Blogging A to Z: H is for Charlaine Harris

Welcome to the Blogging From A to Z Challenge!

My theme for 2013 is Influential Women Authors.

My definition of influential is any author, classic or modern, who has inspired writers, readers, or the larger scope of culture. Some are personal favorites, or have special meaning to me.

What this list is not: a list of the most influential writers of all time. Rather, this is a collection of influential writers, corresponding with each day's letter.

For the full list of participating blogs, click here.

H: Charlaine Harris

image: Goodreads

Charlaine Harris is the author of the Sookie Stackhouse paranormal mash-up series, which is the source for the TV show True Blood. She's also written a few other series with a paranormal slant.

Next month, Harris will release the 13th and final book in the Sookie series. A lot of us have mixed feelings over where the series has drifted, but overall, her books are great fun. She always keeps her stories moving with a mix of paranormal beings, and stereotypes flipped on their heads, all with a grounded, loveable heroine.

Part of why the books work better for me than the TV series is being in Sookie's point of view and her level-headed take in a world overrun by vamps, werewolves, shifters, witches, and fairies.

I saw Charlaine Harris at a book signing a few years back, and I loved what she said when a fan asked the inevitable question about whether Sookie and the series' first love interest Bill (the vampire) would get back together. She said, "Bill has his own path," and then proceeded to talk about Bill as if he were a living (but undead) being. At that point, I'd never heard a writer talk about their characters creating their own story.

Are you a fan of Charlaine Harris, or the True Blood TV series?