Havering is taking part in the London Children's Book Swap Event for the first time this year. It is a fantastic opportunity to share your pre-loved books and stories and swap them for different ones. You may even discover a new favourite.It is being held at Hornchurch Library on Saturday 10th February 10.30 - 2pm.

JK Rowling

JK Rowling is the author of probably the most successful series of books that have appealed to both children and adults – Harry Potter. There are seven books which have enthralled and captured the imagination of millions as well as eight films. There is even a theatre show in the West End called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. What do you know about JK Rowling?

Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born near Bristol in July 1965. Her father was an aircraft engineer and her mother a chemistry technician in the local secondary school.

Unsurprisingly she loved reading and wrote her first book when she was only 6 years old, it was called Rabbit. When she was 11 she wrote a story about seven cursed diamonds and the people who owned them. She would spend every spare moment reading and writing notes for story ideas.

She went to Exeter University and studied French and Classics. Part of her course involved her living in Paris which she describes as ‘one of her favourite places on earth.’

After finishing her course she moved to Portugal to teach English as a foreign language where she met and married her future husband. They had a daughter in 1993. Unfortunately the marriage did not last and Jo came back to the UK and chose to live in Edinburgh. She carried on teaching and sent the first three chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone to many publishers. One of them responded and the rest is history.

Jo also writes books under another name, Robert Galbraith, they are crime novels for adults featuring a private detective.

In 2001 she married again and had a daughter and son. She continues to live in Scotland.