Original: Concept and creation According to Rowling, the idea for both the Harry Potter books and its eponymous protagonist came while waiting for a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990.
Simplified: Rowling said that the idea for the Harry Potter character came to her while waiting for a train in 1990. Concept and creation According to author J. K. Rowling, the idea for both the Harry Potter books and the character came while waiting for a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990.