Jonathan Weir talks with Charlaine Harris, about her best-selling Sookie Stackhouse novels which have inspired the True Blood TV series
JW: The TV series True Blood, is based on the first Sookie Stackhouse novel, Dead Until Dark. What was it like seeing the world you created brought to life on the small screen?
CH: Of course, it was very exciting and nerve-wracking. I love the way the series looks; it’s absolutely right. And every now and then I hear a line from the books! That’s always a thrill.
JW: You must be really pleased with how well the TV show has been received in the US? Did you ever imagine it would be such a big hit?
CH: No, but having met the cast and crew, I’m so happy for them. I think they’re doing a brilliant job.
JW: How much input have you had into the stories, or do you just leave them to it and tune in as anyone else does to see what happens?
CH: I entrusted my books to the man best qualified to put them on the screen. Now I watch to see what happens, and I’m loving it!
JW: Is the TV show different to the books in any major ways? And can you enjoy it if you've never read one of your books before?
CH: The books and the show are two different animals. The show follows the broad outline of the books, but there’s lots of different twists that the books don’t contain because the books are in the first person; we see everything from Sookie’s point of view. The show, of course, goes from character to character. You can enjoy the books without watching the show, and vice versa, but both are good experiences, I think.
JW: Has the success of your novels and the TV show changed you as a writer in any way?
CH: No, I don’t think so. I’m a well-to-do writer, rather than a poorly paid one, but I’m the same writer I always was.
JW: You've been writing for a long time and there are hundreds of books and writers in the same genre as your novels - what was it about your books do you think that struck that chord with people and turned them into national bestsellers and hit a TV show?
CH: I wish I knew. I would have done it much sooner.
JW: When you take a break from writing, who do you love to read and what do you like to watch on TV or at the movies?
CH: I like to watch “Lost,” “Project Runway,” “The Closer,” and “Bones.” We don’t go to the movies as much as we once did, but maybe when all our children are out of the house we’ll resume our movie-going. I read a lot: I read Robin McKinley, Simon R. Green, Lee Child, Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, Sarah Monette, MaryJanice Davidson, and on and on and on.
JW: Obviously you write other books apart from the Sookie novels that are just as addictive and we're sure True Blood fans would want to read as well – can you tell us a little bit about your other series?
CH: My other active series is about a young woman named Harper Connelly, who was struck by lightning and found herself able to find bodies. She’s like a corpse divining rod. This becomes her livelihood, and her “brother” travels with her from job to job as her manager. Luckily for me, all my work is in print, including my two previous series, both of them conventional mystery novels.
JW: You're often referred to as the writer who basically started the whole paranormal romance genre, which is now obviously huge. Do you have any particular professional goals you'd still like to achieve?
CH: I’m having trouble with that. I’ve reached every goal I set. I’m trying to imagine something new I really want. I’ve been very, very lucky. Actually, I’d dispute the “paranormal romance” label, because I don’t think my books contain enough sex to be classified as romance. I’m more in the “urban fantasy” camp, though in my case, “rural fantasy” would be more accurate. However, as long as people buy and enjoy my books, I really don’t care in what section they’re shelved. |