Harry Potter author JK Rowling has shared two rejection letters she received from publishers while writing under her pen name Robert Galbraith.
The author, who was recently named as the first female novelist in the world to become a billionaire, posted posted them on Twitter while giving encouragement to other hopeful writers.
The letters are rejection slips for her novel The Cuckoo's Calling, which she wrote using the pen name of Galbraith.
Responding to a fan's request for a picture of a rejection letter she explained: "The Potter ones are now in a box in my attic, but I could show you @RGalbraith's?".
By popular request, 2 of @RGalbrath's rejection letters! (For inspiration, not revenge, so I've removed signatures.) pic.twitter.com/vVoc0x6r8W
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2016
The creator of the famous wizard fantasy series was quick to point out she had removed the signatures from the letters because she was posting them "for inspiration, not revenge".
One of the letters, from publishing house Constable & Robinson, says: "I regret that we have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we could not publish it (your book) with commercial success."
The letter goes on to suggest she "double check in a helpful bookshop" or in the twice yearly "buyer's guide of Bookseller magazine", about who the current publishers of her fiction genre are.
I pinned my 1st rejection letter to my kitchen wall because it gave me something in common with all my fave writers! https://t.co/ZmGNWDdF7x
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2016
The second letter, from Creme de la Crime publishers, explains politely that they have become part of Severn House Publishers and are "unable to accept new submissions at the moment".
Author Joanne Harris joined the Twitter discussion saying she got so many rejections for her popular 1999 novel Chocolat that she "made a sculpture...".
A scene from Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
In reply to a fan who asked if any of the publishers who had rejected her had turned down Harry Potter, she said: "Yes, the publisher who first turned down Harry also sent @RGalbraith his rudest rejection (by email)!".
She ended the conversation by giving a fan advice on getting the courage to "risk it all", telling them: "I had nothing to lose and sometimes that makes you brave enough to try."
To date Rowling's Harry Potter series has sold more than 400 million copies and she has won multiple awards.
The eight film adaptations of the books have been named as the second-highest grossing franchise and film series of all time.
