A Goodreads user
asked
Joanne Harris:
Hello Joanne, I am a longtime fan and I loved "Peaches for Father Francis" and your smart take on institutionalized religion. But I want to know, how did you learn about Islamic rituals and lifestyles? Did you just read or did you get to meet and talk to traditional (and maybe secular) Muslims?
Joanne Harris
I live in a very multi-cultural town with a large Muslim population. I talked to lots of people. I collected stories from women who wore the full veil, and who were happy to share their reasons for doing so. The local Muslim girls' school was especially welcoming, and when I told the pupils and staff why I was asking so many questions, they were very generous with their stories and their time...
More Answered Questions
Hannah
asked
Joanne Harris:
Recently I've heard that writers have to stick with the genre that they debut in. Is this true? For example, would debuting with a stand-alone contemporary damage your chances of getting an urban fantasy series published next? If yes, would this still be a problem if the stories used the same themes, but in different genres?
Fiona Lyon
asked
Joanne Harris:
After the Girl with No Shadow, have just finished Peaches for Monsieur le Cure. I had difficulty keeping track of the character relationships, especially those...Perhaps a chart could be included at the back of the book for ready reference. Without giving Inez's relationship away..of course. Did you consider this? An uplifting read in this age of interacial mistrust. Thankyou.
Tatiana
asked
Joanne Harris:
I'm currently finishing THE GIRL WITH NO SHADOW, and I'm again struck by the richness of your characters. From Vianne, to Zozie, to the evolving Anouk, and all the characters in between, it's as if they're real-life people. How do you do it? What is your character creation process?
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