A Mythological and Archetypal Approach to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by JK Rowling

The first installment in the series of Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, can be analyzed through the various archetypes and myths present in the novel.

To begin with, let us look into the so-called heroic quest of Harry. As the story unfolds, Harry goes through the classic and mythic stages of a hero's journey. First to these is a call to adventure. In the story, Harry receives the letters from Hogwarts. Second is a separation from the known world. This is seen in the part where Harry leaves for Hogwarts. Third is an initiation into the new world. This is evident in the Sorting ceremony, where Harry undergoes a placement-like ritual through the Sorting Hat. Next is the presence of threats which can be observed in Harry's rivalry with Malfoy and also his encounter with the Mirror of Erised - both of which tried Harry's character and desires. Another is the existence of a fellowship which can be justified by the characters of Ron and Hermione. The guidance of a mentor, through Hagrid and Dumbledore, the final confrontation with darkness - Harry versus Voldemort over the stone - Afterwhich, comes a rebirth or resurrection through Harry's victory over Voldemort and finally, the hero's return to the old world - Harry returns to his home, but this time he knows who he really is.

The Sorcerer's stone or what is also known as the Philosopher's stone is a traditional element from mythology that appears in Rowling's work. In the story, the stone was created by Nicolas Falmal, Dumbledore's partner, whose character is actually based on the history and legends surrounding thr real French alchemist Nicolas Flamel. The stone, both in the novel and in the field of alchemy, is described as a small red ball that can turn metal into gold and can also create an elixir that can grant eternal life.

The character of Lord Voldemort clearly illustrates the power of fear throughout the novel. In fact, most wizards, except Dumbledore, dare not refer to him by name. Instead, he is referred to as, 'He Who must Not Be Named'. In this manner, Voldemort is taken as a metaphor for fear, which is a common element of mankind.

Most of the names of the characters in the novel have relevant meanings. One example is Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. His first name is derived from the Latin word alba which means 'white'. His last name is old English for 'bumblebee'. In symbolism, white stands fro purity, so the headmaster's name suggests honor and a hard-working nature. Another example is Professor Severus Snape. Severus is the Latin word fro 'severe' and 'strict' - adjectives that can truly be associated to the professor's character.

In Harry Potter, there are four Hogwarts houses. Gryffindor is the Hogwarts house to which Harry and his friends belong. Gryffindor is derived from Griffin, which means a fierce, legendary beast with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. And that is why this Hogwarts house uses a lion as its symbol. On the other hand, Slytherin, Gryffindor's rival house, is actually a variation of 'slithering' a method of travel for snakes, the very reason perhaps why its symbol is a serpent.

In terms of archetypal men, Dumbledore is what we call, The Chief. He is a leader of wizards, highly-respected and he looks over his subjects very well. The Bad Boy, no doubt, is Voldemort. And we can also say that Ron's character is fit to be the best friend archetype. In archetypal women, The Boss can be associated to Deputy Headmistress McGonagall due to first, her position in the school and next, her wise character. Hermione's character, on the other hand, can be classified as The Librarian archetype. She has answers for almost any question because she has read a great deal of books and she can also be fierce, once provoked.

Overall, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is one great novel that captured the hearts of both young and old alike for its myths and archetypes that bind all the readers together all over the world.

Daniel Radcliffe Talks Harry Potter Future with JK Rowling

Facebook.com - Become a Fan! Twitter.com - Follow Us! Harry Potter fans -- this is a story that you do NOT want to miss. Trust me and stay tuned!! Hi everyone. You're back at ClevverTV, I'm your host Dana Ward with this uber-important HP news. Well, the franchise star, Danielle Radcliffe, just told MTV at the NY premiere of Deathly Hallows that the series will likely go on. Yes, you heard that correctly. According to the on-screen Harry Potter, he received a text from the series author JK Rowling last week and QUOTE ''Basically, it amounted to the fact that she felt I had been very good in this 'Harry Potter' film, and as a reward for that, she wasn't going to [write] any more 'Harry Potter' [books]". Radcliffe then continued to say that he's sure JK will be writing more books in the Potter world -- just that she knew Harry's adventure would end with the 7th and final novel. So what do you think about this possibility?? And what type of spin-off within the story's theme can you see happening? Let us know your expert HP opinion, and for all of the latest on Harry Potter as this round of the franchise finishes up, make sure that you subscribe to our show at YouTube.com/ClevverTV. I'm Dana Ward at our studio, thank so much for watching. Bye!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJSUwl8XwZc&hl=en

Are You The Next JK Rowling?

Harry Potter. The name brings instant recognition from people all over the world. The books have sold over 350 million copies worldwide. Only the bible has more translations. The movies have gone on to grace the lists of the Top 10 grossing films of all time.

When Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published in 1997, Joanne Kathleen Rowling was a previously unpublished author. She had no publishing credits, no insider knowledge, no friends in the industry.

So how did she do it? How did she go on, in the space of ten short years, to become the first billionaire author on the planet?

The answer to that question lies not in what she did in those ten years between the publication of the first book and that of the seventh, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The answer actually lies in what she did in the seven years prior to the first book's publication.

So if you're an author who is yet to be published, you're actually in the best possible position. Because it's in this time, before your book hits the shelves, that you can have the greatest influence on its success.

Quite simply, JK Rowling followed a four-step writing process that you too can adopt to write your very own list of bestsellers. The question is: do you have what it takes to be the next JK Rowling?

Planning
This is by far the most underrated of the steps in the writing process. And in the final wash up it is absolutely the most important.

It was 1990 and Jo Rowling was on a train between Manchester and London. Harry literally strolled fully formed into her mind while she was gazing out the train window at a field full of cows. She spent the next four hours (the train was delayed) imagining Harry, the world he inhabited, the friends and enemies he had there and the dangers and joys he may encounter there. She had nothing to write on so had to be content to play this all out in her imagination. By the time she got off the train in London, the central cast of characters were already cemented in her mind.

But did she go home and immediately begin scribbling a story with these characters? No, she didn't. She spent five years, yes that's right FIVE YEARS creating and developing every last detail of the wizarding world, including government and education systems, how the wizarding world stood shoulder to shoulder with the muggle world, and she devised a highly sophisticated system of magic that would eventually form the backbone of her own special brand of writing magic. On top of this she sculpted out the entire story, planning the details and events of all the seven books, before she put pen to paper to begin writing the first.

Would you attempt to build a house without plans? Would you attempt to drive across the country without a map? Or would you set sail on the seas without a compass? Writing a book without a detailed planning stage is like attempting to build a house without plans. Miss this step and you are almost certainly destined to become lost in a forest of your own words.

Writing
When you are writing, you are just writing. You are not planning, you are not editing. You are writing. Once you have planned your story, it is time to sit down and write it.

JK Rowling planned the Harry Potter series for five years before she put pen to paper on the first book She wrote the entire first book, and felt as though she were "carving it out of this mass of notes". All the planning was worth it. She was able to devote herself to the actual task of writing, knowing that all the story and character elements she needed were covered.

This is the best possible place for you to be in when you are writing a novel. Novels are long. Usually over 100,000 words and sometimes as many as 200,000 words and more. That is a lot of words! So if you have planned and structured your story effectively, done your research (either real or in your imagination) and collated your notes, then the writing process is an absolute joy, where you can be very certain of your ability to produce the best possible novel.

Jo Rowling said she felt she "had to do right by the book". She really believed in the story and so when it came to writing it, she made sure she had taken care of all the necessary preparation. Once that's done, writing is almost easy!

Rewriting
Jo Rowling rewrote the opening chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone a total of 15 times. Her mother died just 6 months after her first attempt at Chapter One of that book, and that sent her into a frenzy of rewriting, essentially changing everything. The Potter books are about death, there is no doubt about that, and they are driven particularly by the death of Harry's parents and his miraculous survival. When Jo Rowling experienced such a major turning point in her own life, she rewrote the story to reflect and process her own pain.

Writing and rewriting are separate processes. Writing is scribing or sculpting out the drafts of the story. Rewriting is re-looking and re-seeing. Often the rewrite will show up where the story has gone off track and where questions asked at the start haven't been answered by the end. In JK Rowling's case, she realised after writing the entire first book that she had given away the entire plot of the seven books. She rewrote it in this light, and held many things back.

Many successful authors say that you only write to rewrite. DH Lawrence even said that he wrote his entire first draft, threw it away and then started again from scratch.

Editing
Editing is the process of refining and polishing your manuscript. This part of the process may be done by you, or by an external editor. It is often wise to have an editor look over your work before submitting it for publication as it is extremely difficult to get the distance you need from your own work to see where it can be improved.

Not that you have to listen to what the editor says. In the end it is your name on the spine of that novel and you are entirely answerable for its contents. Having said that, a good and subtle editor can lift your novel to heights that you may not be able to achieve on your own.

It is clear from the Harry Potter series that JK Rowling was more tightly edited at the beginning (the first two novels are barely more than 200 pages and by the time we get to number five, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, we are faced with a weighty tome of over 700 pages) so it is generally advisable at the beginning of your career to bear the advice of your editor heavily in mind, especially if you are new to publishing. In every event, less is more, and a distilled and focussed book is more likely to captivate and intrigue a new audience than a meandering epic that constantly loses its way.

Writing a book is a process, never forget that. Each step in the process is unique but necessary. Don't mix them, and certainly don't attempt to skip any steps. Do that at your own peril.

JK Rowling has shown the world what is possible if you adhere to the basic processes of the art and craft of writing a good story. So before you attempt your next novel, address the four steps in the writing process: planning, writing, rewriting and editing, and be sure you give each step its due.

And who knows? You could be the next JK Rowling.

Joanne Rowling, Creator of Harry Potter - Everything You Need to Know

Joanne Rowling better known as the creator of Harry Potter was born on 31st July, 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. She has a sister, two years younger to her, Dianne. She studied Primary school at St. Michaels. It is said that the head master at school was the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster, Albus Sumbledore. Even when she was five years old she told stories to her younger sister about rabbit and bees.

Her secondary education took place at Wyedean School and college. She had a flair for literature. After graduating from Wyedean she attended Exeter University and studied French, to take up a career as a bilingual secretary. But secretary ship was the last thing she wanted to do.

By the time she was 26 she had suffered the shock of her mother's demise from multiple sclerosis after suffering for about ten years. She then moved to Portugal and taught English. Here she started working on a story about a wizard; she recalls that the idea of a fantasy series came to her while she was on a train journey from Manchester to London.

She married a journalist, and after the birth of her daughter within a year her marriage ended in a divorce. She moved on to Scotland, Edinburg along with her daughter.

From now on she was determined to get the Harry Potter wizard novel finished and published. She applied for and received a grant from the Scottish Arts Council to complete her novel. Finally when her novel was completed on an old manual typewriter, she sold the rights to Bloomsbury U.K. for about $4000. Ms. Rowling's happiest moment came when A Levine books/scholastics press bought the American rights to the first Harry potter novel. She could now maintain herself and her daughter and write full time.

Recognition came very soon for Ms. Rowling and Harry potter. The first book "Harry potter and the Philosophers stone" won the British book Awards for Children's book of the year and the Nestle smarties book prize. In the U.S the same book was renamed "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone".

The sequels came one after another. In 1998 came "Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets." A year later came "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban". These three books only made Ms. Rowling a household name. The series topped the top three slots in the Newyork time best sellers list in the U.S.A and U.K.

The fourth book 'Harry potter and the Goblet of fire" came in 2000 and was a record breaker in sales in both the countries

Three years passed and then came the fifth book "Harry potter and the order of the Phoenix". This book was again a record breaker.

The sixth book "Harry potter and the half blood Prince" too broke all sales record in the 2005.

The title of the seventh and final book of the series was released in 2006, "Harry potter and the deadly hallows". The book was release in 2007. It was sold out and a huge success.

She was filmed for a documentary which was aired in Britain on ITV. It was titled "J.K.Rowling... a year in the life". Her books have inspired an interest in reading among children at a time when they prefer Television and computer to books. Critics' are of the opinion that the impacts of these books on the children need to be evaluated.

All the books in the series have been filmed and have been a huge success with the audiences of all ages. She has married Neil Michael Murray in 2001 and has two children from this marriage. She has plans to continue writing and a book titled "Political fairy tale for children" is nearing completion.

She has established the volant charitable trust to combat Poverty, social inequalities, one parent families and multiple sclerosis research.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the story of the final confrontation between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort, the leader of Death Eaters. It has taken 10 years for J K Rowling to complete the epic and the roots of the story can be easily spotted in the Star Wars, Dickens, Greek myths and to top it all, it has a big screen closure (just what you expect in huge epics). The confrontation itself is bone chilling and heart racing, though the race toward the finish line has its own fair share of bumps. At the same time it must be said, the way the characters of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows have concluded their journey has a convincing inevitability towards it.

The Series Is Getting Darker Than Ever

With every part of the series, the Harry Potter series has become darker than ever, but the author J K Rowling still creates the sarcasm of Ron and philosophical gravity of Harry Potter effortlessly. Overall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be remembered for the initiation of Harry Potter into the complexity and sadness of the adult world.

The Burden of Leadership

Right from the days when his education started at Hogwarts, Harry has shouldered the burden of being a leader, coping with all the duties beautifully, though he still nurtures a wish to be an ordinary teenager. The parents of Harry Potter are already dead, apart from his godfather Sirius and Professor Dumbledore. About half a dozen more important characters die, and the losses for Harry are increasing with unfailing regularity. Other important people in Harry's life are either wounded or are being tortured. Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic have been infiltrated by the followers of Voldemort, and everyone in the population is now forced to take sides.

Overwhelmed and Disillusioned

J K Rowling makes it only natural that Harry feels overwhelmed and disillusioned at times. Controlling his temper is a struggle for him, as he sets about the search for Horcruxes, magical objects in which parts of the soul of Voldemort are stashed. He enters a dark wood, where he has to fight the Death Eaters as well as his own despair and prejudices.

The Psychic Connection Grows Stronger

The psychic connection that Harry has with Voldemort has also grown stronger with time; as a result he keeps getting clues about the actions of Voldemort and also gets lured towards the dark side. The turning point of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, however, is the decision by Harry whether to continue on the mission assigned to him by Dumbledore or should he go after Hallows, which will make him the master of death. Whatever decision he takes, the final showdown is inevitable. He will also have to come to terms with his own weaknesses and others', and the equation between free will and fate.

Top Five Tips Small Business Owners Can Learn From JK Rowling

J. K. Rowling is the English writer who has authored all seven beloved and widely read Harry Potter novels. At age 41, her rise to fame and fortune is inspiring. She has sold over 325 million books. The final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was the fastest-selling book of all time.

Her fortune is estimated at $1 billion. She is ranked as the 136th richest person in the world. In 2006, Forbes named Rowling the second richest female entertainer in the world and ranked her as 48th on the 100 most powerful celebrities list of 2007.

When this all began in 1990, however, things were very different for J. K. Rowling. She was not a published author. She did not have a lot of money. She was living in London, working as a researcher and bi-lingual secretary for Amnesty International, and her mother had just died. How she got from there to where she is today is a story filled with invaluable tips for small business owners.

Tip # 1: Don't Rush to Roll Out Your Product.

Destiny is a name often given in retrospect to choices that had dramatic consequences. - Rowling

Although J. K. Rowling had been a writer all her life, she was slow to publish. "I had written two novels before I had the idea for Harry, though I'd never tried to get them published (and a good job too, I don't think they were very good)."

All too often, as small business owners, we rush to get a product out before its time, before it's been fully considered or tested. Rowling sets a great example of getting a product just right before presenting it to the world.

Tip # 2: When a Great Idea Grabs You -- Grab Back.

You sort of start thinking anythings possible if you've got enough nerve. - Rowling

Great ideas are unmistakably powerful in their announcement and come when least expected. Rowling says:

Where the idea for Harry Potter actually came from, I really couldn't tell you. I was traveling on a train between Manchester and London and it just popped into my head. I spent four hours thinking about what Hogwarts would be like. By the time I got off at King's Cross, many of the characters in the books had already been invented.

As small business owners, we know when a great idea is upon us. The problem is, we often question it, second-guess it, and rationalize it away. Not Rowling. She recognized the mark of a powerful idea, seized upon it and went with it.

Tip # 3: Persevere, Persevere, and Persevere.

It is our choices . . . that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. - Rowling

Rowling moved to Portugal to teach English as a Second Language in 1991 and married her first husband in 1992. They divorced in 1993. The next year, she moved to Scotland. At this point, she was an unemployed single mother living on welfare. In 1995, she completed her manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, typing it out on an old manual typewriter. She handed in the book to twelve publishing houses. They all rejected it.

Rowling never gave up. She did not stop just because life was hard. Despite all the changes and setbacks she was experiencing, she carried on. She persevered. As small business owners, we would do well to keep her example in mind.

Tip # 4: Don't Let Anyone, Including Yourself, Sidetrack You from Your Goal.

If you're holding out for universal popularity, I'm afraid you will be in this cabin for a very long time. - Rowling

Finally, Bloomsbury, a small publisher, agreed to publish the first book. Her editor, though, says that he "advised Rowling to get a day job, since she had little chance of making money in children's books."

It's a good thing she didn't listen. All seven volumes of the Harry Potter series have broken sales records and have been translated into 65 languages. What a shining role model Rowling is for small business owners. She didn't let anyone stand in the way of her goal-not even herself.

Tip # 5: Each of Us Has a Unique Contribution to Make to the World.

I just write what I wanted to write. I write what amuses me. It's totally for myself. - Rowling

J. K. Rowling never went searching for the kind of success she's received. "I just wrote the sort of thing I liked reading when I was younger (and still enjoy now!). I didn't expect lots of people to like them, in fact, I never really thought much past getting them published."

It wasn't fame or wealth that J. K. Rowling sought. No. She simply wanted to contribute to the world in general, and to children specifically. As small business owners, this is so important to learn. Focus on the unique something we have to offer to the world. The rest will surely come, in ways we may not even be able to imagine.

Does JK Rowling Deserve the Acclaim She Has Received As a Writer?

Children and adults have been arrested by the saga of the boy wizard, Harry Potter, the boy who's made them laugh, made them cry, held their breaths in nail-biting and litmus-testing situations.

It's thus no surprise that J.K.Rowling, the creator of the boy who lives in the hearts of zillions of readers across the world, has attained star-status, though I'd support all those critics who opine that she deserves more of the acclaim stuff.

J.K.Rowling was a broke single mother as poor as possible in modern Britain without being homeless. She had studied something practical suppressing her dreams of becoming a writer. It was in a train in Portugal when she was struck with the idea of the boy wizard. And in a couple of years the idea became a book and then a series and now it's a legend. Why would anyone feel she doesn't deserve the acclaim she's received.

Many factors contribute to the success of a writer. It's hard to make it big as a fiction writer, primarily because the story-telling ability is rare. It's the ability to capture people's attention and arouse in them the curiosity to find out what happens in the end. J.K.Rowling is abundantly blessed with that ability. It becomes even more obvious when a critic or a pundit contemplates the background and sub-theme she's chosen. Story-telling ability encompasses the ability to get people to believe every element of the story no matter how impossible the existence of the element may be in the real world. This means fiction writers need to cross the barriers of suspicion and incredibility to become successful. J.K.Rowling's world of wizards and witches when spoken of plainly seems utterly boring fantasy. However, every reader of the books found the theme anything but fetid fantasy. While reading it, the world seemed to be an existent one. Images reeled in the readers' minds as though they were ploughing through real-life situations in the real world rather than made-up tales in books. They felt every emotion every character experienced in the stories. The books had traversed fantasy.

Compare it with other fiction centering on magicians and gnomes and goblins. Fairy tales, you may say. And I'd readily agree. For such books have only children captivated. But Harry Potter has captivated even octogenarians, who are way past their fairy-tale age. This is testimony to Rowling's story-telling ability. Though her books are as much fantasy as any other fairy tale, they have been passed up as fairy tales by the readers, plainly because readers love them. The idolization of Hero Harry by all age groups has made the Harry Potter series family books. Something every member can read and discuss over tea and snacks. The books are some of the few family books that have earned the approval seals as readable by children. They're some of the few books that have made phenomenal success without immorality.

Moreover J.K.Rowling has subtly appealed to the desires of people of all ages-the desire to be a hero, who transcends tragedy and defies evil powers.

Scrutinize the book for creativity and style of putting imagination to words. J.K.Rowling deserves accolades, as her books are resplendent with incontrovertible creativity. They're spiced with humour and wit even through tragic times. Her literary style is one to laud-it is rich yet understandable by even the commoners and non-bookworms. It's descriptive and one many aspirants love to imitate.

Everything studied and considered it becomes acceptable that J.K.Rowling has earned only what she deserves-nothing more, though perhaps less. Needless to mention, her background to her rise to stardom inspires many people to pursue their dreams, especially when dumped in times of failures and misfortune.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling - Book Review

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was perhaps the most anticipated book ever. It certainly received a lot of media attention this year, before its release. The final book in the series, it was expected to provide an answer for all the many questions Harry Potter fans were speculating about. Would Harry survive? Would Voldemort win? What about Ron and Hermione - would they be alright? Would Harry and Ginny get back together? Was Dumbledore's faith in Snape justified?

I was amongst those who had pre-ordered the book to find out all the answers. It was with mixed emotions that I received it on the day of its release, because I knew that after this there would be no more Harry Potter novels to look forward to. Of course, that didn't stop me from settling down with the book immediately.

In this seventh installment of the series, we find Harry once more at Privet Drive, ready to say farewell to it for the last time. This year, he won't be a student at Hogwarts. He has a task to complete - he needs to locate and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. Harry being Harry, he is determined to go alone rather than risk the lives of his friends. Things work out a bit different than planned, and soon he is on the run from the dark powers of Voldemort with Ron and Hermione at his side.

Like most Harry Potter novels, friendship, courage and hope are at the centre of the storyline. As I followed the characters on their near-hopeless quest, I felt despair on their behalf and I do admit I shed a couple of tears when everything got very bad.

The grand finale of the book and the inevitable confrontation between Harry and Voldemort is like a tightly woven web. Everything comes together in the lead up to the conclusion, and I found myself satisfied with the way it turned out.

Afterwards, we catch a glimpse of the future and get to find out what happened to the various remaining characters. I found this to be a nice bonus and closed the book with a smile.

There are only a couple of negative sides to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", in my opinion. My main grievance is the editing. It feels rushed, there are quite a few errors and there are many run-on sentences. I spotted one sentence of more than 90 words in length. This could potentially cause difficulties for some readers. There were a few instances where I felt the lengthy sentences took away from the tension, especially at crucial moments in the plot. Additionally, there was a lot of repetitiveness in description.

The second "issue" I have is that there seem to be some inconsistencies in the plot. Some aspects do not add up. Perhaps, to a casual reader, this will be unnoticeable but the editor in me made me flick back several times and re-read paragraphs. This did somewhat hinder the overall reading experience.

For parents wondering whether or not this book is suitable for younger children, I would advise you to give the book a read first. There are darker moments and a few characters do find their end. Some of them are popular characters, which could cause some upset.

Overall, I did enjoy this installment and I would certainly recommend it to others. J.K. Rowling is an excellent author who knows how to hold a reader's attention. The plot is interesting and the characters are so believable you can't help but feel for them and care for their fate.

According to the author bio, J.K. Rowling has written fiction since she was a child. She wrote her first "book" at the age of six. Her Harry Potter series is known throughout the world and loved by readers of all ages. Apart from the main series, Rowling has written two companion books, "Quidditch Through The Ages" and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", both in aid of Comic Relief.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was first published in 2007 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, with ISBN 978-0-7475-9105-4.

J.K Rowling - The Magician Who Created Harry Potter

JK Rowling, the celebrated author of the path breaking Harry Potter series of books has her name written down in the annals of literary history. Every one, of all age groups and across geographical boundaries has been touched by the charm of this magical story. The Harry potter books can boast of claiming the number one position on the top of The New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. The latest one belonging to the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is no exception.

It would be appropriate here to give a little background of the author of these books. Joanne Rowling was born in Chipping Sodbury near Bristol, England. After graduating from Exeter University, she started working as a secretary, and later moved on to teach English in Portugal. She currently resides in Scotland with her husband and three children. Her most noticeable achievements include winning the Hugo Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the Whitbread Award for Best Children's Book.

It was in 1998 in United States that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was published. With this we witnessed the Potter-mania engulfing the whole nation, with both the children and the parents wanting to read the same books! The rest came out in quick succession, and by the fall of 1999, two new books had come out. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire got released on 8th July, 2000 and within 48 hours of its release, sold about three million copies to become the fastest selling book in history! This title was claimed by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix when it got released on June 21, 2003.

Warner Bros, the film production company has the rights to create films on all the Harry Potter books released till now. The Harry Potter books by Rowling have been translated into 63 languages and distributed in over 200 countries. Moreover, all the five books released so far have appeared in the bestsellers list of United States, Britain, and around the globe.

How Did JK Rowling Do It?

Fantasy fiction is big business, and many authors are trying hard to break in. The burning question on all their lips is, "How did JK Rowling do it?" And the answer to that is pretty simple. She gave the readers what they wanted.

1. Kids like chaos... but only a bit of it.

The Hogwarts school set up in the Harry Potter books is perfect. Kids love the idea of being away from the comfort of home, but are also deeply attracted to a sense of stability and find too much chaos too scary to contemplate. Being in a school situation is something they can relate to, and adding the -magic- element adds the necessary frisson of excitement that takes it just far enough out of the ordinary. The fact that the magic school is a cliche long used and abused in fantasy fiction, and lampooned successfully by Terry Pratchett, goes straight over the heads of the bulk of HP readers, purely because the target audience is too young to recognise the antecedents.

2. Kids like adults to be larger than life... but not all the time

And there's no bigger than Hagrid! Kids like their adults in fiction to be larger than life, and slightly eccentric. By populating Hogwarts with over the top personalities with many childlike characteristics it lets kids live out fantasies of relating to adults as equals without the stress of actually having to talk to real adults. And these child-like adults, and the father figure Dumbledore in particular, have to act responsibly when it comes to all the big decisions, just like parents in real life.

3. Kids like to be independent... but have friends close by

And where would Harry be without Ron and Hermione? Harry is just sufficiently independent to be cool, and close enough to his friends to be reassuringly normal. The angst of Harry's home life with the Beasleys is nicely counterpointed with his friendships to allow kids to relate to both.

4. Kids like to be scared... but only a bit.

And JK Rowling ramps up the scares to just the right degree, putting the friends in harms way on a regular basis, only for Harry to save the day with his bravery. And kids love the idea that they too would be just like Harry in such a situation.

5. Kids like new games... and old ones

And Quidditch is such a potent mix, of hockey, football and speed racing that, combined with the flying broomsticks, allows kids to play the game themselves in their heads, going far beyond the mere words on the page.

6. Kids like new ideas... and old ones

The whole Harry Potter series is a mixture of new and old ideas. JK Rowling has taken many fantasy tropes and mixed them with original ideas. The kids, although they might not even recognize it, are already steeped in the basics of storytelling through fairy tales and fables. JK Rowling has built on the basics, and in doing so created the ultimate in children's fantasies.

As writers, all we have to do to join her is understand the kids in the same way that she does.

Simple really.