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RSSCharlaine Harris
Charlaine Harris is one of the biggest names in dark fantasy and cozy mysteries, responsible for an impressive number of long-running series since the early 90s, including the smash hit Southern Vampire Mysteries, which were adapted into HBO’s critically acclaimed show True Blood. Her first mystery series, Aurora Teagarden, has been adapted into 21 beloved TV films at last count, and her more recent Midnight, Texas trilogy was made into a wonderful series on NBC. In addition to other great series such as Lily Bard and Harper Connelly, she’s done numerous short stories for highly enjoyable anthologies featuring many of the most popular writers in her genres, and her latest alternate history series, the wild-west-meets-the-Romanovs Gunnie Rose, is concluding this month, with the final volume, The Last Wizards’ Ball, coming out on July 22nd. Charlaine is a wonderful worldbuilder and a lovely person, and it was so nice speaking with her today about her long-running and exciting career.
Links
Keep up with Charlaine’s latest work and events on her official site.
The Last Wizards’ Ball can be pre-ordered on Kobo or Amazon now. The full series is available on Kobo and Amazon as well.
Charlaine has contributed to and edited many great anthologies, but my personal favorite will always be Wolfsbane and Mistletoe. I cannot recommend this one enough.
I also absolutely love and highly recommend the Southern Vampire Mystery series, which has such a great Southern Gothic paranormal vibe, so if you haven’t read it (even if you’ve seen True Blood), it’s an absolute must-read. Find hard copies at any bookstore or the ebooks on Kobo and Amazon.
And of course she’s got many other books, series, and stories to enjoy, with hard copies also available in bookstores or on Kobo and Amazon.
Happy reading!
How could anyone not like cozies? That’s like saying you don’t like joy and comfort 🙁
I’m obsessed with your kayaking story. How did you not get burned sitting out on the water for hours like that though??
Awwwww hearing Charlaine Harris talk is such a treat. She’s so sweet.
Charlaine’s laugh when she said you put yourself in prison to write lmao
For years, Charlaine’s books have been my comfort food when life gets too real. Thank you!
Ladies, I legitimately screamed when I saw she wrote a new book about my beloved Roe.
Shapeshifters Anonymous rules. I’ve never laughed so hard at another book! The cough syrup chugging mall santas and werecoral and hippo furry who just wished she was a shifter. Omg I couldn’t breathe I was laughing so much 😂😂😂😂😂
I’ve read all of Charlaine’s books (literally all of them, including her original single novels and short story anthologies) except for Midnight Texas and Gunnie Rose since that’s newer. Any suggestions for which one to read next?
I like Gunnie Rose a bit more but they’re both great series so if you like Harris’s style, just read them both.
Both are awesome but they’re very, very different. I say read both in any order if you like Charlaine’s style.
Hard call! If you like dark paranormal ensemble stories in desolate settings then go with Midnight. If you like sweeping historical adventure with magic then Gunnie.
Gunnie is fun but I prefer the Midnighters. It’s a big ensemble cast and I’m fan of the urban fantasy feel (even though this one isn’t technically urban since it’s in the middle of nowhere). As someone else said, if you feel like a more typical urban fantasy style then read Midnight, Texas. If you’re in the mood for alternate history and stuff like the Romanovs, then Gunnie’s a good choice.
I WUV HER ❤️
This is one of the cutest, coziest interviews I’ve ever heard.
On point for the queen of cozy mysteries then, I’d say! 😄
I’ll be honest, it kind of amazes me when someone so famous comes across as so humble. I mean I know Sookie/True Blood was a while back now and things have probably calmed down but still, she’s so approachable and gracious and I remember her being that way even back then.
Charlaine Harris – writing cozies before it was cool 🙂
I don’t care if Bon Temps is full of terrifying creatures. I’d live there for the hot shapeshifters
People who didn’t like the end of Sookie can cry about it. She was -always- meant to be with Sam.
I’m so late to the game and only just got into Charlaine Harris’s books. I can see why people rave about the Southern Vampire Mysteries though. I’m already halfway through the series and completely obsessed 🥰
God the books are so much better than the show. I was not a fan of True Blood because of how it butchered the books. I know people say to treat them as separate things but it makes me real angry that we didn’t get a respectful adaptation of these amazing novels.
Unfortunately that’s par for the course. Have you seen the other “adaptation” travesties on tv and streaming? With rare exception the books are always far superior.
Sookie is my favorite female-driven fantasy series, while Dresden is my favorite male-driven fantasy series. Both of those characters are so endearing and fun in very different ways. But as much as I love Dresden, I think the Southern gothic setting of Bon Temps edges it out for me. It’s so atmospheric and pulls me in so I feel like I’m there. But maybe that’s just because I’ve never been a city person 🙂
Harris and Butcher tie for first place for me when it comes to creating the quirkiest, awesomest groups of characters. It’s so nice hearing her talk.
What a sweet person! I enjoyed this a lot.
You didn’t go into it in this interview but she’s had darkness in her own past that she definitely channels into her writing. It’s interesting stuff but I get why you chose to focus on other stuff.
Every time I hear an interview with her, I feel like sitting back in my rocking chair or something.
I’ve just caught up on Gunnie Rose and am so excited for the final book!
I’ve met a bunch of my favorite authors over the years (I won’t name names) and they’ve always disappointed me because they’re mostly kind of detached and take themselves so seriously. Charlaine Harris is literally the one author I met who didn’t make me think of the ‘don’t meet your heroes’ thing. She was AMAZING. She took time for every single fan and treated everyone in the audience like a family member. One of many reasons why she’s my favorite!
You’ve both got a great sense of humor. So fun
Charlaine reminds me of my aunt. I love her so very much.
I never realized she only posts recommendations and not “reviews” so that she’s only promoting positive thoughts and not bashing other authors. That’s…beautiful.
pro tip: read the books, don’t watch the shows. books > shows.
Charlaine: Thank you for sticking with your guns and doing justice to our beloved Sookie! Like the host said, ignore the haters. They’re a horrid vocal minority and you have the right to tell your stories the way you believe they should be told.
Charlaine Harris is hands down one of the most wholesome people on the planet. I will fight anyone who says otherwise.
Literally one of the most approachable public figures out there.
Great interview! I swear every interview I’ve heard with her is just the interviewer talking over her or asking her a question and being like uh huh, next question. This was really good.
I started reading Charlaine’s books going all the way back to Aurora and one thing I always appreciate is that she writes these strong leading women at the center of the chaos who have real flaws and troubled backgrounds but still manage to rise above it. Books written by men, especially in the dark fantasy genre, have the worst female characters. I’ve always enjoyed reading Charlaine’s work for that reason.
Excellent interview!
To anyone who watched True Blood but didn’t read the series: you’re missing so much! The TV show was blah. It doesn’t compare. READ THE BOOKS.
Yay, Wolfsbane and Mistletoe getting some love! I can’t explain why, but something about that collection feels really special to me. I’ve read it every Christmas day since it came out. It has such a wonderful atmosphere and so many great shorts from my favorite genre authors.
Sookie is my favorite but can we get some love for Harper Connelly too? I know it had some controversial elements and it wasn’t on the level of Sookie but still damn good!
Charlane is warm, kind person. I always found it funny that she writes about nasty creatures and dark trauma but is like the most pleasant person ever. Love you!
She’s always had such a warm, sweet personality. I LOVE her.
All her series are good but the paranormal ones (Sookie, Midnight) are my favs. Extra special vibes in those.
I’ve met Charlaine several times and even though she didn’t have to she always treated me like family. One of my favorites for sure!
Charlaine’s characters are always so quirky and fun!
Aw. Charlaine once signed a Sookie book for me and wrote me such a nice note in it. It’s practically framed on my bookshelf these days 🙂
“Comfy” is the best word to describe these books. I wish the show had been a real adaptation but it’s nothing like Charlaine’s work.
I’ve met her a few times at conventions and signings and I seriously can’t imagine a nicer person in the world. which is funny since she can write some damn dark stuff!
Why is she so adorable? I want to hug her.
Finishing the southern vampire mysteries made me cry. I felt like I was losing real friends and was so sad to see them go, so I ended up going back to the beginning and reading it all over again LOL. Even better the second time around!
Wolfsbane & Mistletoe shoutout!
For someone who writes super dark ish Charlaine seems like such a kind soul. She’s been so friendly and sweet in everything I’ve seen <3
Charlaine Harris is and always has been pure class 😘
The Sookie series is chef’s kiss storytelling. I’ve read it several times and it’s still one of my go-tos for relaxing.