How J.K. Rowling Got Her Start

Mar 21, 2004

Posted by: KristinTLC

Uncategorized

From The Scotsman:
In a radio interview reported to be broadcast today (was this the BBC interview from earlier last week?), J.K. Rowling speaks about a monetary gift from a friend that allowed her to write the first Harry book:

The episode occurred when Rowling, now 37, was living on benefits in a rundown flat in Edinburgh after leaving her first husband. She had won a place to become a student teacher but could not afford childcare for her daughter, Jessica. Then, at her lowest point, the friend gave her a £4,000 loan to carry on studying.

“I was living on virtually nothing. Income support in those days was just under £70 a week. I was getting full housing benefit so my rent was being paid, but out of that £70 obviously came everything – clothing, food, utilities – and then I was looking at buying the textbooks and all the equipment you need to study.

“I had been teaching abroad and wanted to qualify for teaching over here. I very much felt that I was on the scrapheap and I desperately wanted to work.”





The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.