I’ll never forget the day I met JK Rowling. She wasn’t herself, not really. She was mostly someone else. Because when I met JK Rowling, she wasn’t talking (much) about Harry Potter. She was talking about her adult detective books and she was there under her pen name, Robert Galbraith.
I haven’t read any of JK Rowling’s adult books, not yet, although I have both of her Robert Galbraith titles, but I still leapt at the chance to see her and hear her talk as part of the Harrogate Crime Festival last month. It didn’t matter that she wouldn’t be talking about Hogwarts, it was enough just to hear her. I went along with open ears: 50% reader, 50% writer, 100% fangirl. And she did not disappoint me.
She talked about why she decided to write her detective books anonymously (no one knew Robert Galbraith was really JK Rowling when the first book came out) and how she hates whichever book she happens to be working on and always wants to skip ahead to the next book. I almost invaded the stage at that point because, hey – ME TOO! And after an hour that felt like only a few minutes, she went to sign books.
Now, I’ve been on the business end of a few signing queues before but let me tell you, those queues were nothing compared to this. We could only get one book signed each (no Harry Potter) and there were no dedications or photos. But in spite of a queue apparently without end, JK Rowling was lovely as she signed my book (you get a hologram to prove it’s really her signature, you can see it in the corner of the photo, except the signature actually says Robert Galbraith, not JK Rowling. Um…) and she told me my dress was gorgeous. I freely admit I gawped like a loon. I probably told her I loved her. And I walked away floating on air because as well as having met one of my heroes and got a signed book, she gave me something she had no idea she was giving – an answer to a Frequently Asked Question. When I do school visits, I often get asked if I’ve met JK Rowling. Now I can say I have. And she liked my dress.
GirlsHeartBooks 
WOW! Meeting J.K must have been FAB Tam!! 😀 I’m SO happy for you!! 😀
Thanks, Laura, it was completely fab. She was a fascinating speaker too.
Oh love it:) Kids ask me that too and I say no but I’ve been an extra in the Goblet of Fire and that’s always fun to talk about 🙂
What did you do in Goblet of Fire?
I was a muggle at the tournament (I think I was supposed to be a chicken farmer because they did my hair in all these tiny little plaits – ouch!) will tell all at GHB on September 10th 🙂
So that’s pretty awesome! I think you win 🙂
No no no – you got to wear a cute dress. I got to look a mess with lots of thermals underneath my clothes, a cardigan for a 6 year old and welly boots because we were filming in a field. 🙂
OH to be able to say YES to ‘have you met JK Rowling?’! I am totally jealous! And she liked your dress! Did I spy a comp ticket too?! Even better!
Ruth, you were an extra in the GoF? You totally have to write about that for GHB if you haven’t already 🙂
Oh WOW!! I didn’t know that!! That’s one of my fave films!! 😀
OK will tell all about my GoF days on September 10th. Also been a golden ticket searcher in Charlie and Chocolate Factory and been in Golden Compass and Alex Rider and Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy ++++ – hmm might have a few blogs on this coming up 🙂 But not this month as I already wrote my one for this month (out Sunday) and I love it. 🙂
Wow – really looking forward to that post, Ruth!
I KNOW! The ticket wasn’t exactly a comp, though – I was at Harrogate Crime Festival and the ticket was part of the overall package. I will admit that knowing JK Rowling was going to be there was the icing on the cake.
Awesome! I would love to meet JK Rowling. What was your dress like?
It wasn’t even my best dress, Katie! But it was bright red, with flowers on, and I guess it caught her eye. It did make me wish I’d worn one of my really nice dresses, though 🙂