Although I have known for a long time that I want to be an author, I never realized how much until I read Harry Potter.

When the Harry Potter hubbub started in the United States of America (where I am from) I did not want anything to do with it. I am not one to like the "in" thing. I did not care if Harry Potter was branded a "children’s" book, I still read such beloved classics like "The Berenstein Bears" (for those of you who do not know what those are, they are children's picture books), in other words, that did not keep me from reading the book. It took me until last fall in November to give in. On the Wednesday a week before "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was released, my friend's boyfriend and I got into an argument about Harry Potter. He liked it, I wanted him to shut up about it. The argument ended with me agreeing to borrow his copy of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". The next day I started reading the book during my first class of the day and I was to the third chapter by the middle of my next class. In a short hour I was hooked. By Friday I was finished with the book and on my way to the bookstore to buy my own copies of the four books. I ended up seeing the movie at 12:01 A.M. the day it came out. I was tired the next day at school (it was worth it) and wearing a lightning bolt washable tattoo on my forehead.

As far as books go, I think that I have not read anything more well-written than Harry Potter. I aspire to be an author like J.K. Rowling when I pursue my career. I want to achieve what she has, which is making lovable characters that everyone can relate to, making it "OK" to read again, and letting children use their imagination.

When the Christian issue comes up, I am appalled that churches would go through the trouble of wasting their money on these books just to burn them.
That is just stupid. Why can't they spen their money on something the church actually needs or give that money to the homeless, or (in my case) use the money to build a new sanctuary. I may think that God is my best friend, but I also understand the difference between fact and fiction and I think it is more of a matter that parents are not teaching their kids the difference and children need to know that they can not do magic like written in the book. I have often say that if your child wants to do magic, buy them a magic kit, because if you are really that scared that your kid is going to sell themself to the devil to do magic like Harry Potter, there is something wrong there.

Harry Potter to me is just a great story. It is something that can take you away from your worries whenever you pick it up. It has inspired me to write good quality books, just like it is. I am proud to say that I am a Harry Potter fan no matter what the reaction I may get from my peers. As far as I am concerned, if you are going to laugh at me for liking Harry Potter, you are the one missing out.