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Harry Potter creator at Palace

J.K. Rowling
Rowling: "I didn't think it would do this well with anyone"  

LONDON, England -- Harry Potter creator J.K.Rowling was honoured for bringing magic to the children's literary world when she picked up an award from the Prince of Wales.

The author of the blockbuster series which features the wizardry schooling of Harry Potter, was awarded the Order of the British Empire at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

Rowling, who told CNN's Larry King that she never intended to become a children's writer, was given the title in recognition of her services to children's literature.

The four book series is one of the greatest publishing successes of recent years, dominating bestseller lists in more than 20 countries with sales of 60 million copies.

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Rowling said: "I thought I was going to be a writer for adults, but 'Harry' was the first (book) I tried to get published."

The idea for Harry Potter came to her all at once, she noted. "It came to me on a train going from Manchester to London. ... I had this very physical response to this idea."

"I just thought it would be so much fun to write."

Rowling, spent five years planning the entire series before finishing the first book.

The single mother, scraped along financially before the success of the Potter books, and has since donated a six-figure sum to a charity for single mothers.

Pottermania is set to escalate this year when the film version of the first book 'Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone' is released.

Warner Brothers gave a sneak film preview to fans who logged on to the literary wizard hero web site, www.harrypotter.co.uk.

Rowling has been thrilled with the making of the movie, which is being directed by Chris Columbus ("Bicentennial Man") and written by Steve Kloves ("The Fabulous Baker Boys").

"It's actually been a lot of fun for me," she said.

"Writing is a very solitary business and to work collaboratively on something ... it's Steve's script, but he's allowed me some input."

But, though Rowling knows a lot of money is riding on the success of the movie, she plans to enjoy it like any other Harry Potter fan.

"I'm going to be sitting there like everybody else, really wanting to watch quidditch (the most popular game at Hogwarts, a sort of soccer played on flying broomsticks).

"That's the thing I want to see most. ... I've been watching this inside my head for 10 years, so to be able to physically watch it ... I feel like a kid when I think about that."

The movie is set for release on November 16.



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RELATED SITES:
Harry Potter
The Unofficial Harry Potter Fan Club
Warner Bros.: Harry Potter movie Web site

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