Joanne Harris and the voodoo of writing

AuthorCatherine Jewell
PositionCommunications Division, WIPO
Pages16-17
p. 16 2014 | 2
JOANNE HARRIS
and the voodoo
of writing
The award-winning novelist, Joanne Ha rris, author of the best-selling novel Chocolat
(1999), subsequently made into the Oscar-nominated lm starring Juliet te Binoche
and Johnny Depp, shares her vi ews about the role of the IAF and her experiences
of life as an author. Ms. Harris’s books are now published in over 50 countri es and
have won a number of British and intern ational awards.
Why is the I AF important?
It speaks for authors around th e world and safegua rds their interests, ensuring that
their work is neither misappropriated nor used without their permission.
Why is it impor tant for authors to have a voice?
Authors and artists are n ot always shrewd business pe ople. Sometimes they need
help in ghting for their rights.
Do you think that authors ar e valued by society today?
Valued, perhaps, but not always well-paid.
What for you, as a n author, is the most worrying t rend today?
The lack of accountabilit y for those who use and disseminate the work of others
without permission or acknowledgement.
Is the digital e nvironment an opportunity or a th reat?
It can be both. But we need to address the prob lem of piracy and copyright theft in
a more effective way.
What messa ge do you have for online pirates?
There are so many diffe rent kinds of piracy. But to those readers who feel that down-
loading books or music is a vi ctimless crime; it isn’t. It is having an increasing effect
on the survival of mid-lis t authors. If you value art and want to see it thrive, you need
to pay the artist.
Many claim that conten t should be free. What i s your response to this?
I think champagne should b e free. Sadly, vintners disagree.
Why is copy right important to you as an author?
It exists to protect artists’ work and to ensure fairn ess of treatment.
Does the copy right system need to change?
I don’t think it needs to change as much as ex isting copyright laws need to be en-
forced more stringe ntly.
What in your view i s the value of storytelling?
It’s the way we connect with others across race, time and cu lture. It creates empathy
and encourages comm unication. It’s the way we engage with other hum an beings,
adding to our shared experie nce, wisdom and emotional growth.
Ms. Harr is’s books are now publishe d in
over 50 countr ies and have won a number
of British and i nternational aw ards.
Photo: Takazumi Uemura
By Catherine Jewell,
Communications Division,
WIPO

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