Does Charlaine Harris even need an introduction? The #1 New York Times bestselling author, creator of Sookie Stackhouse (the basis of the True Blood TV series) has so many other projects going on – including more TV and a new series – that I’ll just leave it to her, with many, many thanks for taking the time to answer my questions here. Thank you, Charlaine!
How does a book start for you?
A book starts for me when I decide what the main theme of the book is going to be. That could be established by the destination of a trip, a big life event, or a development in the lives of those near to my protagonist: something big that can propel the action.
Who in your latest book has surprised you most – and why?
It’s been a while since a character surprised me. Now I know that on a level I don’t consciously record, my brain is making decisions about what will be good for the book.
When and/or where is your latest book set and is there a story behind that setting?
My last book, Oct. 2018, was AN EASY DEATH, set in an alternate America in the 1930s. I wanted to tell a story about a very young woman who makes her living as a hired gun, and the world built around her to accommodate that. Right now I’ve turned in the sequel (A LONGER FALL, Jan. 2020), and I’m working on the third Lizbeth Rose book, untitled as of now.
What are you working on now? What haven’t I asked about that I should have?
I’ve had very good luck with TV adaptations, and I’m happy to say both Lizbeth and my Harper Connelly books are in development. I never know how that’ll pan out, but it’s always fun to watch.
Charlaine Harris is a true daughter of the South. Born in Mississippi, she has lived in Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Texas. Her career as a novelist began in 1981 with her first book, a conventional mystery. Since then, she’s written urban fantasy, science fiction, and horror. In addition to over thirty full-length books, she has written numerous short stories and three graphic novels in collaboration with Christopher Golden. She has featured on bestseller lists many times, and her works have been adapted for three (soon to be five) television shows. Charlaine now lives at the top of a cliff on the Brazos River with her husband and two rescue dogs. She has three children and two grandchildren.