When talking about the fantasy series Harry Potter, one cannot forget the renowned British author known by the pen name J.K. Rowling. The series is beloved by millions of readers worldwide and has been honored with numerous prestigious awards. However, even now, there are many untold stories about the author—a “phenomenon” in the British literary world.

Living with Refugees

In media interviews, Rowling has revealed that she has faced issues related to refugees and that public opinion has closely watched how she, as a famous author, handles this issue. A petition challenged J.K. Rowling to open “18 rooms for refugees” for Muslim refugees. This event was initiated by American writer Mike Cernovich, who, despite being less known in literary circles, is famous for writing about current U.S. President Donald Trump.

Mike Cernovich suggested that Rowling should provide housing for 100 refugees. Many considered this an inappropriate, politically motivated proposal, but the number of supporters for Cernovich’s suggestion surprisingly grew, becoming quite specific. The proposal demanded that the author accommodate at least 18 refugees over an 8-year period. This number was equivalent to 18 “spare rooms” of J.K. Rowling. Among these refugees, 14 were men, as 75 percent of current refugees are male. With over 56,000 signatures, and despite knowing the complexities and minimal cost involved, Rowling agreed.

Never Homeless

There have been rumors that Rowling was once homeless while developing a series of famous books, with some even claiming she lived in her car. Rowling addressed these rumors in a speech welcoming graduating Harvard students, stating that she was dependent on state welfare at the time. She felt unlucky, with a broken marriage and unemployment while caring for a child, but described this failure as liberating and allowing her to focus more on writing.

However, the truth revealed in an interview with The New Yorker was that Rowling lived in impoverished conditions for only a few months before a friend helped her secure a better apartment. She did not rise from “homelessness” as some might believe.

With her daughter by her side, Rowling spent hours in her brother-in-law’s café, creating beloved wizarding characters. She lived in despair after her ex-husband came to Scotland to find her and her daughter, completing her first novel while relying on state aid. Rowling wrote in various cafés, particularly Nicolson’s Café, owned by her brother-in-law Roger Moore.

First Novel Faces Criticism

After completing the Harry Potter series, Rowling decided to pause her children’s series and shift to writing her first novel for adults, titled *The Casual Vacancy*. Upon its release, the book faced significant criticism. The New York Times commented that it was “…not only disappointing but also boring.” The book addresses social issues, bleakness, and bitterness, with language that is bold and crude, contrasting sharply with the style of the Harry Potter adventures.

According to Rowling, *The Casual Vacancy* deals with social issues, mortality, and ethics—two of the most haunting themes for her while writing the book. Despite being harshly criticized, *The Casual Vacancy* brought in substantial profits for HBO just a few years after its release and was even adapted into a film by the BBC. Philip Stone, editor of The Bookseller magazine, predicts that *The Casual Vacancy* will be one of the most successful publications of the 21st century, and fans eagerly anticipated this first adult novel following the Harry Potter series.

Harry Potter Burned

On Twitter, it is clear that Rowling is not a major fan of U.S. President Donald Trump. In fact, Rowling has expressed dissatisfaction with many of Trump’s actions even before he became President. Her tweets have touched on sensitive and controversial topics related to Trump, including gender discrimination and other hot-button issues with which she disagrees. However, this is not why Rowling’s tweets have garnered significant attention; the controversy also led some to boycott her works simply because she voiced her political views.

Media attention to Rowling’s tweets led to increased support for Trump, causing a backlash where some of Rowling’s fans (both old and new) burned Harry Potter books and DVDs. This act resembled their hatred for Voldemort, the main antagonist in the Harry Potter series.

Regardless of differing political views or opposition to Trump, public opinion acknowledges that Rowling deserves many awards for her wit. In one of her humorous tweets, Rowling wrote that while the smoke from burning Harry Potter books and DVDs could be toxic, she did not oppose her fans’ decision.

Donating Nearly All Earnings

More than a decade after Forbes named Rowling the first literary billionaire, her financial situation has changed significantly. She is neither bankrupt nor dependent on government aid but continues to live well from her writing. However, in 2012, Forbes listed her in the Forbes Decline List (FDL) after she donated a significant portion of her earnings to charity. She has donated over $160 million since her rise to fame, but this decision did not affect her wealth significantly, except for no longer being on Forbes’ billionaire list.

One of the largest charitable organizations Rowling founded is the Lumos Foundation (LF). This charity focuses on protecting homeless children and ending institutional care.

According to The Sunday Times, much is unknown to the public: all proceeds from two works, *Quidditch Through the Ages* and *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*—both Harry Potter spin-offs—were donated to the British charity Comic Relief. Therefore, when discussing why Rowling was included in the FDL list, Forbes highlighted this commendable reason for her inclusion.