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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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Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8909
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
It is alwasy good to see how people have made. We are all very fortunate that these laons were made. Imagine how much poorer the world would be without Harry Potter.
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 11:28 AM EST
Witch
Points: 540
lexie75 says:
no Way how cool just goes to show that if you put your mind to it you can do anything you want!!!! Am I second to post??
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 11:29 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 372
//cleo\\ says:
That's really cool, it just goes to show you that you should always pick the right friends that would help you later on in life ^-^
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 11:37 AM EST
Animagus
Points: 19544
Sirius-Ella says:
Aww..thats cool!! Glad her friend was there
to help her!! Great artical..now just to
figure out why she killed sirius*sniff*
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 11:49 AM EST
Unspeakable
Points: 3920
stocco says:
That's awesome. We all owe that woman so much! She helped give JKR time to finish school and begin Harry Potter! She's my hero! Haha.
HUFFLEPUFF!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 12:18 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 366
TXBunny520 says:
Success stories like these shine a ray of hope of all those just struggling to survive. Being young and just starting out with young children is quite a challenge, that I myself am currently living. Helping each other during the hard times only makes everyone's world better. I'm happy and in awe of JKR, you go girl. It is one thing to have a life long dream/love, but it is another to achieve it. My hats off to you and here is some shining hope for the rest of us.
Carpe Diem!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 12:29 PM EST
Head of Gryffindor House
Points: 3725
Professor McGonagall says:
That goes to show that you really see who your real friends are when you're in need !!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 12:30 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2157
HogwartsWitch says:
What a great story - and it truly shows that you never know what magic you may be helping to create by just showing a little kindness to someone. What a great friend to JK this woman must have been!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 12:48 PM EST
Werewolf
(Moderator)
Points: 5479
MoonyDawn says:
Thats so sweet! That was a loan well spent!
I bet they are still really great friends. Isn't it great the way things workout sometimes? :-)
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 12:51 PM EST
Half-Blood Prince
(Moderator)
Points: 942
Professor Scoots says:
Yes, I can imagine that lady got a little more for her good deed! JKR is pretty loaded now, and not the kind of person to forget someone who was nice to her... especially when she really needed it!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 12:54 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1445
PotionMaster says:
Awww... That is so nice. Goes to show that doing good can pay in return! My mom was once in a similar situation with being a single parent of two children. I know that those people who help her at meant a lot to her. Sounds like JK has a truely wonderful friend.
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 1:07 PM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23477
KT Lady says:
Ho Ho!! lolz I agree, That woman must have been thanked most generously. Its so amazing how far JK has come since writing HP-SS on napkins in a coffee shop..Its so cool!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 1:08 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2119
hpchik898 says:
That person was very genorous to give her that much $! Did you know that 4000 pounds equals to 6000 bucks! Well she got paid back! We all know that JK would always give her back her money (and much more at that!)
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 1:08 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2787
PunkyDunky says:
That's an amazing story. I love JK Rowling and honor her in saying that she faced lots of hardships and overcame them. Whoever helped her out has a kind heart and she definately got back what she loaned Rowling.
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 1:11 PM EST
Quidditch Captain
Points: 6166
Alex Seeker says:
I wonder if she ever thought she would get it back?! :D See, this is what they call karma I believe :)
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 1:24 PM EST
Obliviator
(Moderator)
Points: 8468
Prof. Dish says:
I bet her friend is pretty happy she loaned her that money huh?? It's always nice to hear about someone that made it through some hard times and got herself back on her feet!!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 1:28 PM EST
Witch
Points: 514
amy j says:
That is great. She sounds like a true friend. Just goes to show that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 1:53 PM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3836
hermionefan1 says:
Thats awesome! JKR's friend was extremley generous and nice. Thank God too, because we wouldn't have Harry Potter if it wasn't for her friends loan. I wonder if JKR paid back with interest, L0L!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 2:21 PM EST
Marauder
Points: 3954
jade says:
It is lovely to see that!!! JKR friend is really nice and must have really believed in her and imagine what a gift she gets back!!!JKR is just so generous but she also appreciates evryhting she has got.
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 2:35 PM EST
Witch
Points: 660
Draco's little secrete says:
Thats great that she gave so much back to the person because they did kind of hel;p her.......
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 2:50 PM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
Its just amazing that she started with nothing and had to borrow money and just look at her now...shes a wonder and is full proof that dreams can come true and that one day you could change the world with one book.
wow that was all mushy gushy but who cares i love JK!!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 3:07 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1059
DarkMagic13 says:
That's so sweet that a friend lent her that money, and J.K. made them back with more than five-times the amount they gave her! It's so astonishing how one person can change millions of children's lives with a book. I can't believe she is a billionaire! But she deserves it because she had a hard life before she wrote the Harry Potter books. I love to see people who have so much be so generous. Aww... sweet article.
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 3:34 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2337
Rassele says:
Imagine if that friend hadn't loaned her the money! Harry Potter might have never been created! What a scary thought... *shudders*
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 3:44 PM EST
Points: 1248
CalimaCala says:
TXBunny520 was right on about this being a success story. JK Rowling went from a poor single mom on welfare to a billionaire, and all on account of her talent! I'm a high school senior hoping to go to college next year, and the truth is that JK Rowling is one of the most inspiring people to have touched my life these past few years.
Thank you, JKR, if you're reading this! :-D
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 3:58 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1368
Danzer says:
That's so cool,that she overcame that and has probaly paid the person 10 times back.It is so cool how they made it!
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 4:01 PM EST
Witch
Points: 552
Gir Vasquez says:
Oh wow. This seems to be such an insperational story. Poor JK had to go through such a struggle to make something of herself. That was so sweet of her friend. Kindness is always repaid.
Posted Mar 22, 2004 at 4:02 PM EST
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