What was the first book you liked?
I remember being fascinated as a small child by the illustrations in Richard Scarry’s A very busy world. But the first chapter book I liked was probably Black Beauty. I remember reading it to a plastic horse that I had put in bed under a doll’s blanket.
When did you realize that you wanted to be a novelist?
I literally can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer. In fact, I’ve wanted to do it ever since I realized you could make a living making up stories – which I loved more than anything else.
Is there a movie or book that always makes you cry?
Yes, A story of Two cities. I don’t even have to read anything that leads to the end, just show me the last page and I will cry. I think the most I ever cried at a movie was when I was 18, when I As we were. I had just broken up with my first serious boyfriend, so I watched the movie on repeat several times to torture myself.
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What was the first line of The Philosopher’s Stone that you wrote? And the last one?
The first line I wrote about it didn’t end up in the book. It was “The Potter family lived in Darke’s Hollow,” which was the original name of Godric’s Hollow. The last line I wrote was literally the last line that was in The Deathly Hallows.
When did you feel happy with The Philosopher’s Stone while you are writing it?
There were seven years between the idea and its publication (and three country moves and many life-changing events). I kept losing hope and putting it aside, but that happened less and less the more I worked on it. Eventually it or I caught fire and I stopped doubting. I can still remember how excited I was after writing the first Quidditch game that flowed from my pen and was barely edited after that.
When did you realize it was a hit?
It’s all a bit of a blur to be honest. Winning the Smarties Book Prize (in 1997) was a huge moment, and then I got a record advance from America and everything went crazy.
Rowling in 1997 when she won a Smarties Book Prize along with television presenter Toby Anstis and two of the other award-winning authors, Jenny Nimmo and Charlotte Voake
TONY LARKIN
How did you feel when it was on the Sunday Times bestseller list?
I was overjoyed because it felt like this was something that actually happened to real writers. I can’t stress enough how shy I was about calling myself a writer. Even after I was published, I was hesitant to say it out loud because I had wanted it for so long and didn’t want to bring bad luck on myself.
What was the first album you bought?
Eat to the beat by Blondie.
Is there a book you just can’t finish reading?
I don’t mean to offend Stephen King (in fact, it is a compliment in many ways), but I was able to get the advance copy of Lisey’s story that were sent to me. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so I’ll just say that I found one part so disturbing that I put it down and never picked it up again.
What was the first concert you attended?
My first ever gig was Big Country at Bristol Dingwalls. John Cooper Clarke was the opening act. I can’t remember what I was wearing but I can guarantee I had matte lipstick, a big hairdo and probably huge earrings because that was 1982.
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Which work of art did you like first?
I visited the National Gallery on my own when I was about 19 or 20 and was absolutely fascinated by Caravaggio’s Last Supper at EmmausA tattered printout of it hung on my wall for years and appeared on my very first website.
Which book have you reread the most?
I re-read all the books I love. Possibly one by Jane Austen.
What are you reading right now?
One of my best friends gave me Travel: In the footsteps of Joni Mitchell by Ann Powers and I just started it. I’m a huge Joni Mitchell fan.
How far had your plans for all seven books progressed when you started working? The Philosopher’s Stone?
By the end of the first book, I knew how the seventh would end and had worked out a lot of the world details, but I left myself enough leeway to have fun while writing. Even though they are such different genres, I applied a lot of what I learned about world-building from Potter to the Strike series. In my work, I like to know exactly where I’m going. In my life, that’s not so much the case.
The running grave by Robert Galbraith is available in paperback (Sphere £10.99)
