Before her success with Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling faced several personal setbacks. She experienced the death of her mother, which profoundly affected her writing and emotional well-being. Rowling also went through a tumultuous period of unemployment as a single mother living on welfare, struggling to make ends meet while working on her manuscript. Her initial rejections from publishers added to her hardships, but her persistence eventually paid off. The success of the "Harry Potter" series transformed her life and allowed her to share her story of resilience and determination with millions.