The Cuckoo’s Calling author J.K. Rowling announced on Wednesday, her birthday, that she would be donating royalties from sales to a military charity.

All royalties over the next three years will be given to The Soldiers’ Charity, who spread the money to soldiers and their families. “Half of our money is given direct to individuals to help in areas such as debt relief, mobility assistance, education bursaries, carehome fees and respite breaks,” they write on their official website. “The other half is given as grants to other charities.”

In making her announcement, Rowling revealed that donating profits from The Cuckoo’s Calling was her plan all along.

“This donation is being made to The Soldiers’ Charity partly as a thank you to the army people who helped me with research, but also because writing a hero who is a veteran has given me an even greater appreciation and understanding of exactly how much this charity does for ex-servicemen and their families, and how much that support is needed.”

“I always intended to give The Soldiers’ Charity a donation out of Robert’s royalties but I had not anticipated him making a bestseller list a mere three months after publication (indeed, I had not counted on him ever being there!)”

Chief Executive of The Soldier’s Charity, Major General Martin Rutledge, said of the donation that he was “absolutely thrilled by the extraordinary generosity of J K Rowling.”

“This donation will make a huge difference to the lives of thousands of soldiers, former soldiers and their families who are in real need,” he said in a statement. “Her tremendous show of support for The Soldiers’ Charity will help remind people of the many sacrifices made by our soldiers, long after any news of Afghanistan has left the front page.”

The Cuckoo’s Calling can be purchased on Amazon and through booksellers worldwide. It was published in mid-April, but the announcement that Rowling was behind the pseudonym Robert Galbraith leaked in mid-July.

Thanks to The Bookseller for the quotes.