USA Today will be publishing 25 lists in the next 25 weeks (to celebrate 25 years of being in business) encompassing all the changes in the world during those years. Their first list is called Most influential people and JK Rowling is on that list at number 20!

The first Harry Potter book, completed in 1995 and initially rejected by several publishing houses, launched a seven-volume series that absorbed children and adults in complicated fantasies spanning thousands of pages.