J. K. Rowling: Scotswoman Who Changed the Decade
J.K. Rowling
Posted by: Edward
December 29, 2009, 08:17 PM
Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling has been named one of the Ten Scotswomen Who Changed the Decade by the Scotsman, who has ranked the most influential Scottish women of the past ten years. The newspaper relates the following regarding the contributions made by J. K. Rowling over the past decade to literature, along with her charitable work for MS research and advocating for disadvantaged children around the world:
It is hard to think of a more powerful female figure to have emerged from Scotland in the past decade than JK Rowling. In 2000, Rowling was cementing her position as the world's most popular children's author with her fourth Harry Potter book, which broke all literary sales records in both the US and the UK. By 2007, Forbes magazine had ranked her the 48th most powerful celebrity in the world – not just for her enormous impact on child literacy but for her philanthropic work. Her Volant Charitable Trust funds disadvantaged children and MS research. She is a vocal president of One Parent Families, and successfully campaigned for a law change in Romania concerning caged beds for orphans. Whatever she turns her hand to, Rowling has proved she is capable of effecting real change on a global scale.
The Harry Potter author is among other such Scottish women as livia Giles, Susan Boyle, Carol Ann Duffy, and Nicola Sturgeon.
3062 Points
Congradulations Jo!!!! We can not over state how much you deserve this! You have represented your home well, not only with fame and fortune, but with your great personality, generosity, and your ability to influence and inspire many with your acts of caring and kindness! We love you Jo for all that you do, and people in your homeland deeply appreciate you as well!
207 Points
Congratulations, Jo! You’ve been an inspiration to more people than you will ever know. And you’ve given us ten delightful years of reading and waiting for the next book and reading and discussing. What could be a better gift to so many people, all ages, all around the world.
It would have been easy to just keep writing and raising your family, but you have also shown young and old what it means to be active in world and local issues, with your charity work. Thank you for that.
Now that the books are done, we are all still enjoying the gifts of JK Rowling. How wonderful!
207 Points
Where’s the edit button when you need it?
Earlier I posted: "It would have been easy to just keep writing and raising your family . . . "
Obviously, it wasn’t easy. I guess a better choice of words would have been that the writing and raising your family would have been enough. It’s certainly more than most of us have ever done or could imagine doing.
2863 Points
This reminds me of something Melissa said on Pottercast once; something like “it’s getting to the point where they’re running out of honors to give her.” Oh, Jo. The love just keeps on comming for her, doesn’t it?
so cool