From rags to riches: Celebrating the birthday of J K Rowling

J K Rowling, who turns a year older today, shares her birthday with Harry Potter, the iconic protagonist of the series that saw her rise, from an unemployed single mother to a billionaire.

The fantasy lover began writing stories at the age of six. However, her first manuscript of Harry Potter was rejected by 12 publishers before Bloomsbury picked it up. (Photo | AP)

Rowling jotted down Harry Potter plot ideas on a delayed train ride way back in 1990. (Photo | AP)

When 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', the final book in the series, was published in 2007, 8.3 million copies were sold within the first 24 hours. Guess how many copies of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' were printed for the first time? Hardly 1000! (Photo | AP)

The seven books in the Harry Potter series sold around 500 million copies in total. (Photo | AP)

Not just publishers, even Oxford underestimated her. Though she wrote an entrance examination, she was rejected by the University, forcing her to study French at Exeter. (Photo | AP)

Rowling didn't read the first book as she had promised her editor she wouldn't go through it. (Photo | AP)

Rowling is an active Twitter user and she engages with her fans through discussions and has landed in several controversies because of her tweets. (Photo | AP)

Though nominated 12 times for the Academy Awards, the Harry Potter movies haven't won a single one. Rowling has worked as a consultant in the films, and later went on to produce some of the Harry Potter films. (Photo | AP)

Rowling dropped off the Forbes billionaires list because she gave a lot of money to charity. 'You have a moral responsibility when you’ve been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it and give intelligently', she said. (Photo | AP)

Rowling's personal favorites include Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and The Casual Vacancy. (Photo | AP)