What's 'Potter' Author's Real Name? -
Summary: Article: ROWLING FAMILY FACTS:
J.K. Rowling was born “Joanne Rowling.” She adopted the middle name “Kathleen” from her grandmother.
At the request of her publisher, Rowling changed her pen name from “Joanne” to “J.K.” Her publisher claimed that very few boys would want to read a fantasy book written by a woman.
Before hitting it big with Harry Potter, Rowling lived for a year off public assistance. Her income equaled about $111 per week.
Prior to her career as an author, Rowling worked as a bilingual secretary and later as an English teacher in Portugal. She was also briefly employed as a researcher with Amnesty International.
Rowling traditionally writes her books in longhand rather than computer.
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