Of course I didn't pioneer the use of food in fiction: it has been a standard literary device since Chaucer and Rabelais, who used food wonderfully as a metaphor for sensuality. Joanne Harris chaucerdevicefiction Change image and share on social
From a very young age my mother persuaded me that I could write for fun, but I had to have a proper job - very good advice. Joanne Harris adviceagefun Change image and share on social
I'm phobic about the idea of being constrained. Joanne Harris constrainideaphobic Change image and share on social
I had a great grandmother who believed in so many strange superstitions. She used to tell the future from the things that catch on to the hem of your skirt when you've been sewing, and different colored threads would mean different things... Of course, all that influenced me quite a lot as a child. Joanne Harris believecatchchild share on social
I love it when my books cause controversy, when people argue violently about the ending. Joanne Harris arguebookcontroversy Change image and share on social
I was a very bad accountant; I didn't care about money, golf or discovering fraud. After about a year I was sacked; then I went into teacher training. Joanne Harris accountantbadcare Change image and share on social
I'm quite an untidy person in a lot of ways. But order makes me happy. I have to have a clear desk and a tidy desktop, with as few visual distractions as possible. I don't mind sound distractions, but visual ones freak me out. Joanne Harris cleardeskdesktop share on social
I can write absolutely anywhere. All I need is a laptop. Joanne Harris absolutelylaptopwrite Change image and share on social
I sublimate different parts of my personality through my characters. Which is worrying, as some of them can be a bit nasty. I'm pleased the stuff on the page isn't inside me any more. Joanne Harris bitecharacterinside Change image and share on social
In the old days of literature, only the very thick-skinned - or the very brilliant - dared enter the arena of literary criticism. To criticise a person's work required equal measures of erudition and wit, and inferior critics were often the butt of satire and ridicule. Joanne Harris arenabrilliantbutt share on social