Today marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the UK. Here is my love letter to the Potter series. While the book wasn’t released until 1998 in the States, I have been a fan ever since I first picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone when I was almost 11. It started off innocently enough, I would wait patiently for each new book and devour it. Then I started to buy every piece of merchandise I saw in the store, with my meager savings. Next came the films. By the time I was in high school I had found fan sites and decided I wanted to make my own. So I created DDNT which eventually turned into this very website.

At first Harry Potter was just something that I enjoyed with my sister and a few friends. But later on, as I started getting invited to press events, I made friends from all over the world, some of whom I have become extremely close with. I could not imagine my life without them and, if there was no Harry Potter, we never would have met. I am also a very shy person and meeting all these new people has helped me to come out of my shell. Little by little I’m gaining more self confidence to put myself out there.

I also owe my career to J.K. Rowling. If I didn’t start this website I never would have realized that I wanted to become a graphic designer. Now, 20 years after it’s publication I have graduated from college and been working for 7 years as a graphic designer and programmer. I’m sure many other people have a similar story, whether it’s becoming a writer because they admired her, or finding something else they loved through the series, many people owe their livelihoods to her.

Now with the theme parks and Fantastic Beasts films we have many more years of Potter to enjoy with friends and family. I know that if I ever have children they will read the books and fall in love with them just as I did. I foresee many family trips to Diagon Alley (and Hogsmeade!) at Universal Studios Florida where we can celebrate our love of the series with other like minded fans.

So thank you, J.K. Rowling, you’ll never truly know what you do for all your fans.

Filed Under: Books