Joanne Rowling, known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a renowned British author and philanthropist. She is most famous for writing the Harry Potter series, a seven-volume fantasy novel series published between 1997 and 2007, which has sold over 600 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 84 languages.

Rowling also writes the Cormoran Strike crime fiction series under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Born in Yate, Gloucestershire, she was working for Amnesty International when she conceived the idea for the Harry Potter series. The publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997 brought her immense success and wealth, leading to multiple sequels and a global media franchise including films and video games.

Rowling's works have revived fantasy as a genre in the children's market and have inspired a dynamic fandom. However, her portrayal of gender and social division has sparked some criticism, and the series has provoked religious debates.

Beyond her literary success, Rowling is deeply involved in philanthropy. She established the Volant Charitable Trust and co-founded the charity Lumos. Her charitable contributions have exceeded $200 million, focusing on medical causes and support for at-risk women and children.

Rowling's expression of gender-critical views since 2020 has resulted in substantial public debate and impacted her relationship with readers and colleagues. Despite this, she continues to be an influential figure in literature and philanthropy.