The third book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, is published in the United Kingdom. It shoots to the top of bestseller lists. At 341 pages, this is only slightly longer than the 309-page first book. release had been scheduled for September, but Scholastic discovered that impatient fans of the first book were ordering copies of the sequel from the U.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is published in the United States, with an initial printing of 250,000 copies. The changes go beyond the title: illustrations are added to the start of each chapter, and British spelling, punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary are translated into American English. Scholastic publishes the first book, renamed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, in the United States. The second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is published in the United Kingdom, with a first print run of over 10,000 copies. The book is an instant success, selling well and winning several awards. Joanne adds her grandmother's name, Kathleen, to her own, producing 'J.K.

Because Bloomsbury is afraid that young boys won't want to read a book by a woman, they suggest she use her initials. The first book in the series- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone-is published in the United Kingdom. She is able to quit her teaching job and devote her time to writing. rights to the series, giving Rowling an advance over $100,000, a record for a foreign children's book.

Scholastic Books wins an auction for the U.S. October:īritish publisher Bloomsbury Press accepts the book, giving Rowling a $4,000 advance. Several publishers reject the book, finding it to be too long and slow for children. Her literary agent warns her 'You do realize, you will never make a fortune out of writing children's books?' Writing whenever she can, often in cafés, Rowling finishes her first book: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. She takes along her daughter and her ever-growing book manuscript. Now separated from her husband (they divorce in 1995), Rowling moves near her younger sister, Di, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Harry potter first book release