J. K. Rowling

Every entry, with its source

At 0

1. Jul 31, 1965

   Born in Yate, England

   She shares a birthday with Harry Potter.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 20

1. c. 1986

   Graduated from Exeter in French and classics

   A major her parents pushed her toward.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 24

1. Jun 1990

   Thought up Harry Potter on a delayed train

   Manchester to London. No pen on her, so she worked it out in her head for four hours.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 25

1. Dec 30, 1990

   Her mother died

   The loss became a central theme of the books.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 26

1. Nov 1991

   Teaching English in Porto, Portugal

   At 26. Writing in the mornings, teaching in the evenings.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 28

1. Dec 1993

   Divorced, she moved to Edinburgh with her daughter

   Living on benefits, writing in cafes.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 29

1. c. 1995

   Manuscript finished, and 12 publishers said no

   She could not afford to copy the typescript, so she typed the whole thing again herself.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 31

1. Jun 26, 1997

   Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone comes out

   At 31. A first run of 500 copies, on a 1,500 pound advance.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 36

1. Nov 16, 2001

   The first film opens

   At 36.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 38

1. c. 2004

   Forbes called her the first author to become a billionaire

   Around 38.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 41

1. Jul 21, 2007

   Seven books in, the series ends

   At 41. Eleven million copies on the first day.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 47

1. Sep 27, 2012

   The Casual Vacancy, her first novel for adults

   At 47.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org
2. Apr 2013

   A crime novel under the name Robert Galbraith

   Put out as a debut; three months later the pen name was exposed.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org