Andrew Shaffer at HuffPost had a chance to ask Charlaine Harris a few questions last week when she was in Iowa City. During the chat, Charlaine shows off her jewelry, reveals she now has more male fans due to True Blood and remarks that Sookie Stackhouse will not “settle down and have a family.” Also note: if you ever have a chance meeting with Ms. Harris, please don’t ask her about her inspiration for the Sookie Stackhouse novels, she has a very peculiar way of answering.
Before Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels that True Blood is based on, began signing books, she answered some frequently asked questions for the 100 assembled fans at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City, Iowa on June 17th. “Yes, I’m happy with Alan Ball’s production of my novels,” she said. “Also, if you ask me where I get my inspiration, I will spit on you,” she joked.
Huffington Post: Has True Blood changed the fan base for your Southern Vampire Mysteries?
Charlaine Harris: All along I’ve had more guys reading this series than my previous books. But I’ve definitely had more guys at my signings since the HBO series debuted.
HP: Your kids are in college. What do they think of their mother writing sexually-charged books?
CH: The show has given them brownie points with their friends, but only one of my kids reads my work.
HP: I can only imagine if my mother wrote sex scenes like the ones on True Blood…
CH: We don’t watch the show together, so that’s not a problem!
HP: What’s the one fashion item you can’t live without?
CH: My jewelry! [shows off her rings and necklaces, all of which appears to be either silver or white gold]
HP: Is the silver to ward off vampires?
CH: Silver, gold — I don’t discriminate! I like sparkly things. I wouldn’t want to ward vampires off — I have them to thank for these. [shows me her rings again]
HP: I was at the RT Booklovers’ Convention in Columbus earlier this year, where you caused a bit of a ruckus when you hinted that your books probably wouldn’t end with a “happily ever after” ending. Can you clarify what you meant by that? Will Sookie Stackhouse have a happy ending?
CH: I don’t write absolutes. I don’t write the kind of “happily ever after” that romance readers enjoy. I’m not saying that “happily ever afters” are a bad thing, and I’m not saying Sookie will never be happy … but she’s not going to settle down and start a family and have the white picket fence.
HP: OK, last question. I didn’t want to ask this, but I put out a call for questions on Facebook and one of my friends desperately needs to know: why do vampires sparkle?
CH: [deadpans] They don’t.
Read the article in its entirety.
that was awsome. I like her answer to the sparkley vampires. I also can not see sookie being married with kids. I just can not see that.
huh… Isn’t it funny how interviews can differ! Last time i read an interview with CH I thought she came across as condescending toward her readers and viewers of the show. I think that that stopped me reading the books, even though I love the show! Maybe judged her too soon, I don’t know a lot about her so I would like people’s opinion on her please? :)
I have to say that when I met her she was the sweetest lady. Even after 3 hrs of signing she didn’t stop smiling and was appreciative to everyone and spoke to everyone who came up. Every interview I’ve seen with her she seems nice too.
I am so happy she has confirmed that Sookie will not settle down, have a family and the whole white picket fence. I always thought it would be so boring if she had the whole white picket fence fantasy. Glad she feels the same.
This was a nice interview I love that she loves jewelry, I like hse doesn’t do absolutes and cant believe she was asked that sparkle question (love me some Twilight but it’s completely NOT the SVM.)
Thanks for posting!
I could never fathom Sookie “settling down” and thinking she could lead a normal life. As Eric told her…she’s “spoiled” now.
I’ll be meeting CH in Sep here in OZ. Will see then how she is, but she seems OK in her interviews.