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MARCH 22, 2004 at 11:22 AM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: BBC Radio 4 via The Scotsman
Author JK Rowling revealed in a BBC radio interview
Saturday that a friend loaned her £4,000 to pay for her daughter's childcare while she studied to become a teacher:
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.
With just £70-a-week income, Rowling believed she could never afford to pay back the money, but the gift was to change her life, allowing her to graduate and teach part-time as she wrote the first Harry Potter novel.
Rowling has since become the first billionaire writer and repaid her benefactor with a £200,000 flat in Edinburgh.
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Witch
Points: 911
bethysmalls says:
That kind of story just makes me fell warm inside. What a great lady and what a great turn of events. Big ups to all involved in this wonderful tale that's as good a story as the one JKR is famous for.
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 11:01 PM EST
Student
Points: 258
dragongirl_58 says:
Wow, I wish I had been the one to give her money. It woud have been quite a good investment!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 11:14 PM EST
Student
Points: 278
aerogirl80 says:
wow! JK's friend must feel good and be very proud of herself! i'm sure she just earned a piece of heaven :)
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 11:17 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1155
MissMaryPotter says:
What an investment.... to see what became of a small loan. neat!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 11:35 PM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
You never know what kind of good any gift you give will have on the receiver! Be it ever so little or extraordinarily great, giving will always pay you back tenfold.
JKR - I am so glad that you were given the ability to study and pursue your career. And thanks to the person who gave!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 11:48 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1908
Opera Ghost says:
That friend must have seen what a special person JKR was and is. Maybe part of the reason JKR is such an amazingly thoughtful and generous person now, too, she has been in a position that seemed impossible to overcome. Then comes a gift like a pebble tossed into a pond, the ripples begin and look how far they have reached. Bet the friend had no clue how far her gift would ultimately reach beyond helping JKR!
Posted Mar 23, 2004 at 12:24 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1990
HarrysGran says:
Very generous of JKR to pay back in this way. But it doesn't surprise me, she is this kind of person. Not that her books are excellent, she has a heart of gold! For me she is the woman of the century!
Posted Mar 23, 2004 at 8:00 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 81
irfvan says:
That's awesome, really awesome, really kindly heart. Helping each other is nothing worth except more things we could attain.
Posted Mar 23, 2004 at 10:18 AM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2874
Chogiiiirl says:
I think it is cool to see how much her friend believed in her, and loaned her money. I'm sure at that time it looked like JKR would be a long shot in the way of success, but look at what she has done with her life! It's great that she paid back her benifactor with more than just the 4000!
Posted Mar 23, 2004 at 10:28 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1071
alan's my man says:
Things have changed a lot,haven't they?
Posted Mar 23, 2004 at 11:34 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 652
sirus black says:
Yea jk rowling paying 4000 for childcare that's a lot money she can aford it anyway and im new to anyone who dosent know me.
Posted Mar 23, 2004 at 1:45 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1987
tigerlili_08 says:
Oh i love J.K. and think shes so cool. :)
Posted Mar 23, 2004 at 7:04 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1092
quidditch_queen says:
That is so cool! Such a sweet story. I heard some things about this but i didn't know the details. Good to know! It's awesome.
Posted Mar 23, 2004 at 8:11 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2303
padfoot5312 says:
Nice that she had a friend who could help her in her hours of need. I glad that she did. I’m really enjoying the books and movies.
Posted Mar 23, 2004 at 8:56 PM EST
Professor of Astronomy
Points: 3288
Prof Aurora Sinistra says:
That was awfuly nice of her to buy her benefactor a flat. Maybe I should loan somebody some money and hope they become successful. Just kidding. Anyway, that shows how nice a person JK is and how she views her values.
Posted Mar 24, 2004 at 1:07 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1122
Immortal Vegemite says:
See... look where being charitable gets you! Every one should be nice to everyone, then we would have more great things in the world, like Harry Potter, so thank you to anonymous person!
Posted Mar 24, 2004 at 2:53 AM EST
Witch
Points: 645
Stage Violence says:
I hope those two are still great friends. That was really nice of her friend to help JKR out like that. Day care is expensive. However, I have to wonder the extent of JKR's generousity. I am an American, and in the states, there are taxes on houses, even after the houses are paid off. Does UK have such taxes? If they do, I hope the friend can afford them.
Posted Mar 24, 2004 at 4:39 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 442
Adria_Tonks says:
It was nice of her friend to help her out. See, if you help someone out, you may get something really nice back!!
Posted Mar 25, 2004 at 9:18 AM EST
Parselmouth
Points: 29083
Thestral Eyes says:
Its realy nice of JKR s friend to do that, and shows tremendous support.It just goes to show what hardships Rowling faced to become as successful as she is now, and i am very greatful to that friend for helping her out of trouble and helping her on her way to success! She definately deservs that house for such a huge kindness!
Posted Mar 25, 2004 at 6:01 PM EST
Witch
Points: 841
evangalista says:
I love hearing how people help someone, and in the end it turns out to be a huge life changing thing, and, like with JKR, she repaid her a hundred fold what was loaned to her. That is so awesome.
Posted Mar 26, 2004 at 10:06 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1782
Juno Puddifoot says:
I think some of this has worked it's way into her writing, and I am sure she has mentioned how highly she values friendship.
Posted Mar 27, 2004 at 3:07 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2034
Professor Snape says:
Holy cow, that was awfully nice of her to do that for j.k and her child. haha it was also awesome that she paid her back by multiplying what she owed her time five. that was nice.
Posted Mar 31, 2004 at 6:47 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2303
padfoot5312 says:
I think that it's great that she remember her, not didn't let the success go to her head.
Posted Apr 4, 2004 at 10:19 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1269
Leira the Hobbit says:
I love fairy-tale endings. What a lovely repayment for a loan to J.K.
Posted Apr 19, 2004 at 12:38 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 306
Trillium says:
Wow, I bet that person loves to be J.K's friend. Not for the fact that she's rich or whatever, but the fact that she is a friend that you can trust, and a nice person. (!!!) I wish [i]I[i] could have a friend like that.
Posted Jun 9, 2004 at 3:42 PM EST
Witch
Points: 696
quidditch_seeker says:
I think she should give her friend alot of money, now that she has a disgusting amount of it.
"Come out, come out, Peter! Come out, come out and play!"
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 1:08 AM EST
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