J.K. Rowling reflects on the moment she realized her creation, Harry Potter, had become a global sensation.
Her series chronicles Harry Potter’s time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and his battle against Lord Voldemort.
The series has sold over 500 million copies worldwide, while the film franchise is valued at more than $10 billion.
J.K. Rowling published the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (known as Sorcerer’s Stone in the US), in 1997.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Rowling recalled realizing the series’ immense success when she won the Smarties Book Prize in 1997. “Then I received a record advance from America, and everything went wild,” she said.
Rowling also disclosed that it took her seven years to complete the first book due to ongoing self-doubt:
“I kept losing confidence and setting it aside, but that happened less frequently as I progressed. At some point, the book—or perhaps I—caught fire, and the doubts diminished. I distinctly remember feeling exhilarated after writing the first Quidditch match, which flowed effortlessly and required minimal revision.”
