Charlaine Harris Book Signing on Friday

To celebrate her 10th book of the Sookie Stackhouse series, author Charlaine Harris will be signing autographs at the Washington Romance Writers mega book signing event in Boonsboro, Md., on April 16. Turn the Page Bookstore Cafe will be hosting the event for authors that include, in addition to Ms. Harris, Nora Roberts and 11 other published writers. Visit the Web site - www.ttpbooks.com- for more details. When she discussed the book signing with The Herald-Mail, Harris talked about how she sees vampires.  To her they have no similarity with Bram Stoker's vampires and thinks of them as "people living alternative lifestyles." Although Charlaine admits she's not a vampire expert, she's now in her 10th year and 10th book in the Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire Mysteries.  While she calls them "adventure novels," they contain the mixture of romance, humor, suspense, horror and science fiction.  And her fans adore them. Popularity for the books grew when Alan Ball launched his series, "True Blood," on HBO about two years ago.  Based on Harris' books, the story of Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress, and her boyfriend, vampire Bill Compton, is set in a small Louisiana town. "True Blood" will begin its third season on June 13.  A recent New York Times list of top 20  paperbacks showed the Stackhouse novels with seven spots. Charlaine said she's been writing "since I could hold a pencil."  And although the Sookie Stackhouse books were her third series, she's not really sure where she got the idea for Sookie's character.  She said she had been tossing around the idea of a book about vampires, but it took a while before she decided to begin the series. Although Sookie isn't based on anyone she knows, Charlaine said, "She's what I needed her to be for the purposes of the series." Regarding the business of writing, Charlaine Harris works in her home office in her house in southern Arkansas.  She spends a lot of time traveling for book signings and interviews as each new book is released.  She loves meeting her fans around the world and is surprised by the following she has for the series.  "It's a real thrill to find that people are so excited when a new book comes out," she said. Although Alan Ball decided the Sookie Stackhouse book series was perfect for television, Harris said the series will not go on forever.

"When I feel I've said everything there is to say about Sookie, the series will end," she said. "It's not fair to the reader, otherwise."

But until then, "the writers of the show are going their own way, sort of using the books for a guideline."  But, she stated, it's still surreal, seeing her characters and story come alive on TV. Tickets for the book signing will be passed out at Turn the Page Bookstore from 10 am until 2 pm on the day of the event.  Only one ticket per person who must be present and in line will be available. SOURCES: herald-mail.com ttpbooks.com (Photo credit:  HBO Inc)

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