J.K. Rowling Mourns End of Harry Potter

By Pamela Mortimer

J.K. Rowling is probably the most well known author in the world today, perhaps even in the history of the literary world. For those who live under a rock, Rowling is the first billionaire author on record, known for the seven part Harry Potter book series which spawned a slew of hit movies. Rowling, who started out as a single mother on assistance, clawed her way to success and has reaped just rewards.

Harry Potter, renowned teen wizard at Hogwarts boarding school, ends his adventures with book seven, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". In an exclusive interview on Tuesday’s Today, Rowling expresses sadness over the finality of the Potter series. According to the author, she not only gave Harry life but he gave her life as well.

Meredith Vieira met with Rowling in Scotland, where the pair discussed Rowling’s journey. When asked, Rowling said that it felt "incredible" to have finished the saga that has formed an entire generation of readers. "It feels great, to be honest with you. It’s a really nice place to be," said Rowling.

The completion of the book gave her immense satisfaction but was also tinged with sadness. The book, which sold 8.5 million copies on its first day, was finished several months before Saturday’s release. When she actually finished writing, the author admitted, "I was hard to live with."

Although saying goodbye may have been traumatic at first, Rowling says, "It was this amazing cathartic moment. The end of 17 years of work. And that was just hard to deal with for about a week. And it’s very much tied into things I’ve done in my life for 17 years that brought back a lot of memories of what had been going on in my life when I started writing."

A far cry from her humble beginnings, Rowling now owns two homes in Scotland and one in London. She is married to Neil Michael Murray, an anesthesiologist, and has a son, David Gordon Rowling Murray, and a daughter from her first marriage, Jessica.

"When you started, you were not in the same place you are now by any means," said Vieira.

"No," Rowling replied. "And, in fact, when I started actually I was in a bad place. And then, you know, life has its ups and downs. So I mean, Harry’s been with me as a result. I think it was that feeling more than any other that I wouldn’t have that world to retreat into again that was painful."

Despite the sadness of the end of an era, Rowling is well aware of what she has accomplished. "I feel a big sense of achievement," she told Vieira. "I mean, I am sad. But I’ve been sadder."

The Today interview will continue on Friday.