Charlaine Harris and True Blood

The following interview was first published on PVN December 2007, before True Blood aired on HBO. Charlaine Harris shares her thoughts about giving her Sookie stories over to someone else.

I'm republishing this post in honor of True Blood's start of Season 2 tonight June 14 at 9:00 PM.


This interview was conducted in June 2007 in preparation for the Library Journal column From Shelf to Screen (Oct. 15, 2007). In 2008 HBO will air the TV series True Blood (tentatively scheduled for March) based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries featuring the mind-reading Louisiana barmaid Sookie Stackhouse who finds herself intimately involved with the vampire subculture.

1. Although you are the author of the Southern Vampire Mysteries you have had to turn over creative control to Alan Ball (producer of Six Feet Under). You obviously have a lot of confidence in him, but how were you able to let go of your own creation?

It won't be my creation any more when it's on television. It'll be Alan's creation, and a completely different animal. I'm looking forward to seeing the books from a completely different point of view.

2. Producer Alan Ball is obviously a fan of the Southern Vampire Mysteries. What information have you shared with him on developing the characters, especially Sookie.

I think all the sharing I need to do is right there in the text. When I was trying to decide who to go with, of the offers in front of me, Alan was the one who convinced me he understood what I was doing with the books.

3. Have you made any suggestions for the True Blood stories? Will any of the novels be a basis for an episode?

The pilot episode is Chapter One of Book One, "Dead Until Dark." The plan now is to follow the books chronologically.

4. Has filming begun? Have you been on the set and if so what was it like for you?

Filming starts June 7, last I heard. I have been on the set while it was still being built, and I've met some of the production crew. Without exception, they struck me with their questions, their interest, and their knowledge of the books. It was a really pleasant shock to find out they cared about the books and hoped their vision enriched mine.

5. What do you think of the actors who have been cast? What do you think they will bring to their roles?

I am confident that Alan and his casting director have picked the right people for the right roles, because that's what they do for a living, and their track record says they're pretty good at it. I don't know squat about acting, and I'm really fascinated by the process. It may be I'll learn something about the characters from watching their interpretation!

6. Will there be any kind of publicity touring or interviewing that will include you in helping to launch the series?
I don't think touring . . . I just toured for ALL TOGETHER DEAD, the seventh Sookie. I'm doing quite a few interviews about the show, and I'm sure there'll be more right around the premier, if that's not too grand a name for it.

7. How firm is the Jan.'08 launch date?
I have no idea. After HBO executives view the pilot, that'll be firmed up.

8. Will there be a prescreening of the first episode? Will you be involved in this or will you watch it for the first time along with the rest of us?

Alan has mentioned that I should come to LA for the prescreening, and I'm thinking about it. Depends on what's going on with my family then.

9. Any other comments you wish to make would be welcome.

I've read the first two scripts, and I couldn't be more pleased and excited.

10. Do you have any comments that you would like to make to the library community? It's impact on you or your work?

Sure. My mom (until her retirement) was a librarian, and my sister in law (until her untimely death) was a librarian, and I think it's a super job. It's no coincidence that two of my best friends have been librarians. When I think of how much libraries do for people who need the dreams and the information books hold, it makes me regret I didn't get a degree . . . though I realize that sounds very suck-uppy, as my daughter would say.


Note from Patricia: I love the Southern Vampire Mysteries and was hooked after reading the first book Dead Until Dark (Ace, 2001). What better combination than mystery and vampires? Book number eight From Dead to Worse will be published by Ace in 2008. Like Harris's many fans I look forward to watching the HBO series. Unfortunately the debut date is very dependent on when the current writer's strike is settled. For more thoughts on Charlaine Harris and her vampire series look at Patricia's Vampire Notes for May 12, 2006.



The Sookie Stackhouse Books in order of publication:

Dead Until Dark: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)

Living Dead in Dallas: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (True Blood TV Tie-In Edition)

Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 3)

Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4)

Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 5)

Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6)

All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7)

From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 8)

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9)

Internet Sites of Paranormal Interest 5-30-09

Watch a video interview with Jaye Wells author of Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane) at Bitten By Books





"Vampire Diaries Online is a fan site for the upcoming CW TV series, The Vampire Diaries, based on the book series by L.J. Smith. We are in no way affiliated with the TV show just fans dedicated to bringing you all the latest spoilers and scoop. We will be expanding our site soon to include more features for fans so please bookmark us and check back soon!"

Here's a video clip about the upcoming TV series.








The May 25 issue of Publishers Weekly has an article entitled When Love Is Strange: Romance Continues Its Affair with the Supernatural. Many current paranormal romance and urban fantasy authors are metioned, but the article begins by featuring Sherrilyn Kenyon and her works.





Congratulations to Charlaine Harris! Read the following from the New York Times

Vampire-Loving Barmaid Hits Jackpot for Charlaine Harris.
New york times article - "had just heard that the latest book in the series, “Dead and Gone,” would make its debut on the New York Times hardcover fiction best-seller list this Sunday in the No. 1 spot. It was a first for Ms. Harris, who has published 26 novels in nearly three decades and sold the original book in the Sookie series, “Dead Until Dark,” for just $5,000 nine years ago..."

Remember season 2 of HBO's True Blood (based on the Sookie books) begins June 14.



HorrorBlips presents the Best Blood Suckers

"Our fascination with blood drinkers started long before Robert Pattinson joined the fray. And while Stephenie Meyers’ “Twilight” novels turned big-screen blockbusters has brought a new wave of attention to these night dwellers, there have been some memorial portrayals of the monsters throughout movie history.

Vampires on the big screen tend to have three distinct personalities: Scary, Sexy, or Funny. We asked several horror bloggers who specialize in vampires to call out their favorite characters, actors and fims in each category. See if you agree. If not, add your own selections and keep the immortals memories alive."

[I'm one of the lucky bloggers that got to express an opinion.]



From SciFiWire.com Vampires, werewolves, ghosts: Being Human debuts on BBC America

"Being Human—about the secret lives of three twenty-somethings as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost—debuts on BBC America on July 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.... Read more







Here's something a bit different Vampires of Potts Point. Blogger Stephen Blackwell calls it "a vampire fiction blog containing gradually interweaving storylines - a kind of fiction experiment - but also consisting of easily read posts for instant gratification (at least that is the plan)." It's certainly worth time to take a look.

Dead and Gone - Vampire Book Review

Harris, Charlaine
Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9)
Ace, May 5, 2009

Sookie seems to have softened her attitude to former vampire boyfriend, Bill. No longer does she make disparaging remarks whenever his name comes up. Instead she remembers that he was her very first lover, and that they had shared many wonderful times. He still lives close by, and he is still there for her protection should she need it. But Sookie's amorous attention is strongly focused on the powerful vampire Eric. Her erotic fantasies go wild whenever he is around.

Vampires started the craze of coming out to the ordinary human world. Now weres/shapeshifters have done the same. In a highly publicized TV interview a gorgeous young woman explains that there are those who appear completely human but have a second nature within. This lovely gal then demonstrates by turning into a wolf. Many viewers are shocked and publicly demonstrate their belligerence toward such freaks of nature. Unfortunately the issue of minority rights and hate crimes become a serious problem when Crystal, a pregnant werepanther and estranged wife of Sookie's brother Jason, is murdered. Her body, nailed to a cross, is found in the back of Merlotte's, Sookie's place of employment.

In the midst of this turmoil Sookie finds her life endangered by a rebellion in the land of the Fairies. She recently discovered that one of her grandfathers was fae. These are creatures of such beauty that most mortals and strangely most vampires consider them irresistible. It was Sookie's great grandfather who told her of her ancestry. This had the unintended consequence of bringing her to the attention of a rebel faction that believe fairies should never mix with humans. To them someone like Sookie is an abomination.

Confusing thoughts and feelings about the intoxicating uber-vampire Eric, the brutal death of her sister-in-law, and an unearthly rebellion that nearly costs Sookie her life are the central themes of this latest Charlaine Harris Vampire Mystery. The dramatic intensity is so taut in the final scenes that no reader will want to put this book down until the last page. I have loved all of the Sookie stories, but Harris has surpassed herself with this darker take on life in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana.

Read chapter one

True Blood -HBO series

True Blood the HBO series based on Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse stories begins season two on June 14, 2009.

Watch a trailer

Internet Sites of Paranormal Interest March 13, 2009

See the trailer for Immortal Bride (Silhouette Nocturne) by Lisa Childs. Harlequin March 1, 2009.

From the publisher: For generations, local residents have whispered about an evil menace lurking near the shore of the Lake of Tears. The recent murder of landowner Damien Gray's bride, Olivia, confirms the worst. Now, confused and heartbroken, Olivia's spirit survives death and seeks vengeance upon the man she desired more than life itself, the man she now suspects was her killer—Damien.

But an angry shaman has his own vicious agenda, one that will bring Damien to understand his Native ancestry. Steamy passion and ancient vendettas will draw them ever deeper into a drama of a family's legacy, murder and a love so strong it can withstand even death.



Caridad Pineiro writes about her vampire series The Calling on Harlequin's Paranormal Romance Blog "Caridad Pineiro brings you more luscious vamps in her series The Calling with two recent releases – the short story Honor Calls from Silhouette Nocturne Bites, and Fury Calls, in stores now from Silhouette Nocturne! Caridad is here to tell you more about both books and how she couldn’t resist making some sexy secondary characters into heroes on their own…" Read More





The publisher Orbit offers More Dresden Files by Jim Butcher - Turn Coat (The Dresden Files, Book 11) (April 7, 2009).
"To get you in the mood for the next eagerly-awaited installment of the Dresden Files, we thought we’d pass on a few sample chapters of Turn Coat, out in hardback in April." Read more here.



Go to TrueBloodNet.com to watch a feature. "This fan video was made by nall0526 on YouTube done to the song “Light On” sung by David Cook. This song sounds so powerful and follows Bill and Sookie’s strong love for each other throughout episodes 1- 12. No matter what the difficulties they may endure they will always be drawn to each other and have each other. Enjoy!"



From National Geographic News




Exorcism Skull Found in Italy

Read the story here














CONTEST

At Bitten By Books there is a chance to win one of ten copies of The Accidental Human (Accidental Friends, Book 3) by Dakota Cassidy. The contest ends on 3/18/09 at 11:59 pm PDT and the winner will be contacted the following week.





Moving On Up: 'Need' by Carrie Jones
By Shannon Maughan -- Publishers Weekly,03/05/2009

Read an interesting article on publicizing the young adult, paranormal romance Need Bloomsbury, 2008

Dead as a Doornail

Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 5) by Charlaine Harris. Ace, 2006

Someone is shooting the shape-shifters of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Most humans are not aware of shifters. They keep their existence secret unlike vampires who, because of the advent of a decent synthetic blood, have acknowledged their existence to the human world. But Sookie knows all about shifters. In the previous book, Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4), Sookie's brother Jason was bitten by a were-panther, and he is outspokenly bitter about it. In Dead as a Doornail, on the night of the full moon, he goes through his first transformation. Surprisingly he finds this to be quite exhilarating. Too bad not everyone believes he's had a change of heart.

Some of the shifters think the culprit might be someone who was bitten and is seeking revenge. There are those who believe Jason may be guilty and have called for his execution. Fortunately one of the shifter leaders - Calvin - is holding his group in check, at least for now. It also helps that Sam - Sookie's boss at Merlotte's Tavern who sometimes turns into a collie - makes it known that he is certain of Jason's innocence. Sookie needs to solve this mystery soon or her brother faces death. And if Jason's problem isn't bad enough Sookie finds herself the target of an assassin.

As many of you know I love the entire Southern Vampire series. The mystery plots are well done, but it is the many fascinating characters and how they interact that make Harris's stories so much fun to read.

I'm anxious for the new season HBO's True Blood to begin. But I must be patient.

Internet Sites of Paranormal Interest

According to FirstShowing.net acclaimed Mexican director Guillermo del Toro has teamed up with writer Chuck Hogan for a series of vampire novels. Book one The Strain is scheduled for publication by William Morrow in June 2009.



Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4)
is the fourth book in Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. "Mercy's managed to miff the vampire queen. The problem with an old vampire is that they think in layers . . . and they don't play nicely."

Read chapter one.



Congratulations to Anna Paquin of True Blood for her Golden Globe win of 2009! Below is a clip from that special moment for Anna as she is announced as the winner. Notice that her escort is Stephen Moyer who plays her vampire lover Bill Compton. I read somewhere recently that they really are an item. Guess that's true. She won as Best Actress in a drama series for her role as the mind reading waitress Sookie Stackhouse.





On Feb. 2 one of my favorite TV series returns for a 5th season. Medium starring Patricia Arquette as Alison DuBois will be on NBC Monday nights. It seems like forever since the last episode but it has only been since May of 2008.





Underworld: Rise of the Lycans will be in theaters January 23, 2009. This third Underwold flick shows the continuing war between vampires and werewolves. For the trailer you are better off going to the Apple site. It seems to load faster than Sony's official site.



Read an interview on SciFi Wire with Rhona Mitra new Underworld star. See her photo above.








Read Chapter one of Dead and Gone the latest Sookie Stackhouse book from Charlaine Harris due out May, 2009. As most of you know this series is the basis for the HBO series True Blood. (see above entry on Anna Paquin)

Internet Sites of Paranormal Interest

Midnight Mocha
By Crymsyn Heart. Amira Press (June 13, 2008).

From the publisher:Coffee is heaven for Sophia. Alex is as delicious as his Midnight Mochas that he makes especially for her. Sophia keeps her distance because she is promised to another. However, she secretly lusts after Alex.

Alex desires Sophia, but he keeps himself away from her. He masquerades as an ordinary coffee shop owner, but it’s a ruse to protect his dark secret. Alex is a vampire who wants to claim Sophia as his own. There’s only one problem.

Another vampire has set his sights on Sophia. Will Alex win her heart in time? Or will he lose her forever.

Read an excerpt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bite the Bullet (Crimson Moon, Book 2)
by L. A. Banks. St.Martin's, September 2008

From the publisher: Sasha Trudeau considers herself a soldier first and a werewolf second. But while her secret government-sanctioned task-force faces its greatest challenge so far, Sasha faces something much more primal: the undeniable pull of the moon—and her own desires.

With rogue wolves savaging both the human and paranormal worlds, Sasha’s team of elite operatives has one job: destroy the rogues and isolate the deadly toxin that’s poisoned their blood. But the challenge is far more complicated than Sasha could have imagined. Soon she is thrust into a full-scale supernatural war for supremacy—and the only man left who Sasha can turn to might be the biggest danger to her of all. . .and in more ways than one.

Read and excerpt

This is book 2 in the Crimson Moon series.

Bad Blood (Crimson Moon, Book 1). St. Martin's, April 2008.

Undead on Arrival (Crimson Moon, Book 3) will be published in April 2009.

L. A. Banks is best know for her Vampire Huntress series.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9)
by Charlaine Harris. Ace, 2009. (Sookie Stackhouse Novel 9) Read Chapter 1.

It is this series that inspired the HBO TV series True Blood.





















-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Author interview and contest with Shirley Damsgaard at Amberkatze's Book Blog. Shirley is the author of the Ophelia & Abby paranormal mystery series. Asking a question gets you a chance to win The Witch's Grave, the latest book in the series.






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Read an interview with me about Patricia's Vampire Notes at The Book Bloggers








-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction to True Blood (video)

True Blood - Recent News

The latest word is that True Blood, the series based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris, will debut on HBO in September, 2008.

A recent article by Brian Ford Sullivan gives more detail.

Remember this month's two contest winners will receive a copy of Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris. All email subscribers are eligible. See the information in the left hand column on how to subscribe.

Win a Copy of All Together Dead

Remember - E-mail subscribers to Patricia's Vampire Notes have a chance to win a copy of All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Ace, 2007). If you are not yet a subscriber be sure to sign up. See Subscribe To notice in the left hand column.

A winner will be chosen on April 30 and announced on this site.

Charlaine Harris - Old Book - New Series

Recently Charlaine Harris wrote this on her blog. "For the third or fourth time, I think I know when “True Blood” will finally be on the air. The word now is that it’ll debut in the fall, when “Entourage” starts its new season. I should have been taking this all in stride, but this is the first time any of my Hollywood entanglements has gone this far... Because of Alan Ball’s clout and talent, the series based on the Sookie Stackhouse books has gone much farther. First, the script was written, and then the pilot was cast and shot, and then HBO picked it up, and then the second and third episodes were cast and shot, and then . . . the writer’s strike struck. Now, it appears, things are chugging back into movement."

Harris, Charlaine. Dead to the World. Ace, 2004
I (Patricia) wrote the following review in 2004 soon after the book was published but realized I had not published it here.

After her shift at Merlotte’s one New Year’s Eve, Sookie drives down the dark, lonely roads of Bon Temp, LA on her way home. She is surprised to see a man wearing only jeans running as if in fear for his life. She is even more surprised when she recognizes him. It is Eric, the head vampire of the area, who resides in Shreveport.

Welcome to the world of Sookie Stackhouse, a lady often considered a bit odd by others. Although she takes great pains to hide her ability to read minds, many feel uneasy around her and shy away. However, she cannot read the minds of vampires, a group which has recently made themselves known to the human population and now have acknowledged legal rights. Her first real boyfriend was Bill, a vampire, who besides being terribly handsome and charming, has a mind inaccessible to hers. Sookie finds this most agreeable. Through Bill she has met up with Eric. In the past Eric has called upon her to use her unique talent to help retrieve information from the minds of reluctant humans. Sookie has not necessarily liked doing this, but Eric can be fearfully persuasive.

Now Eric is the vulnerable one. Although Sookie recognizes him, he has no idea who she is. In fact he doesn’t know who he is. His confusion leads him to be fearful at times something that Sookie thought she would ever see in this strong, tall, blonde handsome hunk. She takes him to her house after persuading him that he can trust her. Once he is settled she contacts Pam, his second in command. What Sookie eventually learns is that a coven of powerful witches has appeared in Shreveport. Many in the group are more than human. They are shape shifters who add to their strength by drinking vampire blood. One of the witches placed a curse on Eric when he rebuffed her. Meanwhile Sookie’s attraction to Eric intensifies. It helps, of course, that she and Bill have had a huge falling out and he has gone off to Peru.

Another complication arises when Sookie’s brother Jason goes missing. She fears that he has been murdered by one of the witches.

This is the fourth book in the Southern Vampire series. With each volume the preternatural world as seen through Sookie’s eyes becomes more complex, more dangerous, and more interesting. As always Sookie’s level head and wry insights makes each installment a fun read.

Interview with Charlaine Harris Author of the Southern Vampire Mysteries

This interview was conducted in June in preparation for the Library Journal column From Shelf to Screen (Oct. 15, 2007). In 2008 HBO will air the TV series True Blood (tentatively scheduled for March) based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries featuring the mind-reading Louisiana barmaid Sookie Stackhouse who finds herself intimately involved with the vampire subculture.

1. Although you are the author of the Southern Vampire Mysteries you have had to turn over creative control to Alan Ball (producer of Six Feet Under). You obviously have a lot of confidence in him, but how were you able to let go of your own creation?

It won't be my creation any more when it's on television. It'll be Alan's creation, and a completely different animal. I'm looking forward to seeing the books from a completely different point of view.

2. Producer Alan Ball is obviously a fan of the Southern Vampire Mysteries. What information have you shared with him on developing the characters, especially Sookie.

I think all the sharing I need to do is right there in the text. When I was trying to decide who to go with, of the offers in front of me, Alan was the one who convinced me he understood what I was doing with the books.

3. Have you made any suggestions for the True Blood stories? Will any of the novels be a basis for an episode?

The pilot episode is Chapter One of Book One, "Dead Until Dark." The plan now is to follow the books chronologically.

4. Has filming begun? Have you been on the set and if so what was it like for you?

Filming starts June 7, last I heard. I have been on the set while it was still being built, and I've met some of the production crew. Without exception, they struck me with their questions, their interest, and their knowledge of the books. It was a really pleasant shock to find out they cared about the books and hoped their vision enriched mine.

5. What do you think of the actors who have been cast? What do you think they will bring to their roles?

I am confident that Alan and his casting director have picked the right people for the right roles, because that's what they do for a living, and their track record says they're pretty good at it. I don't know squat about acting, and I'm really fascinated by the process. It may be I'll learn something about the characters from watching their interpretation!

6. Will there be any kind of publicity touring or interviewing that will include you in helping to launch the series?
I don't think touring . . . I just toured for ALL TOGETHER DEAD, the seventh Sookie. I'm doing quite a few interviews about the show, and I'm sure there'll be more right around the premier, if that's not too grand a name for it.

7. How firm is the Jan.'08 launch date?
I have no idea. After HBO executives view the pilot, that'll be firmed up.

8. Will there be a prescreening of the first episode? Will you be involved in this or will you watch it for the first time along with the rest of us?

Alan has mentioned that I should come to LA for the prescreening, and I'm thinking about it. Depends on what's going on with my family then.

9. Any other comments you wish to make would be welcome.

I've read the first two scripts, and I couldn't be more pleased and excited.

10. Do you have any comments that you would like to make to the library community? It's impact on you or your work?

Sure. My mom (until her retirement) was a librarian, and my sister in law (until her untimely death) was a librarian, and I think it's a super job. It's no coincidence that two of my best friends have been librarians. When I think of how much libraries do for people who need the dreams and the information books hold, it makes me regret I didn't get a degree . . . though I realize that sounds very suck-uppy, as my daughter would say.


Note from Patricia: I love the Southern Vampire Mysteries and was hooked after reading the first book Dead Until Dark (Ace, 2001). What better combination than mystery and vampires? Book number eight From Dead to Worse will be published by Ace in 2008. Like Harris's many fans I look forward to watching the HBO series. Unfortunately the debut date is very dependent on when the current writer's strike is settled. For more thoughts on Charlaine Harris and her vampire series look at Patricia's Vampire Notes for May 12, 2006.