ROWLING SPEAK

When I read the inaccurate reports that I decided to turn my hand to writing out of poverty, I feel indignant. When I had the idea for Harry and when I started writing the (first) book, I was working full time, as I was for my entire adult life, and I was not a single parent. I finished the book under those conditions. But it obviously does make a better story. It sounds more like a rags-to-riches tale.

Hermione is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was 11, which I'm not particularly proud of. She's quite annoying in a lot of ways. I like her as a character, but I'm very aware that some people wouldn't.

The books are getting darker, and that's inevitable. If you are writing about Good and Evil, there comes a point where you have to get serious. This is something I really have had to think about.

Came across this, while researching the Potter and reading interview I did this morning. With the opening line, it's evident, this interview has been done by someone deeply passionate about books. Roxanne Feldman, who did such a superb job, is a middle school librarian at the Dalton School in New York City. The interview with J K Rowling was done way back in 1999, but that doesn't stop the truth from ringing true.