Shortly after she began writing, however, her mother 1) ... The years after her mother's death were hard for Rowling. 2. As a struggling writer, she married and had her first child. However, the marriage did not 2) . In her own words, this was when she entered 3) of her life and questioned whether she would 4) . 3. During this darkest period, Rowling found comfort in 5) and went on to complete the Harry Potter series. These dark years tested her inner 6) , and much of the Harry Potter stories were written during these years. 4. She now views this dark period as 7) for her to focus on the only work that mattered to her: being a mother and telling 8) .