Charlaine Harris is in the house!
With the release of Dead Reckoning only days away (5/3) and the return of True Blood just mere weeks away we begged asked the publishing giant known as Penguin for a little bit of Charlaine Harris’ time. THEY SAID YES!
So, y’all without further ado we have Her Exhalted Highness of Sookiedom, Charlaine Harris in the house *pumps fist*
1. You were quoted recently in the LA Times as saying the next two books will probably be the last two books in the Sookie series. Has the story traveled where you thought it would? Have the characters ever surprised you? Did you plan to have this many Sookie books?
Yes, I’ve had a scene from the last book written in my head for years. Of course, I always have new ideas about the characters. That’s the fun part of writing. I never imagined the series would go on for so long.
2. Have you given any thought to your next project after the Sookie series is over? Will you continue to write in the urban fantasy genre, like the Sookie and Harper Connell books, or go back to straight to mysteries?
I have so many ideas about what to do next. I have a lot of projects in the planning stage. I don’t know which one of them will be the first.
3. We heard rumors that Alan Ball let slip that you were thinking of killing Bill, but you didn’t. If this statement is true, what changed your mind?
Alan did let it slip. I had never said anything publicly because I knew I would have to answer a lot of questions. Actually, during the scene in the hospital when the fairies are coming to kill everyone inside, I wrote a great death scene for Bill because I love to write grand death scenes. But when I thought about it, I wanted to keep Bill around because I like him. My editor weighed in on Bill’s survival, too. I think that worked out for the best . . . but now I have to answer a lot more questions!
4.We were fans of the Sookie series first, but we are also fans of True Blood, and enjoy them both differently. However, with TB season 4 (loosely based on Dead to the World) coming up, we are all excited because of that spectacular “shower scene” (I hope you tell Alan Ball that he will be in serious trouble with us if he leaves that out). What do you think about the more graphic aspects of the show?
Seeing is much different from reading, isn’t it? Many of the things that happen in the show are in the book, but the experience of seeing bare flesh is a bit more shocking than knowing people in the book are naked. I think Alan made the right decision and captured the spirit of the books, and I think Alan does know how people feel about that shower scene.
5. You are becoming quite a brand now – your empire includes online games, comic books, graphic novels, as well as television shows (we heard CBS optioned the Harper Connelly series). We think you should start going by your first name, like Cher or Madonna! How has your family adjusted to your fame? Did you ever dream you would become so famous?
Well, to keep me humble, CBS did NOT film the pilot. So that series is hanging fire. I still have my fingers crossed. My family is taking it in stride. We live much the same as we did before. I never had any idea this would all happen to me. It’s a constant source of amazement.
and to pry even more…
*salty or sweet - salty
*cook at home, take-out or dinner out - cook
*do you say pop, soda or coke - soda
*thesaurus or dictionary - dictionary
*country, hip-hop, rock or classical - a little of all of it
*Star Wars, Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings - All three
*fiction or non-fiction - fiction, with a smattering of non-fiction
*texting, emailing or talking on the phone - emailing
*truth or dare - truth
*werewolf or vampire - neither. I like human.
I am SO in love! Thanks for posting this WONDERFUL interview, girlsinthestacks!!!
@Randy Your welcome *nods head humbly*
Great interview! I am dying with anticipation for May 3rd book signing with Charlaine in NYC! Woot!
@LJ lucky!! Although we did get to meet her last year in Dallas, we were star struck.
Cool! It’ll be all I can do not to fagirl *squee* at her. I named the MC in my WIP after her. *blush*
Love her. Her books are like butter and I gobble them up like popcorn.
@Amy I like the butter analogy. I’ve always said her books are like candy for the brain.
She’s one of my favorites. Thanks!
Fantastic interview! Thanks ladies
Gee, Charlaine just gets better and better at talking without giving anything away.
@SVB I know, she gave us answers without really telling us anything!! lol
yay!!! keep bill compton around. absolutely love his character, depth, mysteriousness, i could on & on, lets have more!
I Love Bill’s character, I’m so thrilled she stuck with him!! She knows what we like.
Charlaine, I’m a fan of yours from Brazil. I love Sookie chronicles and TB as well. Both are fantastic. Please, keep Bill around. I love him so much. I love Bill and Sookie relationship. I think the “soul” of the chronicles and TV show TB is their love. Thank you.
I love the interview. I’m so glad she didn’t kill off the character of Bill. I like him a great deal and love it when he’s in the books. He’s yin to Eric’s yang. I love the books and all the characters and I hope to see more of Bill. He interests me.
Bill is the best character EVER!!! Anyone who does not see that isn’t a very deep person. He loves her and would do anyhthing for her and would die for her. Eric is a player from the first time Sookie met him and forever. She needs a good reliable man not a player.
Come on CH keep the best character in writing alive.
So glad to hear that CH is keeping Bill…such a great character. Love the others, too. But there’s something about Bill…
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Eric…. he’s the best for sookie! It would have been great if bill was killed but Ohh well. Eric and sookie at the end would be the best ending!
How can you not love her? She is fantastic! I have to admit thinking about the end of the Sookie series makes me sad. It’s one of those stories you just wish would go on forever. (: