J.K. Rowling Timeline

J.K. Rowling 17

1965 J.K. Rowling is born in Yate Born Joanne Rowling in Gloucestershire, England Joanne Rowling was born in Yate, Gloucestershire. She grew up in the west of England and later in Tutshill, near Chepstow.
1986 J.K. Rowling graduates from the University of Exeter Completes a degree in French and Classics Rowling graduated from the University of Exeter, where she studied French and Classics and spent a year in Paris. She then moved to London and worked jobs that included researcher at Amnesty International.
1990 J.K. Rowling conceives Harry Potter on a delayed train The idea comes to her on a Manchester to London journey During a train journey from Manchester to London that was delayed for hours, Rowling came up with the idea of a boy who did not know he was a wizard. She spent the next several years planning the seven-book series.
1993 J.K. Rowling moves to Edinburgh as a single mother Finishes her first novel while living on state benefits After her marriage in Portugal ended, Rowling moved to Edinburgh with her infant daughter. She lived on state benefits and finished the manuscript of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, writing partly in the city's cafés.
1997 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone published J.K. Rowling's debut launches a global publishing phenomenon Bloomsbury published J.K. Rowling's first Harry Potter novel in the United Kingdom with a modest initial print run. The book introduced the boy wizard and launched what became one of the best-selling book series in history. It was published in the United States the following year under a different title.
1998 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets published Second novel in J.K. Rowling's series Bloomsbury published the second Harry Potter novel, set in Harry's second year at Hogwarts. It went straight to number one in the UK adult hardback charts.
1999 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban published Third novel in J.K. Rowling's series The third Harry Potter novel introduced Sirius Black and the Dementors. It won the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year award, and the series came to dominate bestseller lists.
2000 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire published Fourth novel launches the era of midnight releases The fourth Harry Potter novel was released at the same time in the UK and the US, with record first printings and midnight launch events. It won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2001.
2003 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix published Fifth novel breaks first-day sales records The fifth novel in J.K. Rowling's series was published simultaneously in Britain and the United States after a three-year wait. It sold five million copies in the US in its first 24 hours, a record at the time, and cemented the series as a publishing phenomenon.
2005 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince published Sixth novel in J.K. Rowling's series breaks sales records J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was published on 16 July 2005, selling nine million copies in its first 24 hours in the UK and US. It was the fastest-selling book in history at the time. The novel continued the story ahead of the series' final instalment two years later.
2007 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows published Final novel in J.K. Rowling's series The seventh and final Harry Potter novel sold more than 11 million copies in its first 24 hours across several countries. It concluded the series that had begun ten years earlier.
2012 J.K. Rowling publishes The Casual Vacancy Her first novel for adults Rowling's first book after Harry Potter was a novel for adults about a local council election in a small English town. It became a bestseller and was adapted for BBC television in 2015.
2013 J.K. Rowling is revealed as crime writer Robert Galbraith Exposed as the author of The Cuckoo's Calling The Sunday Times revealed that Rowling had written the detective novel The Cuckoo's Calling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. After the revelation, sales of the book soared, and it became the first of the Cormoran Strike series.
2016 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens in London's West End Stage play based on an original story by J.K. Rowling The two-part play, based on a story by Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, officially opened at the Palace Theatre. It went on to win a record nine Olivier Awards and transferred to Broadway.
2016 J.K. Rowling's screenwriting debut Fantastic Beasts is released First film in a Wizarding World prequel series Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first film written by Rowling herself, was released in cinemas. It started a prequel series set in the 1920s wizarding world.
2020 J.K. Rowling publishes her essay on sex and gender Her views on transgender issues spark worldwide controversy Rowling published a long essay on her website setting out her reasons for speaking about sex and gender issues. It drew strong criticism and support, and she became one of the most prominent voices in the debate.
2025 J.K. Rowling publishes The Hallmarked Man as Robert Galbraith Eighth Cormoran Strike novel The eighth novel in the Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott detective series came out under her Galbraith pseudonym. Rowling has said she is writing a ninth installment.