opinion.
111	* FunetikAksent: Rowling will often write out dialogue phonetically for characters with more "unusual" accents. Hagrid, Stan Shunpike, Fleur Delacour, Madame Maxime, Viktor Krum and other Durmstrang students get this treatment in ''Literature/HarryPotter'', while characters with Cockney and Northern English accents get it in her ''Literature/{{Cormoran Strike\|Novels}}'' novels.
112	* {{Homage}}: Writing under her post-Potter synonym as "Robert Galbraith", she revealed in a Creator/{{BBC}} interview in November 2015 that she is a fan of the Music/BlueOysterCult. "Robert Galbraith"'s novel ''Literature/CareerOfEvil'' is inspired by a BOC song of the same title. She admitted to loading the book with a lot of {{Shout Out}}s to other lyrics and songs by this band.
113	* MoustacheDePlume:
114	** She actually doesn't even have a middle name. She added the "K" (after her grandmother Kathleen) when Bloomsbury asked her to use her initials, thinking that boys would be wary of reading a book from a woman writer.
115	** Played even more straight with ''Literature/TheCuckoosCalling'' which she published as "Robert Galbraith"
116	* PlotTriggeringDeath: Used frequently in her novels.
117	** Lily and James Potter [[spoiler: and Voldemort, kind of]] in the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series
118	** Lula Landry in ''Literature/TheCuckoosCalling''
119	** Barry Fairbrother in ''Literature/TheCasualVacancy''
120	* ShownTheirWork: Before she wrote ''Harry Potter'', she once worked as a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International in London. Rowling herself once said in [[http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2008/06/text-of-j-k-rowling-speech/ her commencement speech at Harvard]] that it gave her a look into various human abuse, a theme that is prevalent in ''Comoran Strike'' books.
121	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
122	** She turned down Music/MichaelJackson's offer to write a HP musical.
123	** How might HP have turned out had her mother not died?
124	** The original pitch for the Harry Potter film was for it to be a CGI film, with Creator/HaleyJoelOsment being the voice of Harry, and taking place in America. [[ExecutiveVeto Rowling nixed that.]]
125	** Rowling was tapped to contribute to the revival series of ''Series/DoctorWho'' on two separate occasions, only for the idea to fall through both times. The first time, she was contacted by showrunner Creator/RussellTDavies, who wanted her to pen a guest episode, only for her to turn the idea down due to her being busy writing ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince''. The second time, Davies intended to have her play a fictionalized version of herself in a Christmas special where an alien parasite uses her imagination to reshape the world in the ''Harry Potter'' franchise's likeness. When that idea fell though, the special was rewritten as [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E14TheNextDoctor "The Next Doctor"]].
126	* WriteWhatYouKnow:
127	** The first Strike novel, ''Literature/TheCuckoosCalling'', carries a spirited denunciation of the British tabloid press (which spent years intruding into Rowling's life--and not always in a peaceful manner, either). ''Literature/TheSilkworm'', its first sequel, [[MostWritersAreWriters revolves around novelists]].
128	** ''Literature/TheInkBlackHeart'' is a book about toxic fandom and the harassment of a female creator by the internet. It was published in September 2020, a few months after Rowling's controversial views on transgender rights led to a social media backlash, although the author herself claimed that such events were purely coincidental and that the book was actually written before she made her views public.
129	* WritersCannotDoMath: As Rowling admits. Mostly it takes the form of dating inconsistencies which make it hard for fans to construct a timeline of the series. The number of students in Hogwarts is also a point of contention, as are the House points added up at the end of each school year.

Context Creator / JKRowling