Because I am a girl

Joanne Michèle Sylvie Harris (born 3 July 1964) is a British author, best known for her 1999 novel Chocolat, which was adapted into a film of the same name. Born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, of a French mother and a British father, she was a teacher of French for 15 years and had published three novels during this period before the surprise success of Chocolat enabled her to write full time. Since then she has written over 30 books in a number of genres, including fantasy, psychological thriller, novellas, short stories and non-fiction. Harris' books often feature themes of women's empowerment, folklore, motherhood, community, outsiders and outcasts, and food. Harris was Chair of the Society of Authors for two terms, and was also elected twice to the board of the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society.