The typewriter that birthed a wizard.

In 1990, a struggling single mother named Joanne Rowling sat down at a cafe in Edinburgh, Scotland, with a vision in her head. She had always been passionate about writing, but had never found much success until that point. But with a story about a young boy named Harry Potter who discovers he is a wizard, she knew she had something special on her hands. And she was determined to write it.

For the next several months, Joanne worked tirelessly on the first Harry Potter novel, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," using an old vintage typewriter she had found in a second-hand shop. The typewriter was a manual Olympia, produced in Germany in the 1960s, and it became an integral part of her writing process.

"I wrote nearly all of the first Harry Potter book on an old manual typewriter," Joanne later said in an interview. "It was entirely portable, and I knew no one could edit me as I went along. So I just wrote and wrote and wrote."

The Olympia typewriter was a stark contrast to the high-tech digital writing tools of today, but it suited Joanne's needs perfectly. She typed away at it in cafes, on trains, and even in a cramped apartment she shared with her infant daughter. It was a labor of love, and one that would change her life forever.

In 1995, Joanne finished the manuscript for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," and began shopping it around to publishers. It was initially rejected by several major publishing houses, but eventually found a home with Bloomsbury, a small independent publisher in London.

From there, things started to move quickly. The book was an immediate success, winning critical acclaim and earning a devoted following of fans around the world. As the Harry Potter series continued to grow in popularity, Joanne's life changed dramatically. She became a millionaire practically overnight, and her success allowed her to pursue her writing career full-time.

But despite all the fame and fortune, Joanne never forgot the humble beginnings of her writing journey. In fact, she remained fiercely loyal to her old Olympia typewriter, which had been with her from the very beginning.

"I love that typewriter," she once said. "It has been with me through thick and thin and will always have a special place in my heart."

Today, the Olympia typewriter that Joanne used to write the first Harry Potter novel is on display at the British Library in London, a testament to the power of determination and the enduring legacy of a literary icon.

In conclusion, Joanne Rowling's story is a testament to the power of hard work and perseverance in the face of adversity. She wrote the first Harry Potter novel on a vintage Olympia typewriter, pouring her heart and soul into the project despite the many obstacles she faced. And her dedication paid off, leading to a literary phenomenon that has captured the hearts of readers around the world. As Joanne herself once said, "It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." Her choice to write the Harry Potter series on an old Olympia typewriter was a bold one, but it ultimately led to her success and inspired countless writers to follow their dreams.