Born on July 31, 1965, in Gloucestershire, England, Joanne
Kathleen Rowling grew up in rural communities in the southwestern part of that
country. Rowling’s childhood experiences (67) her future
literary creations. She explored the English countryside, visiting (68)
and historical sites which inspired her (69)
.Although she disliked science and mathematics courses, Rowling (70)
in literature classes. She penned funny, fantastical tales to
(71) her sister Diana and friends, (72)
the Potter siblings whose name she later (73) for her
wizardry novels. As a teenager, Rowling dreamed of becoming a
(74) author whose books were sold in stores. She kept her
ambitions a secret, (75) , because she feared criticism and
discouragement from people who might declare that her writing was (76)
Rowling gradually became more self-confident and was (77)
Head Girl during her final year at school. (78)
languages at Exeter University in order to be (79) as a
bilingual secretary, Rowling graduated with a degree in French and Classics.
This (80) knowledge aided her later clever (81)
of characters in the Harry Potter books. Rowling then
(82) to Manchester for other office positions. She wrote
fiction for adult readers but did not (83) it for
publication. She also often visited her (84) mother. It was
during one of these train trips (85) Rowling began inventing
characters and (86) .