Acclaimed author JK Rowling has shared her memories of the moment she realized her creation, Harry Potter, had become a global phenomenon. In a recent interview published by Deadline, Rowling looked back on the amazing journey from the publication of her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, in 1997 to the series’ monumental success.

Rowling’s book series, which tells the adventures of the young wizard Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has since sold over 500 million copies worldwide. The books have also been adapted into a hugely successful film series that has grossed over $10 billion.

Looking back, Rowling described the early days as a time of confused activity until she won the Smarties Book Prize in 1997. “Then I got a record advance from America and everything went crazy,” she recalled, according to Deadline.

This award marked a turning point and brought the Harry Potter series to unprecedented fame and success. The road to publication was full of challenges for Rowling, as she spent seven years writing the first book.

“I kept losing hope and giving up on it,” she admitted, adding, “But that happened less and less the more I worked on it. At a certain point, it or I caught fire and I stopped doubting.” She particularly remembered the joy she felt while writing the first Quidditch match, describing it as a moment of euphoria when the words flowed effortlessly.

Rowling’s passion for writing began early in her life. She cites Busy, Busy World by Richard Scarry and Black Beauty by Anna Sewell as influential books from her youth.

“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer,” she said, reflecting on her lifelong devotion to the craft. (ANI)

(With contributions from agencies.)