Nerds Inc.: November 2014

This month, I've decided to participate in My Hero Monday, a monthly blog link-up over at A Girl's Voice and Free As A Girl With Wings (both of which are amazing blogs, and I highly encourage you to go check them out). It celebrates female heroes, and also encourages people to learn about new ones. If you'd like to see other blogs participating, or join the link-up next month, I've included links at the bottom of this post.

Also, over the course of November, this blog will be moved over to http://stayandwatchthestars.wordpress.com/. But don't worry- it'll still have the same content and everything, just a new URL and layout. If you'd like to leave a comment on this post, I ask that you do it on Stay and Watch the Stars instead.

And now, [finally], let's begin!

{website/ blog} {pottermore} {twitter}

Full Name

Joanne "Jo" Rowling. She writes under the names of JK Rowling and Robert Galbraith

Birthdate

July 31, 1965

Current Age

School(s)

Wyedean School, St Michael's Primary School, University of Exeter

What books has she written? Which one is my favorite? Why?

JK Rowling was the author of the Harry Potter series, along with a few of "spinoff" books (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through the Ages, etc.), and a couple of mystery novels (The Cuckoo's Calling and The Casual Vacancy). She's also published a novel named The Silkworm this year.

I haven't read either of her mystery novels, but the Harry Potter books have basically been my go-to series for the past six or seven years. I've loved the stories for a long time now, and I think they were one of the many things that inspired me to write. If I had to choose a favorite out of all of them... Maybe The Deathly Hallows or The Prisoner of Azkaban?

When did I first hear about her?

My mom and dad handed me the first book when I was in third grade and said "YOU NEED TO READ THIS SERIES." Well, maybe it didn't happen exactly like that, but my memory is fuzzy. All I know is that my parents recommended the Harry Potter series to me, and from then on, I was hooked.

What makes her one of my heroes?

Well, first off, she lost her billionaire status because she donated so much to charity. Honestly, I think that's something that billionaires should be obliged to do. Oh! And she was the first female novelist to become a billionaire, too! But anyway.

She went from being a single mom living in poverty to one of the most famous authors of our time. She's one of the people who proved to me that yes, you really can make a living off of being an author, and more. Not that it's likely. But still.

And finally, although I've always loved reading, JK Rowling was the one who turned that spark into a raging bonfire. She's an amazing author, and, in my opinion, an amazing role model as well.

Quotes

"Wherever I am, if I've got a book with me, I have a place I can go and be happy."

"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might not have lived at all- in which case, you fail be default."

"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

"I would like to be remembered as someone who did the best she could with the talent she had."

"We do not need magic to change our world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already."

Also, honorable mention goes to Malindo Lo (for inspiring me to write more diversity into my stories- you can find nevillegirl's post about her here) and Tamora Pierce (for writing fantastic fantasy novels and amazing heroines).

Be sure to check out the other My Hero Monday link-up posts!

November 3:

nevillegirl @ Musings From Neville’s Navel

Cait @ Notebook Sisters

November 10:

Bridget @ Nerds Inc.

Mawa Mahima @ All Things Wordy

Artgirl @ Alien Cows

November 17:

Charley @ Charley R’s Leaning Tower of Plot

November 24:

Orphu @ A Mirror Made of Words