In Five Quarters of the Orange, Harris plays again on the food and emotion connection. I think there is a connection between food and magic. If we lived during the Middle Ages it would be a version of science but we don't have alchemy any more, instead we have cooking, which is a sort of substitute. It's a sort of domestic magic and I have always loved that idea. Besides, there is far too much gloomy stuff being written without my having to contribute any more.
Pleasure figures large in Harris's life.
Her daughter, Anouchka, is a primary source. Harris is missing her. But she understands and she is also aware that I will have to make up for it in a big way. Writing also remains principally a pleasure. Her first three novels, Sleep, Pale Sister, The Evil Seed, did not flourish.