J.K. Rowling is one of the world’s most successful and beloved authors, best known for her phenomenally popular Harry Potter book series. But just how many books has she written in total? We’ll explore the answer in-depth here.
What We Know About J.K. Rowling
Before we get into the books written by J.K. Rowling, let’s take a quick look at her life and career. Joanne Rowling, best known as J.K. Rowling, was born on July 31, 1965 in Chipping Sodbury, England. As a child, Rowling was an avid reader, something that would serve as a great foundation for her later success as a writer. After graduating from St. Michael’s College, she got a job working as a researcher and secretary in a London office.
It was during this time that Rowling first began writing her iconic Harry Potter series. She said she got the idea while riding on a train in 1990. Over the next few years, she worked on the first novel, eventually completing it in 1995. It was published in 1997, and the rest, as they say, is history!
Books Written By J.K. Rowling
So, how many books has J.K. Rowling published? The answer is quite a few. Let’s take a look at the full range of works attributed to Rowling, starting with the Harry Potter series.
The Harry Potter Series
The wildly popular series that made Rowling famous is, of course, Harry Potter. The seven novels in the series have sold over 500 million copies worldwide, making Rowling one of the most successful authors of all time. The complete series consists of:
1.Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (released in the US as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone)
2.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6.Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Fantastic Beasts Series
In addition to the main series, Rowling has also written three additional books focusing on the creator of the Philosopher’s Stone, Newt Scamander, and the magical creatures he studies. The Fantastic Beasts series currently consists of three books:
1.Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
2.Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
3.Fantastic Beasts: The Rest of the Law
The Cormoran Strike Series
Rowling also wrote a series of crime novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The series is written not only in Rowling’s trademark descriptive style, but also features an ex-Commander in the British Army as its protagonist. The Cormoran Strike series currently consists of four books:
1.The Cuckoo’s Calling
2.The Silkworm
3.Career of Evil
4.Lethal White
Additional Books Written By J.K. Rowling
Rowling isn’t just a best-selling novelist; she is also an acclaimed children’s book author. Her two works for younger audiences are:
1.The Tales of the Beast: The Ickabog
2.The Casual Vacancy
The Ickabog is a fairy tale about a cruel king and the brave children who bring him down. It was originally released online in instalments during the 2020 pandemic, before being published as a physical book in November 2021. The Casual Vacancy, meanwhile, is a political satire set in a small English town, which was released as a novel in 2012.
Other Writing Projects
In addition to her own works, Rowling has also penned several screenplays based on the Harry Potter books and Fantastic Beasts series. She is also the creator and Executive Producer of the popular TV show Strike, based on the Cormoran Strike series.
So, How Many Books Did J.K. Rowling Write Exactly?
In total, J.K. Rowling has written 12 books, including the seven in the Harry Potter series, the three in the Fantastic Beasts series, and the two additional works. She has also written four screenplays and is an Executive Producer of the Strike television show.
J.K. Rowling has accomplished an incredible amount throughout her career as an author. With a whopping 12 books—which have sold millions of copies around the world—she has achieved a level of success that many aspiring writers could only dream of. We hope you have enjoyed this exploration of the books written by J.K. Rowling!
