Imagine that you are a single mother of a young infant and receiving public assistance. You’ve always enjoyed writing, and decide to spend some time each afternoon working on a story, while the baby is sleeping. These are the real circumstances under which the incredibly popular Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was created.
While this story has often been repeated, it may leave us with the mistaken impression that Ms. Rowling was an overnight success. Nothing could be further from the truth. Her book was rejected 12 times, and was only approved by the thirteenth publisher when he learned that his adolescent daughter was very intrigued by the first sample chapter. Even then, Ms. Rowling was discouraged by the publisher of her first book, who felt that she had no future as an author. Fortunately for us all, Ms. Rowling eventually received a grant, enabling her to continue writing.
Initially limited to only 1,000 copies, the book began to stockpile noted British Book Awards in children’s book categories. Prior to its introduction into the United States market, the title was changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by its stateside publisher,
Scholastic, Inc. There is no doubt that the worldwide recognition and manic bestseller status for this title had a dramatic impact on Scholastic’s bottom line. Unfortunately, it has also pitted the company against retailers wishing to capitalize on the book’s success, with occasional litigation between the parties involved. Nonetheless, everyone involved with the Harry Potter phenomenon started by this book has been the better for it.
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