User blog comment:JoePlay/Wizarding World Giveaway/@comment-4169669-20110719135043

To say Harry Potter means the world to me, or that Harry Potter is everything is almost an understatement. Harry Potter was what helped me get through my childhood. It was the book that inspired me to start reading writing. I started reading the books when I was 6 years old, (young I know), and I remember reading the first and second books, and being so engrossed in the story that I finished the second book in 17 days. My mother says, and I agree with her, that J.K. Rowling has a knack for making you look at the number of pages and not care. Harry Potter has also inspired me to start writing. Because of Harry Potter I started participating in "role playing" which helped me learn how to develop characters, and I also started writing fan fiction (as embarrassing as that may be to admit) which not only helped me develop my writing style and love of writing, but it also encouraged good research skills since I had to look up different facts in the book so my story fell in line. I could explain how each of the characters helped me learn good values and what friendship is, but it's easy to see that after reading two chapters. Harry Potter has done more for me than any other book, it helped me transition from childhood to adolescence, yes, but when I moved as a young girl and came to a new place where I had no friends, my love of Harry Potter kept me company. Harry Potter has been more to me than just a teacher and a comfort, but it serves as a guide to make the path to growing up easier. Because of Harry Potter, I know what I want to do. If I ever become a published author, I owe everything to J.K. Rowling. I guess the purpose of this post isn't just to try to win a sweepstakes or anything, but it's a hope that should J.K. Rowling stumble across this page, she will see this post and knows how truly grateful I am that she shared this bit of her mind, and this bit of her heart with the world.