Listen to the interview
(47 minutes)
Prolific English author of 14 diverse books, including the famed "Chocolat," "Blackberry Wine" and "Five Quarters of the Orange," Joanne Harris' newest, "The Girl With No Shadow," was just published in the United States.
In Europe, where the book is already a big seller, the book is titled, "The Lollipop Shoes."
Asked why the title was changed along with the jacket design during a phone interview from her home in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England, Harris said, "I have no idea. I'm sure it has something to do with marketing. I have no great issue with it, except that it could cause confusion, and make some people think there are two books. 'The Girl with no Shadow' is one of the alternate titles I had suggested."
Most readers are likely to think "The Lollipop Shoes" is the title most suited to the story line.
Although Harris, whose novel, "Chocolat," set in Toulouse, France, was made into a very popular film in 2000, with a chocolate v. church motif, she had not intended writing a sequel. Part of the film's appeal was attributable to its charismatic stars, Juliet Binoche and Johnny Depp.
Even though her new novel is billed as "a sequel," Harris demurred. "I'm not sure it counts as a sequel, certainly not a direct sequel. It's another chapter in the story of some of the same people in 'Chocolat.' I didn't think their story was over, and my daughter is the prototype for Vianne's daughter, Anouk," said Harris.
In fact, Harris admitted that although she is not the prototype for Vianne, that she "exists in many of the characters in different ways."
The story in the novel deals with Vianne and her two daughters, Anouk and Rosette, who move to Montmartre, a village in Paris, with a new identity, where she opens a chocolaterie, but stops making her own chocolate. When Zozie enters her life, she volunteers to help her and she suggests returning to the days of making her own chocolate.
Eventually, the two women become antagonists. This fairy tale for adults takes a dark turn, worthy of dark chocolate.
A natural storyteller, Harris enjoys plumbing her massive imagination to write her books, and she writes visually. Sometimes, she works very fast, as she did with "Girl."
"Normally, I write a chunk of about 10 pages a day. It's a self-contained unit, but I'm very much feeling my way. There are a lot of little surprises that are surprises to me, too. The more spontaneously I write, the more this happens. I kind of galloped through this book, charging toward the finish."
Although Harris uses a lot of magic and fantasy in her work, she does not claim to be a researcher. Mostly, she writes out of her own head. "I do try to write about something I know about and folklore has been a passionate interest of mine for many years. It took a long time for me to find my own voice, but it is well-established now."
Harris is both a linguist and a musician, so she purposely writes with a certain rhythm. "I often read aloud when I write, to see if it is too long or too short and if it fits a rhythmic pattern. My style seems designed to be read aloud. The dialogue especially. It makes it sound more natural."
Harris sees more magic and fantasy in this book than in "Chocolat." But she thinks the term, "magic realism," that some critics apply to her books, is "strange. Either you think the magic is real or you don't. I don't like labels. I still have to learn why that phrase exists. But 'Girl' requires more fantasy. This is a high noon with witches' story. Magic is the central metaphor of the book and you can see the magic happening."
It is also about identity — and fits perfectly into a modern world in which identity theft is a huge problem. At least two of her characters, Vianne and Zozie, are engaged in identity theft. "It's about loss of identity and what it means to be who you are. The fact that Vianne renounces magic in this book and starts living under false pretenses, causes her relationship with her almost teenage daughter to deteriorate."
There is a fascinating new character in this book, too — Zozie, "a wonderfully seductive young woman who is all things to all people, a classic fairy tale villain, but at home with technology, too, and she uses magic for her own purposes. When she is with Vianne she becomes like her. When she is with Vianne's daughter, Anouk, she becomes like her, and she turns into a seductress when she is around men."
When asked if popular French actress Audrey Tatou would be the right fit to play Zozie in a film, Harris said, "Yes, she might be good. Zozie certainly needs to be someone with charm, a chameleon, one who can create an 'edge."'
Harris does not rule out the possibility of writing about these characters once more in possibly 10 years. "Not all things are resolved in this one. Rosettte is only 4 and we don't know much about her. There is much more to learn about Anouk, too. I'll be watching my daughter as she grows older."
She plans to "continue to explore strange new worlds and to keep pushing boundaries. 'Girl' is a much darker story than 'Chocolat.' It's longer and more complex. My stories are becoming more multilayered and more challenging. I like to think I'm developing new skills."
If you go ...
What: Luncheon and lecture by Joanne Harris, author of The Girl With No Shadow
When: Saturday, May 3, 2008, noon
Where: Sundance Resort, Tree Room (nestled at the base of Mount Timpanogos)
How much: $95 for the lecture, luncheon and copy of the book (a package of three authors may be purchased for $270. Gratuities not included. Call 801-223-4567.
E-mail: dennis@desnews.com