Wake the Dead Podcast

Podcast: Faeries, Panthers, VooDoo, OH MY!

2010-09-07T06:10:00.001-07:00

Brandi, Luz, and Dayna discuss the True Blood season and prepare for the upcoming finale!

Get it now: Direct Feed | iTunes

Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer got married!

2010-08-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer got married on Saturday, August 21, 2010 Us Weekly reports.

The 'True Blood' couple reportedly wed at a private residence in Malibu, exchanging vows under a tent near the beach.Guests including True Blood co-star Carrie Preston and Elijah Wood, Anna’s costar from their upcoming movie, The Romantics were in attendance.

This is the first marriage for Anna; Stephen has two children, Billy and Lilac, from previous relationships.

They announced their engagement last August, and have frequently spoken to the press about their onscreen vampire sex.

Paquin and Moyer recently posed nude with 'True Blood' costar Alexander Skarsgard for the cover of Rolling Stone.

True Blood Premiere Party from Charlaine Harris' point of view

2010-07-08T18:05:00.000-07:00

From CharlaineHarris.com

I’ve been asked by more than one reader to give a better account of what actually happens at a premiere, so here goes.

The premiere for “True Blood” has been held every time at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. For those of you who don’t remember what Cinerama was, it was a new way of filming back in the sixties, and you could go to special theaters and view the action on a sort of curved semicircular screen. This Cinerama is the original one, but now the building has a regular flat screen, as far as I know. You can Google it if you’re interested. This theater seats 800.

The arrivals of the principal people are orchestrated. I was an early arrival, since I’m not that important in the “True Blood” scheme of things, and I have no problem with this. Premiere night is to celebrate the show and the people who work on it, particularly the actors. So us lesser fry (the woman who plays Ivetta, the young man who plays the lover of the King of Mississippi) get there earlier. Then come the more important people like Todd Lowe, Rutina Wesley, Kristin Bauer Van Straten. Then the even more important people come – Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgard. So the event always starts late. We had a start time of 7:30, and we finally all got seated at 8:15.

Anyway, to get back to drop-off time. There actually is a red carpet. When I scramble out of the limo, my family is ushered inside the theater and they’re checked off the list and given special bracelets to wear to verify that they’re invited guests. I’m assigned a handler from HBO who takes me along the red carpet where the press stands behind a waist-high barrier. Every reporter is backed up with a cameraman or two and usually one or two other people. They’re from all over, and represent very big organizations to very small ones. HBO itself, MTV, and on and one; some French, some Spanish, most American.

The handler very kindly explains who I am to the reporter, I step close to the barrier and answer four or five questions, we indicate we’re through with each other by saying “Thank you!” I step back, and my handler and I wait for the next free reporter.

So that’s how it works, and if I’ve described this before, I’m sorry. All the seating in the theater is assigned, too. The HBO executives are there, the actors and their plus ones are there, and I was able to bring my agent, my husband, and my three kids. I noticed that Alan got a whole row to invite – I was envious!

The after-party was held a few blocks away at a place that specializes in such things. The decorations were amazing; stuffed wolves, fountains, a huge projection of the poster on the wall, various food stations with “southern” food (much fancier than the real thing) and about a million waiters who picked up used glasses and plates, brought drinks, and generally kept very busy. I had a designated table there, again not in the Great People corral, but special enough. Some readers stopped by to have their pictures made with me, I got to have a nice conversation at the theater with Michael Emerson from “Lost,” and director Alexander Woo. Rutina was as warm and charming as she always is. I did get to speak to Anna and Stephen briefly at the after-party, and Alexander (Skarsgard) was sweet enough to let me get a picture of him with my daughter.

So, that’s how it works. We were glad to get into our car and go back to the hotel afterward, and I reflected that it’s oddly easy to get used to almost anything.

Charlaine Harris

Podcast: Lorena is one twisted sister! True Blood 3.02 & 3.03 RECAP

2010-07-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

Blood Sorbet is on the menu, so who’s up for seconds? Brandi, Luz and Dayna catch up on True Blood season 3 episodes 2 & 3.

Get it now: Direct Feed | iTunes

Charlaine Harris talks Vampires with Vanity Fair

2010-06-29T03:50:00.000-07:00

True Blood Author Charlaine Harris on the Current Vampire Epidemic
by Maria Ricapito, Vanity Fair

Dead in the Family is the latest bestselling vampire fantasy novel from Charlaine Harris, and the 10th book in the series that inspired the hit HBO show True Blood (now in its third season), starring Anna Pacquin as telepathic barmaid Sookie Stackhouse.

In the books, Sookie is a blonde and buxom resident of the Louisiana town of Bon Temps, where she spends less time fighting vampires than getting busy with them. But will she end up with the courtly ex-Confederate Bill, or has she permanently hopped coffins to cozy up with Eric the bloodsucking Viking? In the mix are sundry tigers, werewolves, dogs, witches, house cats, maenads, goblins and fairies.

Harris set her series in Northern Louisiana, which is less swampy and gothic but just as creepy as the southern bayous and French Quarter streets where Anne Rice’s vampire novels take place. “My thinking was that Anne Rice had done such a great job with Southern Louisiana, that I would take the part [of Louisiana] no one wanted,” Harris says. “Her works were groundbreaking and very innovative and I thought it would be fun to kind of rappel off of them.”

“I didn’t want to write about being a vampire,” she continues. “I wanted to write about people who were interacting with vampires. I thought it would be fun to write about a woman dating a vampire, so I imagined what kind of woman would do such a stupid thing. It’d have to be a woman who couldn’t date humans for another reason.” In Sookie’s case, the reason is that her telepathy doesn’t work on the undead, which give her a rest from hearing the despicable thoughts of her neighbors in the town her family has inhabited for generations.

Harris wanted to bring the vamps in her fictional world down to earth. “They’re just like everyone else,” Harris says. “Some of them are good; some are bad.” She adds, “I wanted to kind of anchor them in reality and make them unromantic, since I just thought that would be funny.” Those are not exactly the words you’d pick to sell any of the other bloodsucker-centric books, TV shows, or movies that are currently engorging our pop culture. The Twilight books and movies, CW’s The Vampire Diaries, ABC’s The Gates, and even True Blood revolve around the uncanny beauty and superhuman sex appeal of the vampire.

Asexual vampires are strictly kid stuff, according to Harris, who points out that her books predated those of Twilight author Stephenie Meyer by several years. “My books are just aimed at adults. There’s not the fairy-tale aspect in my books that there is in hers,” says Harris. “Her books are very Romeo and Juliet; I think mine definitely aren’t.” She adds, “How are they different? Bill turns out to be betraying Sookie the whole time. Sookie finds that out and it’s devastating to her. But this leaves her to look in many different directions for love.” Well… and sex: Sookie’s carnal forays into the supernatural lead to some pretty explicit bodice-ripping. In Harris’s pages, when heaving, virginal bosoms are pressed against cold, marble-like chests, things don’t stop there. Few details are omitted, and sometimes it gets downright gymnastic. Contrast this with Twilight’s Edward and Bella, who ends up preggers when they finally consummate, a zillion pages into the series. Harris declined to elaborate on other differences: “You can talk to Stephenie Meyer about her books. I’m not her critic. I’m glad she’s been successful.”

Harris is unreservedly enthusiastic about showrunner Alan Ball, whom she picked to translate her books to TV. “I knew that he got the mixture of humor and horror that the books are. I knew he would do them justice,” she says. “He wouldn’t gloss over painful parts and make everything shiny.” She says she was a fan of his previous series, Six Feet Under, although “sometimes it was too painful to watch. There were some really intense truths. It got very close to the bone.”

Cutting close to the bone happens to be a specialty of Harris’s as well. She lives with her husband, her college-age daughter (she has two other, grown-up kids), various dogs, and a duck in Arkansas, just over the Louisiana border. Harris’s bestseller count stands at 10 (9 of which appeared simultaneously on the list last year) and the body count in her books is incalculable. She’s branching out— Dynamite Entertainment (publisher of Kevin Smith’s Green Hornet and Red Sonja) will bring out a comic based on the first book of her series about corpse sleuth Harper Connelly. Indeed, all the TV attention to Sookie and co. has drawn readers to her other series—including the one featuring Lily Bard, a rape victim who’s trying to hide from her past. “They’re selling more than when they were first published,” she says. “I don’t know what happened with those books. I know I was really discouraged when they were released. I really thought at the time, That’s the best I can do and if this isn’t successful I just don’t know what I could do that would be as good. Well, luckily for me, I did come up with something.” Harris is currently writing Sookie book number eleven.

The recent feeding frenzy around novelist Justin Cronin’s vampire trilogy (the first book, The Passage, came out from Random House on June 8th, and producer Scott Rudin reportedly splurged on the movie rights) is a sign that readers don’t have bloodsucker burnout quite yet. “Maybe there’ll be a few less writers in the genre if the public’s fancy passes on,” Harris says. “I think that’s just a thing that will happen because there are always people who write what’s current. It’s not necessarily a bad thing; there’s nothing wrong with being commercial.” Harris credits the ubiquity of vampires to “our youth-obsessed, perfection-obsessed culture.” When asked if all the other vampire writers muddy the pond, she responds crisply.

“Not my pond.”

Podcast: True Blood Season 3 Premiere Recap

2010-06-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

Andy declares a conscience NO, dick YES battle cry, and Arlene’s smelling preggers. It’s a whole lotta crazy during the first episode of True Blood Season 3. Brandi and Dayna talk vamps, shifters and smelly truckers — oh my!

CLICK FOR iTunes | or direct feed

True Blood Season Premiere Recap!

2010-06-14T07:22:00.000-07:00

From Kelly Lynch, SOCIALITELIFE.com View full article

About a month ago I was charged with recapping new episodes of True Blood. Initially I hesitated, because I believe there are two vampire camps: Twilight and True Blood. I subscribed to the clean, doe-eyed tale Twilight told. But I accepted the challenge and committed to watching the first two seasons on HBO. After watching season one, I was hooked. Sure, the series is nauseating at times and a little (read: a lot) vulgar, but it's good. Insanely good. And no offense to my confederate friendifers, but True Blood sure does capture the redneck allure of the deep south. And as a reminder, the North won.

Take it away!

So here we have Bill in a hostage/kidnapping situation, while Sookie wonders who took her beloved (after she made him wait for an answer to the question. Now Bill is in a car with awful men who taketh his blood for the sake of getting high off V).

"I'm in no mood for lesbian weirdness tonight, Pam." Zing!

I'm so glad True Blood stuck to their promise of more nudity. I see Eric's behind, and I'm alright with it. Skarsgard sounds sewwwwww much like his father, Stellan.

Lafayette is in first place for best character in the series. The boy defends the honor of his friends, all while wearing feathers and rhinestones. I like him. He's good people. And I'm quite certain I just heard Lafayette say "Sorry Snook," to Sookie.

Sam just had an, um, "intimate" dream about Bill. Is it because he has Bill's blood?

Where oh where does Lafayette gets such clothin' as bedazzled smedium jerseys? And a feather in his fedora? Boyfriend don't need no trip to the big city. He's the queen of Bon Temp.

I don't like Hoyt's haircut. He looks even more like a child than last season. But I suppose we should applaud his effort to cut the cord and move out of mama's house.

Eric and Sophie-Anne are dealing V illegally and running from the law. What will become of the Louisiana vamps if Fangtasia goes out of business because the queen is hiding from the IRS?

Who is Sam's daddy and what does he do? How does one inherit shape-shifting?

Even after Maryanne's death, everyone in Bon Temp is so messed up. Tara can't recover from Eggs' death and Jason can't stop envisioning the bullet he put in Eggs' head on the girls he's trying to get biblical with. The devil went down to Louisiana, and he ain't never left.

Oh snap, now we're Twilight? Werewolves? For reals? At least we're not dragging out the "Bill's been captured" storyline.

Vampire Diaries Season 1 Pre-order

2010-05-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

Last night's season finale of Vampire Diaries was one of the hottest finales of a show I've seen in a long time. Cliff-hangers, sexy vampires, and hot scenes. What more could a gal want?

Well, I'll tell you! Season 1 on DVD! It's up for pre-order on Amazon.com... scoot on over and reserve yours today!
>>The Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season

Wake the Dead Podcast Interviews Charlaine Harris

2010-05-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

Wake the Dead Podcast had the opportunity to interview Charlaine Harris this past week and find answers to our listeners most burning questions (that hasn't been asked a million times already). Here's the transcripts of the interview:

So much has happened from the first Sookie book to now. Is writing these novels a different process for you versus when you started?

In the sense that there’ve been so many characters and so much detail to factor in, yes, very different. But all books are difficult to write! Fun, but hard.

Are you working on a new series now that Harper Connelly is finished?

I am going to do my best to work on another series. I’m thinking of a couple of ideas. I may get to work on something later this year.

Have the evolving storylines on True Blood had any influence on the future storylines in the books or sub-characters?

No, because I’m so far ahead of Alan. I’m writing book 11, he’s filming Book 3. And it’s not likely I’d include any of his original sub-characters. That would be weird.

Most authors share qualities of characteristics with their main characters. What characteristics do you share with Sookie?

I try to be honest. I try to count my blessings. But Sookie is a lot braver and more assertive than I am.

We’ve enjoyed reading about your European book tour on your website. Has your trip inspired any future international excursions for Sookie?

Wouldn’t that be fun? But I haven’t been able to think of a logical way to get her overseas. I think she’s a local girl.

In your short story, Gift Wrap, we are introduced to Preston, the only other male that Sookie has been intimate with in your series. Can we expect to see Preston again?

He’s not in DITF, and so far he hasn’t appeared in Book 11. But he may pop up. I don’t want to rule it out.

Pam is such a beloved character. She appeared little in Dead and Gone. Will we hear more from Pam in Dead in the Family or will she remain on the periphery?

The Sookie short story in the anthology “Death’s Excellent Vacation” is a Pam-and-Sookie story. Road trip!

Sookie is able to distinguish what is her feelings versus what is Eric's feelings when it comes to fear, anger, happiness,etc? So why does she question if she loves Eric or if he loves her? Shouldn’t she be able to tell?

There are things she has a hard time admitting to herself, and maybe she doesn’t trust her feelings or Eric’s intentions completely. But the first chapter of DITF should answer that question.

Eric and Sookie are not only blood-bonded but married by vampire law. If the blood-bond can be broken, what about the vampire marriage? Is there a way to end that and if so, how?

Certainly the vampire marriage can be broken. It’s as easy to end as a human marriage, at least on the part of the vampire. A human might have a harder time rejecting a vampire if the vampire didn’t want to be rejected.

Regarding the vampire marriage of Eric and Sookie… Eric and Sookie are not obligated to be faithful to one another under the vamp marriage, but in Dead and Gone, Eric told Sookie that no one could touch her without his permission as this was punishable by death. If it's punishable by death, how can Sookie be with anyone else?

I don’t think Eric meant sexual touching. I think Eric meant violent touching.

I feel like things are still awkward and unresolved with Quinn. Have we’ve seen the last of him?

Nope. He’ll be in a novella that’s going to be included in the Sookie Companion, out next year . . . I hope in February.

There are a few loose ends from Dead and Gone like the FBI investigation of Barry and Sookie’s talent, Arlene’s accessory to Sookie’s attempted murder, and little Hunter’s abilities. Will any of those topics be wrapped up or addressed in Dead in the Family?

The FBI thing will be. Hunter’s in DITF, too. Arlene is languishing in jail. Or maybe she’s out on bond! I’ll have to check.

Amelia is such a great supporting character of the series. She’s become good friend and ally for Sookie. After reading the first chapter, we find out she’s moving back to New Orleans. Is this the end of Amelia?

No, Sookie will be in touch with Amelia off and on. She may enter Sookie 11, too.

Eric has what it takes to become king of a region someday. Will we see his position as Sherriff expand or promoted?

You’ll have to wait and see one that.

If we could interview Bill Compton, what would he say was his biggest regret? What would be Eric Northman’s?

I’m sure Bill would regret not being more open with Sookie early in their relationship. He could have avoided a lot of pain and sorrow if he hadn’t stuck to his custom of keeping vampire business secret. I don’t think Eric is very big on regretting things.

Road Trip!

2010-04-27T20:43:00.001-07:00

Brandi, Luz, and Dayna are heading to Columbus, Ohio this weekend for the Romantic Times Convention. They're planning to check out all the latest and greatest authors including CHARLAINE HARRIS at the gigantic book fair!

If you're going to be in Columbus over May 1, let us know!

wakethedeadpodcast@gmail.com

Skarsgard Strikes a Pose

2010-04-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

More Hot photos on SocialiteLife.com

Alexander Skarsgard covers VMAN for their Scandinavian Issue (on sale April 20) and inside the magazine he poses in a tux and a James Dean rolled t-shirt and talks about his transition from child actor to leading man.

Leading Ladies of the Supernatural World in Comic Book Biography

2010-04-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

Vampire queens unite: Anne Rice joins Stephenie Meyer and Charlaine Harris in Female Force
By David Bentley, Coventry Telegraph Original article HERE.

AMERICAN author Anne Rice, whose works include The Vampire Chronicles and New Tales of the Vampires, is to feature in the biographical comic book series Female Force.

Film fans will recall that the first two novels of Rice's Chronicles - Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned - have been made into movies. The first starred Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, while the second featured Aaliyah and Stuart Townsend.

Rice's own life will now be chronicled in Female Force: Anne Rice, slated for a June release by Bluewater Productions.

The Rice issue is the fourth in Bluewater's Female Force series to focus on creators of supernatural fiction. The others were Twilight's Stephenie Meyer, True Blood writer Charlaine Harris and Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling.

It follows the novelist from her formative years in New Orleans through the tragedies that influenced the creation of her most popular novels and her fervent rediscovery of Catholicism.

Rice has penned more than two dozen novels ranging from the supernatural to historical tomes, erotica and stories with religious themes.

"Anne Rice's uniquely gothic, sensuous, and existential approach redefined the modern vampire mythology," said issue author Scott Davis. "She advanced the vampire literary genre more than anyone since Bram Stoker."

Davis added that Rice created a fictional universe where vampires, witches, and spirits walk among the living and often suffer from the same frailties and faults that affect mortals. It's what transforms her work from pop fiction to serious literature, he says.

Bluewater President Darren Davis added: "What I think fans will enjoy is the format of Rice being interviewed by a vampire as a nod to her seminal novel Interview with a Vampire.

"This allows the Rice to provide added insight to her own story. Accordingly, the vampire narrator adds his own spin as well."

Female Force looks at strong and influential women who are shaping modern history and culture.

Issues on other prominent and influential female authors, business executives, entertainers, journalists, politicians and activists are in development.

Podcast: Book 6 review Definitely Dead

2010-04-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

Bill drops an emotional atomic bomb courtesy of Eric, Amelia becomes a crazy cat lady, and “its off with your head” at the vamp ball. Just a normal week in the life of Sookie Stackhouse!

>>Download Now

Stephen Moyer on how he pissed off all the 14 year olds on the planet

2010-03-13T20:27:00.000-08:00

I must say, Stephen does a fantastic 14 year old impression. I love this!

Charlain Harris European Tour Stop Interview

2010-03-08T14:52:00.000-08:00

Q&A with True Blood author Charlaine Harris
Posted by: This is Nottingham.co.uk

AMERICAN author Charlaine Harris is best known for vampires-in-the-deep-south True Blood novels featuring heroine Sookie Stackhouse. On Wednesday, she's signing books in Nottingham.

What inspired you to start writing vampire/supernatural stories? Is the deep south really that spooky or did you grow up watching Hammer Horror films?

I had reached a crossroads in my career, and decided to write something different. It seemed interesting to write about a young woman who was dating a vampire. Any region of the US can seem creepy, I'm sure; I just specialise in the south.

You've created a world of "supes" although the fairies have gone. (I'll miss 'em, I love the way you gave them Irish names). Are there any new beings to come?

In the next book there's an incidental character who's of another race. And there are still some fairies hanging around. Hope you enjoy them.

What did you think of the True Blood TV version and were you able to have any input in the series? (They did seem to go overboard on the sex.)

I love the TV show, and I really enjoy seeing my work through Alan's interpretation. (Alan Ball, who created American series Six Feet Under, is creator and producer of the True Blood television series.) My input lies in writing the books the show is based on.

What did you think of our true Brit Stephen Moyer's performance as Bill Compton?

I admire Stephen. I'm so pleased he's in the series, and I think he's given Bill depth and great appeal.

What's in store for Sookie, as the next book is out in May? Will the FBI come back to recruit her?

You'll have to find out then. You'll be surprised.

Why do you think the world's gone bats over vampires?

In depressed economic times people turn to fantasy literature, and my books fit the bill. In our youth obsessed society, vampires represent the ideal in keeping their looks, never ageing, never getting ill.

You also write crime fiction with the Harper Connelly "grave" stories. Would you like to see Harper get the same small screen treatment as Sookie? The latest instalment, Grave Secret, seems to flesh out some characters, such as Manfred and Harper's sisters, aunt and uncle, so there seem to be plenty of cast members for a TV series. Was this deliberate?

No, I fleshed out the characters because they were an integral part of the story. But there has been TV interest in the Harper books, and it may happen, may not.

How do you divide your time between the genres, as we're told writers have to be very focused and disciplined?

It's like switching heads. It's a nice change of pace.

How do you relax?

I read. Sometimes my husband and I go to the movies. We watch my daughter play baseball. I e-mail friends.

You're only making three stops in the UK and Nottingham is one. Do you have a fan club here or is it a hot spot for sales?

As I understand it, it is a hot spot for sales. I don't book my own tours in the US or overseas, and I enjoy seeing different places and different fans.

Priest Casting: True Blood meets Twilight

2010-03-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

'Priest' Director Discusses Film's 'True Blood'-Meets-'Twilight' Casting
Rick Marshall, mtv.com news

We have just shy of a year before "Priest" arrives in theaters, but with its popular manga source material and prominent actors from the "Twilight" and "True Blood" franchises playing major roles in the film, we're pretty sure there will be no shortage of buzz as the film's release date nears.

"It was funny,actually — when casting 'Priest' it was kind of hard to find someone who hasn’t played a vampire before," he laughed. "There are so many people playing vampires these days. ... But I love genre movies and I love to take them very seriously, even when the tone is meant to be fun. That means trying to cast them with really great actors."

In this case, the vampire-savvy actors Stewart are "True Blood" star Stephen Moyer and "Twilight" alum Cam Gigandet, who play a pair of humans (not vampires) in an apocalyptic world ravaged by vicious bloodsuckers and their subordinates.

"Cam Gigandet is great," said Stewart. "This is really the role for him. ... You've got some James Dean and Brad Pitt happening with him, and he's not even trying. It’s pretty awesome to see. We really gave him a look and a character that allowed him to be that. We also gave him some grit and some challenges as a character, and I think some emotional struggle to go through, which was fun."

As for Moyer, Stewart offered similar levels of praise for the actor who plays brooding vampire Bill Compton on the hit HBO series.

"What a treat," said Stewart. "I had never met him before and we had dinner, talked about the part. He just embraced it and took it. ... There’s a good reason why every girl I know, when they found out he was going to be in the movie, was like, 'Can I visit in the days he works?'"

For those wondering about any "Twilight" vs. "True Blood" rivalry on the set, Stewart said the two actors' bloodsucking background didn't go unnoticed by the cast and crew, and went from being a mark against them to a positive in the casting process.

"They was certainly joking about it by us on the producing side," he said. "There were actually some other people considered at various points who were also pretty well-known vampires, but it wasn’t because we had this conscious desire to find people who had been vampires in other movies. At first, I didn't want to do that, but it just sort of happened."

"Eventually, I was like, 'Maybe we should try to do that,'" said Stewart of going for actors in the rival vampire series. "Once you get two, you might as well get five. And it did end up working out that way. I was very pleased with the way the cast came together."

"Priest" is scheduled to hit theaters in January 2011.

True Blood and Philosophy: We Wanna Think Bad Things with You

2010-02-25T06:09:00.000-08:00

Want to take a bite out of philosophy? Here's you chance with Alan Ball's hit show 'Trueblood'.

The book takes a looks at philosophical issues behind Charlaine Harris's New York Times bestsellers The Southern Vampire Mysteries and Alan Ball's adaption True Blood television series.

Teeming with complex, mythical characters in the shape of vampires, telepaths, shapeshifters, and the like, True Blood has a rich collection of themes to explore, from sex and romance to bigotry and violence to death and immortality. The goings-on in the mythical town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, where vampires satiate their blood lust and openly comunicate with ordinary humans, presents no shortages of juicy metaphysical morsels to sink your teeth into.

Now True Blood and Philosophy calls on the minds of some of history's greates thinkers to perform some philosophical bloodlettting on such topics as Sookie and the metaphysics of mindreading; Maryann and sacrificial religion; werewolves, shapeshifters and personal identity; vampire politics, evil, desire, and much more.

True Blood and Philosophy is the perfect companion to the start of the third season on HBO and the release of the second season on DVD. It is smart and entertaining, and provides food--or blood--for thought, and a fun, new way to look at the series.

For all of our Trubies out there, True Blood and Philosophy, will be out for purchase June 2010.

Take a bite out of that!!!

Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly goes Comic!

2010-02-24T11:59:00.000-08:00

--- OFFICIAL RELEASE ---

Acclaimed author Charlaine Harris, the writer of the Sookie Stackhouse series, is joining the Dynamite Entertainment family in 2010! We are proud to announce that the first book of her hit Harper Connelly series, Grave Sight, will be adapted by Dynamite Entertainment in 2010! Her Sookie Stackhouse novels became the basis for one of today's most successful television shows, the hit HBO series True Blood! Dynamite is extremely proud to present Charlaine Harris' first comic adaptation!

For the past five years, readers have been thrilled by the Harper Connelly series. Featuring Harper Connelly, a woman who has what you might call a strange job: she finds dead people. She can sense the final location of a person who's passed, and share their very last moment. The way Harper sees it, she's providing a service to the dead while bringing some closure to the living-but she's used to most people treating her like a blood-sucking leech. Traveling with her step-brother Tolliver as manager and sometime-bodyguard, she's become an expert at getting in, getting paid, and getting out fast. Because for the living it's always urgent-even if the dead can wait forever.

"I'm thrilled to join such great writers," says Charlaine Harris. "I'm excited about seeing a different vision of my novels, and I've seen enough of the Dynamite Entertainment to know this will be an interesting and entertaining process."

"Charlaine has thrilled millions of readers with her novels, and millions more with the adaptation of her Sookie Stackhouse series as the TV Show known as True Blood. We at Dynamite are honored to be the first comics publisher to be granted the right to adapt her novels in to the first ever comics adaptation. And Charlaine's kind words on our comics and confidence in our ability to execute will be rewarded with Dynamite's placing the best talent available on these adaptations!" Stated Dynamite President and Publisher Nick Barrucci.

ABOUT CHARLAINE HARRIS:

CHARLAINE HARRIS, Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, Charlaine Harris is best known for her paranormal mysteries -- a sly, wry blend of humor, horror, that has been called "cozies with teeth."

ABOUT DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT:

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT, the publishing division of DYNAMIC FORCES, INC., was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including Red Sonja, Project Superpowers, The Boys, Army of Darkness, Battlestar Galactica, The Lone Ranger, Zorro and more!
In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and best selling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Alex Ross, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Michael Turner, Jim Lee, Michael Avon Oeming, Brian Reed, Mel Rubi, Marc Guggenheim, Stephen Sadowski, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner and a host of up and coming new talent and fan favorite creators!
DYNAMITE is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their more recent launches - including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger's PROJECT SUPERPOWERS - have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. In 2005 Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%). The company has also been nominated for several industry awards, including the prestigious Eisner Award.
Aside from their monthly periodical comic book series, DYNAMITE also produces new and classic material, including Tim Truman's SCOUT, Carlos Trillo and Eduardo Risso's BORDERLINE and TALES OF TERROR, Jim Starlin's DREADSTAR, as well as well as reprint editions of classic RED SONJA material.

Charlaine Harris European Book Tour

2010-02-16T08:34:00.000-08:00

EUROPEAN TOUR

ITALY
March 2 – 9:30 pm Shan Go, via San Saba 11, Rome, Italy – Interview with Rosaria Renna and signing

POLAND
March 4 – 5 pm Empik Mega Krakow, Rynek Glowny 5/ Sienna 2, 31-042, Krakow, Poland – signing

March 5 – 2 pm Wirtualna Polska – Chat video

March 5 – 6 pm Empik Giga Junior, Ul. Marszalkowska, 116/122 00-017, Warsaw, Poland – talk and signing

UNITED KINGDOM
March 9 – 6:30 pm The Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Place, London England -Talk and signing – Tickets 8 pounds call 020 7494 3654 or www.princecharlescinema.com

March 10 – 12:00 pm Waterstones, 1-5 Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham, England – signing

March 10 – 7:00 pm Waterstones, 91 Deansgate, Manchester, England – signing

PORTUGAL
March 12 – 6 pm Maxime, Praca da Alegria Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal – presentation and signing – Tel: 213467051

March 13 – 9 pm FNAC, Columbo center Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal - presentation and signing – Tel: 711 4200

Podcast: Book 10 Dead in the Family chapter 1 review and speculations

2010-02-16T08:08:00.000-08:00

Charlaine Harris has posted the first chapter of her upcoming Sookie book Dead in the Family and Brandi, Luz and Dayna are sharing their thoughts and opinions.

Download NOW

If you want to read the first chapter of Charlaine's book, check it out here.

Book 10: Dead in the Family synopsis

2010-02-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

Sookie Stackhouse has finally settled into a relationship with the Viking vampire Eric, and her errant brother Jason seems to have his life in order, too. But all the other people in Sookie’s life – Eric himself, her former lover Bill, her friend and boss Sam – are having family problems. Eric’s maker shows up with Eric’s ‘brother’ in tow, the ailing Bill can only be healed by a blood sibling, and Sam’s brother’s marriage is about to take place …or will it? The furor raised by the coming out of the two-natured has yet to settle; some people are just not ready to sit down to dinner with a man who turns into a dog. And Sookie herself is still recovering from her last ordeal. She’s definitely improving, physically and mentally, but she’s always going to have some dark moments now. The werewolves tell her that there have been strange and ominous passers-by in the Stackhouse woods; now Sookie is about to come face-to-face with one of her more distant relatives …

True Blood finally casted hellion Debbie Pelt

2010-02-05T15:13:00.000-08:00

Actress Brit Morgan joins "True Blood"
REUTERS.COM >> Link to article

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The last major new role on the upcoming third season of HBO's "True Blood" has been filled.

After a long search, Brit Morgan of ABC Family's "The Middleman" has landed the part of Debbie Pelt on Alan Ball's vampire drama. Debbie is Alcide's (Joe Mangiello) ex-girlfriend who doesn't like Sookie (Anna Paquin) much.

Except for Denis O'Hare, Ball went with largely little-known actors for the new cast additions to "True Blood" this season.

Morgan joins fellow new cast members Manganiello, Theo Alexander, Grant Bowler, Lindsay Pulsipher and Cooper Huckabee, as well as J. Smith-Cameron and veteran Alfre Woodard.

True Blood Season 3 Casting (spoiler alert)

2010-01-31T14:48:00.000-08:00

***SPOILER ALERT*** Cast descriptions may lead to series spoilers…

Creator Alan Ball has been busy casting new players in the upcoming season 3 of True Blood. Click Here to view the Season 3 Casting List

Fans of Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire series will be excited to see Alcide Herveaux’s character come to life by Joe Mangianello. Alcide is a Jackson, Mississippi werewolf who will definitely heat up your Sunday nights on HBO.

Other shifters include Sam Merlotte’s brother Tommy played by Marshall Allman, and werepanthers Calvin Norris (not casted yet), Felton Norris (not casted yet), and Crystal Norris played by Lindsay Pulsipher. Grant Bowler will play Coot, a werewolf biker and leader of the were-bikers.

Shifters aren’t the only new “sups” on the block, Denis O’Hare has been casted to play Russell Edgington, vampire King of Mississippi. Talbot, played by Theo Alexander, is Russell’s sexy vampire boyfriend. Vampire Franklin Mott, played by James Frain, comes on the scene as Tara’s new love interest.

Great news for Vampire Pam fans! Kristin Bauer has been upgraded to “regular” status meaning we should be seeing many more Pam scenes in our future.

We’ll also be seeing some minor cast members who will undoubtedly add some spice to the story. Janice Herveaux, played by Dawn Olivieri, is Alcide’s fun-loving sister. Shannon Lucio has been casted as Caroline Compton, Bill’s Civil War era wife during flash back scenes. We also get to meet sexy Yvette, played by Natasha Alam, Fangtasia’s newest dancer.

Lafayette will see some action with Jesus Valasquerz, played by Kevin Alejandro. Jesus is the caretaker of Ruby Jean Reynolds, Lafayette’s mother, played by Alfre Woodard.

Fans are anxiously awaiting the announcement of the actress casted as Debbie Pelt. She’s described as Alcide’s beloved ex-girlfriend who is addicted to V. She’s an enemy of Sookie and is sure to stir up a heap of trouble.

Click Here to view the Season 3 Casting List

Charlaine Harris needs your help! Ask Alan Ball a question about TRUE BLOOD for her Sookie Companion book

2010-01-29T15:26:00.000-08:00

From CharlaineHarris.com

YOUR CHANCE TO ASK ALAN BALL A QUESTION

1/29/10 – 2/12/10

As part of the huge project The Sookie Companion has become, we’re offering a two-week time period in which you can send your questions to producer/director/writer Alan Ball, who will answer them in the Companion. My assistant, Paula, will collect all your questions and send them to the editor at TeknoBooks who’s responsible for coordinating all the elements going into the Companion, which we hope will be out next year. Paula and the editor will weed out redundant questions. Of course, these questions should focus on the TV series “True Blood,” and they should be sent to: askalanb@yahoo.com. This address is ONLY for this special project.

Charlaine Harris

True Blood Season 2 DVD and Blu-Ray Release Date Announced

2010-01-26T12:01:00.000-08:00

@TrueBloodHBO announced today on Twitter it will be releasing Season 2 of True Blood on May 25, 2010. Fans have been waiting anxiously since the season finale last September.

The release will prelude True Blood's third season premiere on June 2010.

The DVD or Blu-Ray can be pre-ordered on Amazon.