Charlaine Harris The Author
Charlaine Harris has been writing novels and has indeed been a published novelist for over twenty-five years. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up – believe it or not – in the middle of a cotton field. She now resides in southern Arkansas with her husband and her three children along with three dogs, and a duck. The duck lives outside.
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Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was writing poetry and plays. After holding down some low-level jobs, she had the opportunity to stay home and write, and the resulting two stand-alones were published by Houghton Mifflin. After a child-producing sabbatical, Charlaine latched on to the trend of writing mystery series, and soon had her own traditional books about a Georgia librarian, Aurora Teagarden. Her first Teagarden, REAL MURDERS , garnered an Agatha nomination.
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Soon Charlaine was looking for another challenge, and the result was the much darker Lily Bard series. The books, set in Shakespeare, Arkansas, feature a heroine who has survived a terrible attack and is learning to live with its consequences.
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When Charlaine began to realize that neither of those series was ever going to set the literary world on fire, she regrouped and decided to write the book she’d always wanted to write. Not a traditional mystery, nor yet pure science fiction or romance, DEAD UNTIL DARK broke genre boundaries to appeal to a wide audience of people who just enjoy a good adventure. Each subsequent book about Sookie Stackhouse , telepathic Louisiana barmaid and friend to vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, has drawn more readers. The southern vampire books are published in Japan, Great Britain, Greece, Germany, Thailand, Spain, France, and Russia and are read around the world with one of the biggest fan clubs being in the Phillipines (here’s to you Claire, my friend!).
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In addition to Sookie, Charlaine has another heroine with a strange ability. Harper Connelly, lightning-struck and strange, can find corpses . . . and that’s how she makes her living.
In addition to her work as a writer, Charlaine is the past senior warden of St. James Episcopal Church, a board member of Mystery Writers of America, a past board member of Sisters in Crime, a member of the American Crime Writers League, and past president of the Arkansas Mystery Writers Alliance. She spends her “spare” time reading, watching her daughter play sports, traveling, and going to the movies.
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
Just a quick note love your books, read them twice now. I tell everyone about them and when someone reads them they pass my books on to someone else. I went out an brought the first series of The True Blood DVDs, l am a lot disapointed in the move, l am aware that you can not fit everything in the movies but a lot of it is changed and the characters eg Tara not happy about her character, in the book she is lovley in the movie she is yuky mean.
Just wanted to tell you love your books on to Harper Connelly books now l got a couple from my son for christmas love them.
Thank you
Deborah Brlit
have read all the sookie stackhouse books, and loved them.
please tell me there will be more books to come, i”m dying to find out
which vampire it is her grandfather was talking about .
also love the harper connley ,but the sookie books remain my favorite.
a great fan
ann smith
Hi Ann, the next Sookie bookie will be out in May of this year – 2010. Entitled “Dead in the Family”. Not long to wait!
I really hope you continue to write about harper and tolliver and the sookoe stackhouse series I really love both these series and have trully enjoyed reading them.
Just wanted to let you know I love your books. I can’t wait until the next Sookie
Stackhouse is out. I hope you keep writing this series. I have read some of your other
series but the Sookie series is my favorite.
I learned about your books from a friend about a month ago, I red the 1st 9 of the sookie stackhouse novels in less then 2 weeks I fell in love with the entire series, every character, etc… I had long ago watched season 1 of true blood but wasn’t extremely impressed but after losing myself in the books I watched season 2 and now I am hooked! Please don’t end the series any time soon but if you are taking votes I am for Sookie’s choice to be Eric for all eternity!! always young in love and healthy! there are so many options that you could go toward, and as long as eternal life is part of I myself will be happy! Thanks for listening, and good luck I am starting now a few of your other series and I am sure they will be just as good!
@Deborah Brlit:
Hi Deborah, thanks for your comment!
Yes, the True Blood series is very loosely based on the books so I can understand why you are disappointed. Some folks love True Blood whereas quite a few folks who read the books first are not happy.
Great that you are loving the Harper Connolly books though!
Enjoy the read and thanks again for coming by!
Regards
Joseph
Hi Nichole, that’s very kind of you to leave your message!
I subscribe to this too – “always young, in love and healthy”!
I hope you are really enjoying the books in the other series as much as you have done Sookie. Please let us know your thoughts.
Thanks again and kind regards
Joseph
Hi Sue, thanks for your comments! I am very sure that it would make Charlaine H very proud indeed! Its kind of you to take time to post on here and let me know your thoughts!
Kind regards
Joseph
i love charlaine harris books! all of them! Roe Teagarden, Lily Bard, Harper Connelly and of course Sookie Stackhouse.
Ms. Charlaine Harris Rocks! wohoo!
Hi
I am hooked, can’t get enough.
Sookie is the best and even though the book and tv show is slightly different, love both
It would also be awesome to see the Harper and Tolliver books made into a tv show too
Charlaine keep writing cause there are too many of us out there that are addicted and thanks for your great imagination and the awesome ability to put pen to paper.
Loved the new book. Just finished reading it. Shame it’s another wait till the next one now!
I just started to get into reading and I love the Sookie Stackhouse novels. I’m so thrilled that a new one just came out and really hope there will continue to be more. Thanks so much for opening my eyes to the world of reading.
I have loved Sookie for years! But I also have enjoyed Lily Bard, Aurora Teagarden, and Harper… I re-read everything I have!!!! I don’t think enough people know the other series. And they are ALL great! But Lily is my hero.
I love your books and the seires but I would love to know if there is to be a 11 book
Thank you for creating The Southern Vampire series! I was in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy and a friend of mine brought me the first 5 and told me ‘This should hold you captive for a while’. Well needless to say I still in awe, that was 2 years ago! Thank you, thank you,THANK YOU! I am fighting with lymphoma (stage 4) but doing fairly good. I will be doing much better when I make my way to Barnes and Nobles to buy Dead In The Family! Just wanted to say I love your writing and I can’t see this series ending anytime soon. Keep up whatever it is you do to stay inspired. My 11 year old daughter, ex wife my 25 year old son and my 15 year old son have become such fans, they actually ARGUE over whats next in the books. My entire family is hooked on True Blood! Even my 76 year old very Christian mother and my 78 year old dad! My sister and I go to my parents every Sunday @ 7:00 to prepare for 8!! You and Mr.Ball were very instrumental in getting my entire family interested in the same thing. THANK YOU! We sincerely love you.
Wishing You All The Best
Ray
joseph ! you do look good really good . seriously ! man and i appreciate your work assembling all charline works short summary .
this data base is more helpfull then google search.
Eric is the one….Bill is 2nd….how many mores books is planned for the Sookie serices?
Just finished Dead and Gone and I’m very very disappointed because now I have to wait for the next book! Maybe Sookie could go oversea to help some European Vamps, (with Eric of course). As for the message previously posted about Sookie and Eric forever can never happen because Vamps never stay together forever…afterall forever is a long time. Thanks for the enjoyable read and hurry with the next book please.
Hi Shivam, wow – many thanks! I look even better now I live full time in Malaysia – so I can get some sunshine pretty much every day of the week
But to be serious, it was really quite a job compiling this site. Its easy enough to get the eBay items up, but the actual reviews were almost all done after reading through each and every book of the series. It was a bit naive of me to go ahead with this, but we live and we learn, and its great to be getting rather a lot of feedback from you and everyone else who has taken time to comment, so I thank you kindly for that Shivam!
Kind regards
Joseph
Thanks for coming by Krishah, and its great that you love the books so much – Charlaine H. would be truly proud indeed!
Regards
Joseph
Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment Trudylee!
I’ve very little doubt that Charlaine will indeed continue writing. Whether she keeps on with the Sookie Series, well that’s another matter that only she can answer, I’m afraid.
Take care and regards!
Joseph
Cool that you really enjoyed the new book Simon and sorry its taken me as much time to respond!
Yeah, its really tough to be patient when desperate for the next book in any series when you are a true fan! What to do though, we have no choice but to wait…
Kind regards
Joseph
Hi Chelsea, thank you for coming by the website here and taking time to comment!
I’m really happy you love the Sookie Series, but as for many more to come out – gotta hang on and see if Charlaine herself really wants to push on with Sookie, or take on a different writing project altogether. Let’s hope for all us Sookie fans, its going to be the former rather than the latter!
Regards
Joseph
I think you are quite right about that Sonia – fact is that not enough folks are aware of the other series by Charlaine H. And that’s obviously simply down to the hype of True Blood – well, in the main anyhow. It would be interesting to see the reaction if a couple of the other book series were also taken on by HBO or similar production company!
Thanks for coming on by the website!
Regards
Joseph
Hi Sandy, there is a book due out in February of 2011 which is named “The Sookie Stackhouse Companion”. This however, is not so much a continuation of Sookie Stackhouse series as an adjunct to it. It will contain a novella, interviews and FAQ’s. Not what all fans would be looking for, but something to look forward to all the same.
Kind regards
Joseph
Hi Ray, I’m really sorry to hear about all your troubles you have suffered, but its great that you are doing fairly well now!
Its wonderful that your whole family love True Blood and the Sookie Stackhouse Series, including your father and your mother too
I wish you the very best indeed and hope that Charlaine’s books bring you and your family a whole lot more delight in the coming months and years!
Kind regards to you
Joseph
Hi Debby, the next book as mentioned will be out in February of 2011. However, its entitled “The Sookie Stackhouse Companion” and indeed – this is precisely what the book is, rather than being another in the Sookie Series. More news regards to Sookie’s escapades will be out in the months to come.
Kind regards
Joseph
Hi Kathy, you did read “Dead in the Family”, which was released in May of this year, right? That’s the tenth in the series.
Take care and kind regards
Joseph
Hello,
I’m a retired, high-school English teacher. I’ve been a reader of fiction for as long as I have been able to read. Before I could read, I remember my favorite times as bedtime and a story. I have become a fan of “True Blood” and just discovered Charlaine Harris’ writing; I am delighted. I am flattered and impressed that the Sookie character doesn’t come across as an ignorant hick. Instead she has grace and intelligence blended with a clever, animal instinctiveness. She makes strong look sexy. I’m intrigued with the voice of the Sookie Stackhouse books. Your writing is neither over complicated nor boringly simple. You’v achieved just the right balance. Thank you Charlaine Harris for making me proud.
I plan to read the entire series. I’m happy that the HBO series doesn’t exactly follow your books. It gives me more to look forward to.
Sincerely,
Roberta Nettles
Hello Roberta, thank you very much for your insightful comments! Yes, quite right – the True Blood series is rather different than the books. Its a good perspective you have regards this – a number of Sookie fans who read the books simply did not take to the HBO series at all.
I wish you well, Roberta!
Regards
Joseph
IGOT THE BOOK DEAD IN THE FAMILY AND READ IT WHEN WILL THE NEXT ONE COME OUT
Hi Vickie, the next book is The Sookie Stackhouse Companion, which will be released in February 2011. Unfortunately, its not actually the next part in the Sookie Series as such, but rather its a novella with FAQ’s and interviews and a variety of other things besides. In a sense, a bit like a compendium.
Kind regards
Joseph
I have read all 10 of the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Please tell me there will more….
I have all of the True Blood DVD’s as well I have loved everyone of them.
Hi Joan, as mentioned – the next book is The Sookie Stackhouse Companion, which will be released in February 2011. Unfortunately, its not actually the next part in the Sookie Series as such, but rather its a novella with FAQ’s and interviews and a variety of other things besides. In a sense, a bit like a compendium.
Happy you really enjoyed the books and the DVD’s!
I’m about to order ‘Dead in the Family’ as I’ve just finished book 9. I absolutely LOVE the books, I saw series 1&2 on FXUK then bought the books when the series ended. We in the UK have yet to receive series 3. I now know that the books are pretty different from the series but I don’t care about that. They are both fantastic in their own right. The books are simply amazing but I also love that I have the characters faces in my head already, from watching the series. I really hope there will be more to follow in the Sookie Stackhouse novels!
Regards, Katherin
Hi Katherin, thanks for coming by and commenting. Yes, series 3 is only just now showing on HBO in Malaysia, so I guess it will be a while before it shows up on Freeview in the UK. But I can understand your point of view here – you can “see” the characters while you read the books.
I know for a fact that everyone feels the same as you – we are all praying for more in the SS novels series, and the sooner the better
Take care!
Regards Joseph