Today was a good day! I got to meet Charlaine Harris in person! If you don’t know who she is,…she is the author of the Sookie Stackhouse/The Southern Vampire Mysteries series! Ok, you must know True Blood?? Now I have your attention!

Charlaine Harris was in town to promote her latest Sookie book called “Deadlocked”. Now, I heard about her being interviewed at the Main library in the paper last week so I made sure I’d be able to attend! I didn’t even know that her latest book had come out so I broke down and did something I had never done before:

I bought a first edition HARDBACK BOOK!

I never buy hardbacks unless they are used and very cheap! Yeah, I’m cheap like that when it comes to books! Hell, I’ll just check them out from the library to avoid buying them unless it’s a book I really must have *cough* *coughfiftyshadesofgrey* HA!

The interview was at 2pm so I got to the library a half an hour early. Didn’t know if there would be a crazy amount of people there to watch the interview and get their book signed. I asked the help desk where to go and was surprised to find that the library had a radio station in the basement. I had to go back out the main entrance and to the side where I took and elevator down. Was kinda cool seeing the other control rooms down there.

A library employee led me to the control room where the interview would take place. Already, there were 3 women sitting in the front row and avidly talking about the series. I took a seat in the second row but at the edge so I would have a good view if I was going to take pictures.

Eventually, the room started to fill up. Surprisingly enough, there were actually more library employees there to see Ms. Harris than there were actual fans! I’d say there were a total of 8 of us and 10 employees!

The interviewer said that Ms. Harris would probably not have the time to sign books as she was on a tight schedule. She was flying into Memphis for the interview, then going to Blytheville, AR for an appearance and booksigning at 7pm. Dammit, I was hoping to get her to sign my book!!

American writer Charlaine Harris. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When Ms. Harris finally entered the room, I was struck by how,…normal she was. LOL! I don’t know, I guess when you’re a very sucessful author whose series of books had been made into a wildly successful tv show, you’re expecting glamour and all that jazz! I was actually glad to see that Charlaine was definitely down to earth and relatable during the interview. Oh, and very witty!

Interesting question: What changes in the “True Blood” tv show did you wish you had made in your books?
Her answer was “Jessica Hamby! What a wonderful foil for Bill!”

Charlaine did say that the next book will be the last book. The reason is that she feels she’s pretty much run out of stories to tell with regards to Sookie. After all, “Deadlocked” is the 12th book in the series! I don’t blame her for wanting to move onto something new, despite not wanting to read more about all the characters!

After the half an hour interview was over, Charlaine said she noticed that some of us had her books so she was more than happy to sign them! Yessss! Everyone was a little scared to be first so I got up and handed her my book! She asked me if I had read it yet and I told her I had just started. Yeah, literally just started as in 10 minutes before her interview started! LOL!

After she signed my book, I pretty much left as I had to go home to help watch Loewyn. She stayed home from daycare with a fever. I planned on reading the book when I got home but feverish baby who is alternating between happy and cranky didn’t leave me much time till after she left with my sister.

I got done with the book within 4 hours and DAMMIT, WHY DID IT END THAT WAY??? *sigh* I feel Sookie’s frustration. The title of the book definitely fits the situation of many of the characters! Don’t want to further spoil it for you if you haven’t read it so GO BUY IT and read!!!

Related articles

• ‘Deadlocked’ by Charlaine Harris shows Sookie’s human desires (examiner.com)

I’d been hearing about the “Fifty Shades of Grey” series for a while both on tv and online but didn’t really pay that much attention to it.  It wasn’t until someone I know bought the book and loaned it to me for a morning.  Basically, I had about 5 hours to read the book and give back to her.

Needless to say, I read the entire book within the alloted time and gave it back.  I, then, drove my ass to Costco and bought the entire set!  LOL!  As soon as I got home, I started reading the 2nd book and finished it within 5 hours.  My nieces were visiting once again so I had to put the book down off and on.  I started to read the 3rd book the next day and finished that the same day!

What do I think of the series itself?  Well, the first book, I was totally hooked!  I’ve read tons of romance books in the past, both historical and current.  While I prefer historical, I had no problems reading these books.  The big deal regarding these books was the use of BSDM and the tons of sex the characters had.

*yawn*

None of that was too surprising to me,…not that I’m an expert in the subject of BSDM but I wasn’t into the books for the sex!  The main characters were interesting enough for me to be glued to the books from start to finish!  Christian Grey, himself, was definitely the main draw!  In my mind, I couldn’t help but picture Christian Bale from “American Psycho“!  LOL!  Not as the character (Patrick Bateman) he played but the way he looked!  Sculpted perfection!  Then there is the hair, oh the hair!  LOL!

By the 3rd book, I was starting to get a little bored with the sex in every chapter so I was eager to see how the characters would finally evolve in the end.  Overall, I’m pretty happy with the books and would definitely re-read them over and over as I do with all my books.

I read that the movie rights to the books had already been purchased.  I’m definitely wondering who they would pick to play Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele!  Obviously, Christian Bale is too old to play the main male lead.  I think, they should go with an unknown.  Definitely someone who has the charisma and sex appeal, along with the power that Christian exudes.  The same goes for Ana!  Definitely a girl that can play both innocent and naive, fiery with a “smart mouth” as Christian puts it!

Related articles

• ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Now America’s Only Book [Reading] (gawker.com)
• Review: Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James (csilibrarian.wordpress.com)

I’ve been to all the states in blue! Wow, that’s a lot! I need to get my ass to the North more often, especially in the summer! I hate summer heat with a passion!

This is the guy that played the guitar on the theme song from the movie Shaft!

RIP Charles! It was wonderful knowing you!

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• Charles “Skip” Pitts, Shaft Guitarist and Soul Mainstay, Dead at 65 (eonline.com)

Loewyn seems to be more engaging than Nora was at this age!  She also has the appetite of a peasant at a feast during fiesta!  LOL!