J.K. Rowling was a struggling single mother when she finished her first Harry Potter book with a grant from the Scottish Arts Council. That children's novel, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," earned the author a six-figure advance in the United States and quickly became a national bestseller.

Since then, Rowling's hero, an orphan wizard, has generated a publishing phenomenon. The long-awaited 752-page fourth book in the series -- "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" -- has generated a media frenzy complete with a multitude of unofficial Harry Potter websites and eager speculations about the book's title and content. Booksellers signed contracts that forbade them from opening shipments of the latest book until 12:01 a.m. on July 8th, 2000, although a Wal-Mart and a Virginia bookstore sold copies before the employees realized their mistake.

There has never been a larger first printing in publishing history. 3.8 million copies have been published in the United States alone and as of July 1, 2000, Amazon.com had already raked in 282,650 pre-orders. To date, 30 million Harry Potter books have sold worldwide.

The 34-year old Rowling has won numerous awards including the 1999 American Booksellers Book Award. She lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with her daughter.

Listen as Jim Dale reads from the latest J.K. Rowling book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." (Listening Library)

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