This is a MUST-READ interview with Charlaine Harris!
Charlaine was interviewed by the Orlando Sentinel, in a pre-interview before her appearance at SleuthFest. The annual conference, sponsored by the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America, shifts to Central Florida this year. The conference runs Thursday-March 4 at the Royal Plaza Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista.
Charlaine Harris speaks at the March 3 luncheon, which starts at noon. A book signing follows. If you want to attend only the lunch and book signing, register at sleuthfest.com. The group allows walk-up registrations but encourages advance registrations.
Also March 3, Harris will speak at a 3:40 p.m. panel and discuss the Sookie Stackhouse series at 5 p.m. poolside. A Saturday full-day registration is required to attend these events. Send any questions to [email protected].
In their telephone interview, Charlaine talks about the next book in the series, “Deadlocked”. You have been warned…this post may contain spoilers from “Deadlocked”!
If you don’t want to know – don’t read below!
Below, is an excerpt from the interview with Hal Boedeker from the Orlando Sentinel:
What has “True Blood” done for your career?
The Sookie Stackhouse novels were selling well before the TV show, but the TV show led to a lot more exposure and readers. And a lot went on to read my other work. It was a wonderful thing for my bank account.
What have you gotten to do because of the show?
So many things. I’ve been on the show and done personal appearances with the cast. It’s like a different world and one I never thought I’d ever have a part in. I go to an industry party and feel like the raggedy cousin.
Can you give a preview of the latest book, “Deadlocked,” the 12th book right? (It will be released May 1.)
It is the next-to-the-last book, which gives it a bit of heft. It’s about tying up some threads in this long-running series and answering questions that readers have had. There’s new action, but there are decisions made about older issues in the books.
You’ll end on No. 13?
In 2013. Ha-ha.
Did you plan it that way?
Oh, I don’t really plan a lot. My contract will be over. I’m sure my publisher would be glad [for more], but I feel I’ve said everything about Sookie and her world. I hate doing it just for the money. I’m not above wanting the money. I just hate the idea I’m dragging out something for that reason.
You’ve said that you know how the series will end. Have you always known?
Yeah, since probably the second book or so, I’ve had a good idea how the books will end. It is top- secret.
Do you have a favorite among the Sookie books?
Not really. There are certain things about each one I’m proud of, a passage I’ve done well, where I feel I’ve hit the nail on the head.
The TV series has benefited from the tensions between vampires Bill and Eric. How central is that to your story?
They [the actors] are wonderful, but the story is very different from my story. It was never a Bill vs. Eric situation in my mind.
How has Sookie changed over time? Is she more fun write these days?
I don’t write Anna Paquin, I write Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie is always a lot of fun to write. She’s growing, changing, She’s very strong. She’s a girl girl. She’d be OK on her own without a guy. She’d like to have a relationship. It’s not necessary to her happiness.
Are you happy with the decisions “True Blood” executive producer Alan Ball has made?
Certainly I’ve had thoughts about that. I’m very fond of Alan. I think he’s a genius. He’s made good decisions for television. He’s not consciously trying to imitate the books. That would be boring for him and boring for me. If I knew what was going to happen, why would I watch? Viewers and readers are getting two experiences.
He is described as the creator, but I think of you as the creator.
I am the creator. When I’m on the set they call me the Maker. But he’s the creator of that world visually, no doubt about it. It all came from his brain and his talent for hiring the right people for the right jobs.
If you would like to read the rest of the interview, please click here.
This is my 
…
My mind is blown away…do the decisions she mentioned in Deadlocked, have anything to do with Eric marrying the Queen of Oklahoma? What questions and loose threads could she possibly mean by this?
Sookie’s story is NOT about teams. Got that everyone? It’s about her growth and maturity as a character. Learning how to find her way in the world, and being happy as the result. The team thing is Alan Ball’s making, so you can thank him for that. THANK YOU, ALAN BALL…
This deserves to be quoted again…
I don’t write Anna Paquin, I write Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie is always a lot of fun to write. She’s growing, changing, She’s very strong. She’s a girl girl. She’d be OK on her own without a guy. She’d like to have a relationship. It’s not necessary to her happiness.
Oooh, me thinks someone isn’t very happy with True Blood’s version of Sookie. I don’t know who it could be…?
I have a feeling Charlaine is trying to put to rest any common misconceptions we may have had, like Sookie being on her own without a guy, isn’t the end of the world and Sookie may see it as a good HEA for herself. Of course, we would PREFER, she choose Eric. Just as long as there’s no other suitors thrown in at the last minute…UGH!
The fact that Anna Paquin is NOT Sookie, even though she plays her on TV, isn’t an insult to Anna. I think Charlaine is just pointing out that Anna’s private life or who she is married to, has nothing to do with the character of Sookie and her story. I get the feeling that Charlaine has met some fans who get the two of them confused. Hmmm…I wonder who she means by that…? *cough* BL’s *cough*
And lastly…I WISH I COULD BE THERE! I would LOVE to sit by the pool and talk about Sookie with the “Maker”!
What are your thoughts? Share ‘em below!
