CREDITON-based charity The Folklore Library and Archive are delighted to be hosting award-winning author Joanne Harris OBE at The Boniface Centre in Crediton on Saturday, September 6 at 7pm.

Joanne will be talking about her writing career, which spans more than three decades, and her latest novel “Vianne”, the prequel to her bestseller “Chocolat” (1999), which was made into a movie starring Juliette Binoche.

They are also inviting Devon’s independent chocolatiers to trade at the event, to showcase and celebrate chocolate in the county.

The event is a fundraiser for The Folklore Library and Archive, which became a registered charity in 2023, and which works to save at-risk heritage.

Project Manager Tracey Norman said: “Too often, we hear of items such as the archives and collections of independent researchers ending up on the open market or, worse, in a skip, because no provision was made for them. Sometimes, a person’s life’s work has been thrown away on their passing, because no one knew what it was, or what to do with it. We provide a home for such items, and make them freely available to all.”

All proceeds from the event will help the charity fund its recent relocation to more suitable premises.

“The South West often misses out on big names, so we’re delighted to be able to bring someone of Joanne’s status to Crediton,” Tracey said. “We also wanted to spotlight some of Devon’s independent chocolatiers, both as an homage to Joanne’s novels, and as a celebration of chocolate.

“Plus, we’re working in partnership with Crediton’s independent bookshop, The Bookery, which has kindly agreed to handle book sales at the event for us.”

Tickets are £10 and are available from Crediton Library, or online at: bit.ly/joanneharriscrediton.

There is further information on the charity’s website: www.folklorelibrary.com, and you can email them on [email protected].