Joanne Harris was
born in Barnsley in 1964. Her mother is French, and her father is English: this
cultural mix has affected many of her novels. Other aspects of her early years
have also influenced her writing: she lived above the family sweetshop until
she was 3, and Joanne spent many holidays in France with her relatives on the
continent. With both her parents being teachers, Joanne sometimes forgot how to
speak English during the long holidays. Her French relatives are based in
Brittany, and her grandfather had a house on the island of Noirmoutier, which
no doubt was a factor in the setting of “Coastliners” (2002) and “Holy Fools”
(2003).
She went to
Wakefield Girls’ High, Barnsley Sixth Form College, and read Modern and
Medieval Languages at St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge. From there, she
briefly became an accountant, before following her parents into teaching.
Joanne taught at Leeds Grammar School for over a decade. Her first novel, “Evil
Seed”, was published in 1989, and not 1898 as Joanne Harris’ webpage currently
states. Still, it’s a novel about vampires, so maybe it was published in 1898!
Joanne does not encourage readers to search out this early novel, as it’s quite
different from her other novels and is a bit horrifying in places. We at
Authortrek.com think that it just needs a bit more editing. Her next novel,
“Sleep, Pale Sister” was published in 1993, and we think it’s her best so far.
It was out of print for a while, but has recently been reissued. Excerpts from
our interview with Joanne are due to appear in the US edition. These first 2
novels did not really have a great impact, but her next novel really took off.
“Chocolat”
was published in 1999, and was shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Novel of the
Year Award. It was also made into a movie by Miramax, starring Juliet Binoche
and Johnny Depp. “Chocolat” was also in the running for the Oscars. Joanne’s
next novel, “Blackberry Wine” was published in 2000. “Five Quarters of the
Orange” followed in 2001, “Coastliners” in 2002, and “Holy Fools” in 2003. In
2004, she published “Jigs & Reels”, a collection of short stories (some of
which were published by Authortrek.com first). Joanne has also written 2
cookery books with Fran Warde, “The French Kitchen” (2002) and “The French
Market”. In 2004, she was invited to join the judging panel for The Whitbread
Prize, and was also a judge for The Orange Prize in 2005. Her next novel,
“Gentlemen and Players” will be published in 2005. She is currently
participating in a campaign to raise literacy levels. She has designed an envelope
that will be put up for auction on October 3rd on eBay, to raise
funds for the National Literacy Trust. Bruce Forsyth, Graham Norton, and Kate
Winslet are amongst the other celebrities taking part in the auction. It’s been
announced that Joanne Harris has won the award for Best Softcover Recipe Book
at the World Food Media Awards for “The French Kitchen”. Joanne Harris is now
set to conquer the pre-teens market with “Runemarks”,
which, as the title suggests, is based on Norse legends. Fans of “Chocolat”
will be delighted to learn that Vianne Rocher is due to return in “The Lollipop Shoes”
(May 2007). Joanne Harris lives in
Huddersfield with her husband and her daughter.
Jigs and Reels
- is
the title of Joanne Harris' collection of short stories. Fish,
one of the short stories in the collection, was published by The Independent,
and is online on the proceeding link. There are three Joanne Harris
stories that were exclusively published by us below, before their appearance in
“Jigs & Reels”:
Never
Give a Sucker an Even Break - is Joanne Harris' last vampire tale,
published here for the first time.
The Guaranteed Eternal Life Assurance Company -
Joanne Harris' story of diabolical salesmen.
The G-SUS Gene -
is the title of a story that Jay has written in 'Blackberry Wine'.
However, the real author of this intriguing tale is none other than a certain
Joanne Harris...
Faith and Hope go Shopping -
is a short story based in Meadowbank Home, mentioned in 'Blackberry
Wine'.
Kevin Patrick Mahoney reviews
it.
What
it feels like to write a bestseller – Joanne Harris writes about how
“Chocolat” took off at the Frankfurt Book Fair
Novel
Cuisine – Joanne writes that her father, a small eater, had to go through a
17 course meal to prove his worth to her great-grandmother
Celebrity
Doodles – Joanne’s contribution
My
first crash: Joanne Harris – Joanne on some near-misses with milk floats
“There
goes Mrs Harris on her broom” – an excellent Joanne Harris article about
her time as a teacher
Joanne Harris interview -
Kevin Patrick Mahoney talks
to this magical novelist for Authortrek.com.
Confectionary
Creations – explains why the movie of “Chocolat” was set in 1959
BBC News Forum: Chocolat author Joanne Harris
quizzed - an interview that also talks about the film of
'Chocolat'
Sweet Taste of
Success – Joanne speaks to “The Lady” magazine
And
all because… - Joanne’s interview with the Bradford Telegraph and Argus
“Chocolat”
author concocts a Bittersweet “Orange” – Rosemary Herbert talks to Joanne
Harris after publication of “Five Quarters of the Orange”. Joanne relates that
she has previously encountered a water adder while mucking around in the Loire.
One of her grandfather’s neighbours caused trouble for him during the war by
denouncing him to the Gestapo
Is
there life after “Chocolat”? – The Independent’s Boyd Tonkin interviews
Joanne. The village shooting in “Five Quarters of the Orange” looks to be derived
from Joanne Harris’ family history
Author
interview – Joanne Harris talks about Gastromance and the environmental
issues explored in “Coastliners”
“Chocolat”
author scores with irresistible “Holy Fools” – Joanne Harris talks to Diane
Weddington about using itinerants as characters
Cherwell
Online – Joanne reveals that Juliet Binoche slept in her daughter’s bed,
surrounded by cuddly toys
Food, Magic and
Westerns: the Novels of Joanne Harris – Serena Trowbridge reports from the
Birmingham Book Festival. “The Man who Sold St. Oswald’s” looks to be an early
working title for “Gentlemen and Players”.
UKAuthors
– Rebecca Galloway interviews Joanne, who reveals that the cover for the
reissue of “Sleep, Pale Sister” was designed to her specifications, and
illustrated by Graham Ovenden
Bittersweet Melting
Moments – Joanne Harris talks to Julie Wheelwright of The Scotsman about
“Gentlemen and Players”
Joanne
mixes her ideal ingredients -
Joanne tells Jill Armstrong why she is currently suffering from a croaky voice
Joanne
Harris: from chocolat to cabbage – Marianne Brace from “The Independent”
talks to Joanne
The
house that was bought by Chocolat – Joanne Harris talks to Mark Anstead of
“The Sunday Times” about the renovations on her house
French
Fancy – Joanne Harris is asked foody questions following the publication of
“The French Market”
An interview with
Joanne Harris – Uma Girish talks to Joanne Harris about “Gentlemen &
Players”
“Chocolat”
author condemns ‘bigots’ of Barnsley who teased her as a child – an article
from “The Independent which relates how some comments by Joanne Harris about
her home town were blown all out of proportion
Huddersfield
Literary Festival – Joanne was patron of this event in March 2006
Novels range from outstanding to
insufferable – an excellent review of “Gentlemen & Players” from MSNBC
The
hi-tech hand surgery that means I can carry on writing my bestsellers – an
excellent article recounting Joanne Harris’s experience of suffering from
Dupuytren’s contracture
‘Chocolat’
author gives a taste of darker treats in her sequel – Joanne Harris gives
an early interview about “The Lollipop Shoes”, the sequel to “Chocolat”
25
envoys to sing the area’s praises – Joanne Harris talks about being an
ambassador for Huddersfield
Now
it’s trial by children for the paperback writer – Joanne Harris talks about
“Runemarks”
Budding
poets can win boat trip with Joanne – Joanne is helping British Waterways
to promote their new Standedge visitor centre
I
keep shoes on the mantelpiece – Joanne talks to Hannah Stephenson about The
Lollipop Shoes
New
agent for Harris – Publishing News reports on Joanne Harris’ switch
from Serafina Clarke to Peter Robinson
Literary
Life – has a few quotes from interview in which Joanne Harris talks about
her early writing, some of which has made it into Runemarks
Write First – Joanne Harris was a judge for this Daily Mail competition
