True Blood Author Takes a Bite Out of Seattle

Vampires, check. Pale skin, check. Erotic elements, check. Forks, Washington... not quite check. Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mystery series lacks the semi-local setting of Stephenie Meyer's teen-friendly Twilight series, but the books--and their protagonist, Sookie Stackhouse--have managed to sink their fictional fangs into the hearts (throats? eyes? brains?) of many fans, and also inspired the popular HBO series True Blood. With more than a month to go before True Blood starts a new season, vampire fanatics have some time to start catching up on the books.

Harris visits Seattle tomorrow night to read and sign copies of Dead Reckoning, the most recent installment of her "rural fantasy" Sookie series. We asked Harris a couple of questions about her approach to writing and thoughts on the television series.

How do you stay inspired throughout the series? How long do you plan to continue it?

I have two more books to write in the Sookie series after Dead Reckoning. I've always known the broad arc Sookie's story would take, and I've taken a long time getting to the end of it.

What is your favorite compliment you've gotten from a reader? Your strangest response to the books?

Several readers have told me that I got them through hard times in their lives: the terminal illness of a loved one, severe depression, and other terrible situations. What an amazing compliment those have been.

The strangest response? People who obviously think I write very racy and daring books. Some of the Sookie books don't contain any sex scenes at all. I wonder what else they're reading! My books seem so mild to me.

Have you changed direction in any of the story lines because of reader (or viewer) feedback?

No. Being a writer isn't like running a democracy. I know that in these times of instant reader access to writers, that line gets blurred a bit.

What do you think about "True Blood"? How has it influenced your writing, if at all?

I don't believe it has: Alan is filming Book Four, more or less, and I've completed the eleventh book. I love the show.

"True Blood" has featured some significant deviations from your novels in both story and characters. How does that make you feel?

Alan and his writers are all very smart and very experienced. I knew they would have their own ideas and sudden inspirations to change the story line. It certainly makes the viewing more interesting for me.

What have you been reading lately?

I've been rereading a lot of Barbara Pym, and rereading Lawrence Block's Keller books. They're just great.

Can you tell us anything about any future books? Have you considered doing a spin-off series, such as Hunter as an adult?

I have considered various spin-offs, and it could be that's what I'll end up doing. But I feel that writers who talk about future books sometimes don't end up writing them.

What's your advice for aspiring writers (or perhaps writers aspiring to have their books become TV shows)?

Read. Read. Read. Then shut yourself in a room alone and write. That's really the only way to do it. Always write the best book you can. Don't settle. And don't worry about TV and movie rights. First, the work.

Update: The event is at Town Hall Seattle, not University Book Store, and costs (a lot) more than we originally thought (though you get a book with your ticket). Our apologies!

An Evening with Charlaine Harris // 7:30 pm Saturday, May 7 // Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Avenue // $35+ for admission, a book, and a drink (details)