Tag

Fantasy

Fiction, Mystery, Writers on Writing

Sep 10: Vianne with Award-Winning Author Joanne Harris

Spellbinding prequel reveals secrets, magic, & the making of a heroine

Vianne with author Joanne Harris

Joining us today, a multiple award-winning writer who is often called one of contemporary literature’s most beloved voices, Joanne Harris — an internationally bestselling author whose magical realism enchanted millions of readers worldwide.

You may know Joanne best for her novel, Chocolat, which introduced us to Vianne Rocher and later became an Academy Award–nominated film.

In Joanne’s latest work, Vianne, she takes us back in time to explore the origins of her unforgettable character in a much-anticipated prequel.

We explore the rich storytelling that makes Joanne’s work so compelling. We discuss character development, the craft of writing, and how Joanne has managed to successfully navigate across so many genres. We also learn a couple of fun facts about the author herself.

Meet Joanne Harris

Joanne Harris (OBE, FRSL) was born in Barnsley, of a French mother and an English father. She studied Modern and Mediaeval Languages at Cambridge and was a teacher for 15 years, during which time she published three novels, including Chocolat (1999), which was made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche .

Since then, she has written over 20 more novels, plus novellas, short stories, game scripts, the libretti for two short operas, several screenplays, a stage musical (with Howard Goodall) and three cookbooks. Her books are published in over 50 countries and have won a number of British and international awards.

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Inspirational, Travel & Adventure

Apr 17: Science of the Magical & An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea

From the Biblical parting of the Red Sea to the science behind the mutant X-Men, Matt Kaplan has studied it all.  Discovering the truths associated with legendary myths, fantasies, and magic are all in a day’s work for Matt, and he shares his fascinating findings in Science of the Magical: From the Holy Grail to Love Potions to Superpowers.

Matt Kaplan is a science correspondent with The Economist and has written for National Geographic, Nature, and The New York Times.  In his free time, he travels the world exploring our most cherished myths and legends.

Also today, Jonathan Franklin chronicles the astonishing true story of Salvador Alvarenga, who survived a 14 month ordeal at sea after his boat’s motor went out and heavy winds carried him and his partner far from shore.  438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea inspires the unbreakable will to live of the human spirit.

Jonathan Franklin regularly reports for GQ, The Guardian, and Esquire with a focus on Latin America.  He also produces documentaries broadcast by The New York Times.

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