You’ve said that you’ve always wanted to be a writer but intended to write for adults. Will you try that after you’ve finished the Harry Potter series?
If I’m known forever as a children’s writer, I will never consider that “second best”-I don’t feel I need to write for adults before I’m a “serious” writer! For me, the idea always comes before I consider an audience. In truth, I never consider the audience for whom I’m writing. I just write what I want to write. So, perhaps I will write for adults one day, but only if the idea is right.
Whom do you consider your influences? How have they affected your writing?
Writers I most admire are: E. Nesbit, Jane Austen, Vladimir Nabokov and Colette. But as for being influenced by them… I think it [may be] more accurate to say that they represent untouchable ideals to me. It is impossible for me to say what my influences are; I don’t analyze my own writing in that way.
How do you meet the demands of raising your daughter, deal with the press and promotion, and still make writing a priority?
I meet the demands of writing, promotion and my daughter in the same way every working mother copes-with great difficulty sometimes, and by learning to say no! My daughter comes first, Harry second, and then I start weeding out non-priorities.
Will you get input into any Harry Potter spin-offs (or do you want it)?
I have input into the film [script approval]. Other than the film, there are no spin-offs at the moment. I have turned down everything else. I would never have sold film rights to Warner if I hadn’t believed that they would do a faithful interpretation of the book, and I still believe that they will..
Do you find that non-English language readers identify with your brand of humor?
As far as I can tell-I can’t read Norwegian-the reaction in other countries has been very similar to here. The humor seems to have translated very well, from the reaction I get from foreign children.
You’ve said before that you want to keep your favorite authors to yourself. Are there secrets about Harry that you’ll keep to yourself?
There are things I know about many of the characters in the Harry books that might not make it into the books themselves … too much information, not enough space!
You can read the more interviews in Accio Quote (www.accio-quote.org), “The Largest Archive of J.K. Rowling quotes on the web”