Q & A With “Dead in the Family” Author, Charlaine Harris
May
04
2010
Once again Mel and I will be doing a Q & A session with Dead in the Family author, Charlaine Harris, which will air on our radio broadcast on May 14th. Today the tenth book in the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mysteries hits book shelves and after reading yours, many questions will be answered, but you may wish to know more about the plot or characters. Perhaps, you just want to let Charlaine know what you liked most about this book.
In the comments below, and after you’ve read Dead in the Family, post your questions or thoughts for Charlaine and we will do our best to get to as many as time allows.
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Loved the book! I read the whole thing in one four-hour sitting. (I read fast.) I loved the family theme because I think that after what happened to her in the ninth book, Sookie really needed family — to reconcile with Jason, get close to cousin Claude, bond with Hunter, and so on. Interesting that while Sookie was finding family, Eric lost nearly all of his. I’m not sure how I feel about Sookie seriously considering murder, although I totally understand how she got to that point. Who could blame her?
I actually do have a question. Did the existence of the television series and the differences that Alan Ball has incorporated into the story have any effect on your writing choices for this installment of the Sookie story? If so, how?
Hi, I love the Sookie Stackhouse novels you’ve written and I am looking forward to read ‘Dead In The Family’ but unfortunately, the book is not yet available here in the Philippines. I love how you’re incredible mind come up with the story of Sookie, all the twist and turns of it just makes me go crazy! You are so unpredictable, that’s what I love about you and your books. Kudos!
My question is… how many books are there after dead in the family? As a fan, I want to read more and more Sookie Stackhouse novel.
God Bless you!!!
I really love the series and would love to know how many more books will there be in the sookie story?
I think Charlaine had said she planned for 13 books, so three more after Dead in the Family. But maybe she has an update? I’d love to know this too.
LOVED THE BOOK! I also purchased Dead in the Family and read it in one night, now I am doing it all again but much slower! I felt that Eric and Sookie did get closer although I don’t think that the consequences at the end of the book have hit him yet, maybe they wont? And I also cant wait for th time that Victor Madden dies! Will that be anytime soon? I love the fact that Bill isn’t as Sookie-crazed as he used to be, hopefully that will last! I’m kindof worried about Sam though, we dont know much about his new girl and why can’t he take her around his family? I would love for one of my many questions to be answered!
Thanks, Charlaine Harris!
I also loved the book-I’ve been waiting for it for a few months now, and it was worth the wait! I loved that Eric and Sookie are finally together, and they are able to admit their true feelings about each other. I hope Bill and Judith stay together, I’m sick of Bill whining about how much he still loves Sookie. I felt the end was rushed and left a lot to consider-what will happen with Victor? I wish Pam was more involved in the book. I don’t have a question for Charlaine, but a request-can we please have another steamy shower scene between Eric and Sookie in the next book?!
I love the Sookie Stackhouse Series! I read Dead in the family in one night. LOVED IT!!!
My question is… now that there is a TV show has it changed your view of the Sookie universe? And has it influenced the futere books?
I have a few questions, actually. Hope you don’t mind!
Have you ever considered writing other deceased celebrities into your books, as you did “Bubba”? Say…a certain King of Pop…?
Will Hunter play a larger part in the series?
Any spoilers or hints you’d care to share?
Thanks!
I loved this book so much…i don’t how to explain myself but all i can say that after all these years with you book, waiting waiting and keep waiting right now i’m an happy woman…S/E were so intense, and i lve the fact that there’s no sex scene with a lot of details becouse i love the intimacy you give them even with the sex parte of their life!
I love that there are many things that we learned they didi together as Eric working and Sookie reading while he is working…this was such a married-couple thing to do….i loved read Eric tell her about the fangbangers and then laughed hard together…..there is a lot of trust and respect between them….and i don’t think you have any idea how many people had invested on them and love Sookie so much and like me reflects on her pain fisically and emotionally, couse i know what that mean sadly, but having the right man next to you saying “Who want a bag of bones” could save you…litterally…
My questions are:
-Next Novella will involved Sam and Quinn and i’ve read it will have a big impact on next books….that mean we cannot enjoy S/E anymore or that the impacts will be important for them to resolve Victor and FDC situation?please my mind is going to explode if i don’t know the answer^^
-You said in an interviews that you’re planning to give Sookie a more stable situation in next book…i find very stable even book 10, she was happy, worried sometimes but i see her in peace finally….Is totally insane that we can see a more stable situation with Eric in next book and then enjoy them hunting Victor?i kind of miss old Eric who always know what to do in every situation but i guess he need some relax as Sookie after book 9.
-Pam: How about Pam as a Queen?she will be perfect…i know that maybe Eric could be more credible as King, he is old, powerfull, but i’m kind of scared of that idea becouse i don’t know how Sookie would deal with that even if i think at the end she will find a way to accept this new situation..
-The One: this is probably the biggest thing that everybody want to know and of course tha last you want to answer…but recently you made a comment like that “Who said it’s a vampire” and that kind of ruin all my happyness about book 10, but i’m not complaining it just made me feel sad becouse of the time i gave to this series…
My question is….Were you serious or just teasing us as i bet you love to do with us?Becouse after all these years Sookie and Eric created a strong bond based on true love, respect, affection, and they want to protect each others…learn that maybe it’s not a vampire makes me think:What i’ve missed in these books?becouse even if i find Sam adorable in 10 books he never showed passion, charisma, joy de vivre with her….it was a good friend, maybe a little fond with her..but this is defenitly not an happy ending for a girl who risked her life so many times and i guess she deserves much more than that, really really much more than a 2nd sure choice as Sam is, for me..
Sorry if my question were to long!
I have a complaint about the book Uhm, I’m finished reading it already. When’s the next one coming out? I need more NOW! Pwease!
^^^ What Froggy said!
third-ed here…
I really liked the book mostly because of Sookies relationship with Eric and her Jason. I hope that the Eric/Sookie relationship continues and that Pam has a bigger role in the (future?) books. I also hope that Eric dosent blame Sookie for his makers death though she was thinking about killing him herself….
So my question….how many more books will there be in the Sookie Stackhouse Novels if any? I mean you can’t leave us with that ending!! I want more already! :- )
Right after school I rushed to the book store to buy Dead. I skipped my homework just to read it! I could by put it down. Thought the relationship of eric and app was creepy. Did not like him at all. Can not wait for the next one, and season three!
Ah, I hope I’m not double posting but my post isn’t showing up when I refresh the page. So I’ll give it another shot. My question is, “Will Sookie have an abnormally long life since she is part fairy?” That would make it really easy to maintain a long relationship with a vampire if she so chose to.
I loved the book and I need more!! Many things are to come in the next book…my questions would be
-Will you ever change your mind about Sookie becoming a vampire?
-Will my favorite couple Sookie and Eric stay together?
-Are any main characters going to die in the next book?
-How many more books will there be?
-Will the next book start a new war between supes and humans?
I’m sure I have more but I am going through withdrawal I need new Sookie!!!!
i love the series and i want more, i live in england so i had to bribe a relative to send it me from florida as it doesnt come out til 10th june here, not fair
ive finished it already and loved the story, it was nice that there werent any major events that she couldnt handle and that sookie and eric are finally getting there. ending was a bit weird tho!
my question are,
what happened to arlene after everything in book 9?
will eric love sookie enough to give her everything she wants, including a baby?
will hunter end up with sookie perm cus remy cant handle his gift?
thanks in advance
I have to say that I COMPLETLY enjoyed the new book. I had it downloaded to my Nook as soon as it would go through. The sookie series is so refreshingly unpredictable. I stumbled on it about 6months ago and had to wait what felt like an eternity for Dead in the Family to come out. I was glad to see that Sookie was, although briefly, thinking about her future in terms of where it would lay with Eric. Thiers is definatly a complex relationship. My only question is one that you might not be able to answer except through another book, but I was wondering if Sookie will ever admit to her true feelings for Eric? I believe he truley loves her, but her love has been rationalized in the book and we all know love is not always rational. With everything she has been through I can understand her hesitence but I do believe she feels deeper then she can admit right now. I do hope that they stay together, though there will be tough times.
I also have to say I do really like the series True Blood, but I see it as a different thing altogether. I do not associate it with your books because if I did I would be seriously disappointed in it.
Thank You for all of your wonderful writing and keeping us entertained. It is very hard to wait for more.
Wow. Lots of ground to go over…. this is just a few questions I have (and there are many).
Who was the vampire traipsing around Sookie’s property that Basim smelled along with the fairy and the buried dead body after the Were’s had gone for their monthly full-moon run on her property? It wasn’t Appius or Alexei. Heidi thought it might have been Bill but it was never made clear who it actually was.
—————- Chapter 11 ——————–
When Sookie calls Eric to tell him that the Were’s meeting is set for Monday, Eric asks her to come to Fangtasia, in Shreveport. There she finds Eric in Fangtasia’s main room in a booth with Ocella and Alexei; the tension is high. Ocella and Alexei leave the booth and Sookie is sitting alone with Eric, she asks him if he can tell her what’s up with him.
Eric tells her that ‘”Ocella has had some business to discuss with me, some unwelcome business. And as you saw, my half-brother is ailing.”’
Questions:
1. What is the unwelcome business Ocella discussed with Eric? Bringing Alexei to Eric to see if he could help control his insane half-brother was only one of the reasons Ocella came to see Eric after all this time. What were the others?
2. Ocella doesn’t care that Alexei’s behavior could have dire consequences for all that the vamps have been trying to do in the United States; and he doesn’t care about Eric’s position in this country and what the dire consequences of Alexei’s behavior would be for Eric? I know Ocella doesn’t care about mainstreaming but doesn’t he give a damn what happens to Eric?
3. Eric tells Sookie as she leaves, ‘“I love you and you are my wife, in the only way that matters to me.”’ What does he mean by that?
With the matter of Victor still left alive unresolved will that conflict continue in the next book? I don’t know if charlaine will answer this but I’d like to know if the problem with Victor become a main focus at all.
Also I loved Dead in the Family and Charlaine putting Claude as Sookie’s new roommate was brilliant!
when wiill the next book come out
when will the next book come out
Of course there are lots of questions…..where to start? Just the bigger ones:
- Will Sookie be the one to kill Victor Madden? Has she really changed so much and if so, how will she cope with that?
- How will the death of Eric’s maker affect him? Will he get over it, will it affect S/E relationship?
- Did Dermot really help kill Sookie’s parents? He said he wasn’t there…will we learn more about what happened, and his role? Will he be a bigger part of the story now? Will he and Claude stay with Sookie?
- Will Barry come back into the story? I like the idea of learning more about him and how he came to be telepathic.
- What will happen to Arlene and her kids? Sam? Tara and JB?
Just a few comments too…I hope Hunter plays a bigger role as he grows and learns. I like how this book took such a short amount of time, so didn’t address things like Arlene and the FOTS too much, leaving plenty for the next book(s).
Thanks for the writing, and keep it up! BTW you’re an inspiration to writers; you make all your books/series/characters so believable whether or not they contain the supernatural.
I’d like to know more about Dermot too. Niall has proven to be sneaky and Fintan tried to keep him away and now it turns out that Dermot isn’t the evil SOB that Niall has made him out to be… there is more to this story.
I also wondered about Arlene and her children. Sookie loved those kids and it broke her heart when she and Arlene stopped being friendly. I hope they’re with a relative and not wards of the state. Maybe we’ll go to Arlene’s trial in an upcoming book.
Hunter is such a cute kid; I hope/expect to hear more on him.
Finished the book the other day and decided to re-read the whole series (again…
Currently just finished book #8). I love the series, as well as your other books. My other favorites are Lily Bard and Harper Connelly. I’m growing to like Aurora… 
At first I wasn’t too fond of Dead in the Family, but it’s been in the back of my head (which is always a good sign, when you read a book) and I can’t wait to re-read it.
I’m wondering what plotchanges took place after Hurricane Katrina?
I’d also like to know what happened to Arlene after book #9, since she wasn’t mentioned in book #10.
I noticed that you hark back even to book #1 with the silver chain Sookie uses at the end of the book. Also, Bill and his family bible from book #2 popped up. (I was actually wondering why the Bellefleurs’ hadn’t looked at it before, since you mention in book #3 that they had done extensive research into WHO their mysterious benefactor was, back then). What other “clues”/items from earlier books have you sneaked in? Is there one from each book? Like little easter eggs?
I LOVED the nod to True Blood, by the way!
Thank you for a wonderful book series! Now I’m longing for both book #11 AND the rumoured Sookie companion… Is there such a thing and if so, when will it be released?
Love from Eric’s home country, Sweden (I LOVE hearing Alexander Skarsgård speaking it in True Blood!),
Anna-Karin
Ooh, another question just popped up: In book #5, when Sam asks Eric for a bartender after he was shot, he agreed to owe Eric a favour. Has he ever repaid it? Or will it appear in an upcoming novel?
Thanks again,
Anna-Karin
I have enjoyed the Sookie Stackhouse Series; every book and short story. Of course, I have many questions after reading the books; this last one in particular. Below are just a few.
• Is the situation with Victor Madden going to be a major plot in a future book?
o At one point I thought it would be in book ten given the information shared. I was disappointed that the situation wasn’t resolved. Of course, this is another reason to read the next book. I want to find out!
• Why was it so difficult for Appius Livius Ocella to control Alexei? Will this be explained in a future book?
o Eric is considered a formidable vampire; he was a warrior when he was alive and he is very strong due to his age. His maker was a fighter too and is even older than Eric. Combine that with the fact that a Maker can command his child to do his bidding… I do not understand how a much weaker vampire who was sickly as a human (not a noted warrior) could get the better of his Maker? Worse yet, he got the better of his Maker, Eric and Pam at the same time.
• Are all fae weapons fatal to vampires?
o Appius died when the fairy got him but his head was not chopped off, nor was he set on fire, it wasn’t a wooden stake either.
• My biggest, most pressing question… I seriously doubt you will answer… Will Eric die?
o I see this as a possibility because it is common for people to die not long after a significant other does, often within a couple of years (so not likely in the next book). Eric’s maker may not have been a great guy but Eric has known him for at least 1,000 years and I do believe that he cared for him. I fear for the Viking’s future.
I think that Alexei was so hard to control because he was so mentally damaged before he turned, like “Bubba” who had so many drugs in his system he just hasn’t been the best vamp although he takes direction well he can still go a little crazy, but Alexei had already basically lost his mind before being turned. Also I believe Appius died so easily when the fairy got him because he already had so many extensive injuries like his head was almost severed already, so maybe if he had only been shot with the arrow he would have survived but so glad he’s gone, and if Eric dies for me the story will die.
Oh, I forgot to say “thank you” for writing. It is such a great diversion, and I enjoyed the nods to True Blood. Oh hey, I just thought of another question. There is a new saying going around thanks to this book. I’m curious how it came to be created… “Eff a zombie!” LOL Lots of people are using that on message boards.
Thank you once again for writing such a great world for us to read and dream about.
It was a comment Pam made when Sookie told her that something bad had happened I can’t remember if it was when Ocella came back or a different book
Oh, I know “why” Pam said it in the book. I just just curious know how the author of the book came up with that for her to say.
I just want Charlaine to know that I have always been a reader I love books I love writing, but until her books I have never had this big of a “problem” as my husband calls it. He thinks I need to go to Sookie rehab. I can not put these books down and every time I try to read something else it bores me to death, I just absolutely love living in Sookie’s world, I don’t want to come home. lol. Not only have you brought me such a passion for reading again but also writing, your writing brought something out in me, brought something back to me. I had put it down for so long and I have a lot of other responsibilities that hinder my time to devote to it, bu the passion is back. And lastly if it wasn’t for your writing we wouldn’t have True Blood which I keep separate from the books, but is by far the best thing that has ever been put on television in the history of the earth. As a writer how does it make you feel to know that you have affected so many people in such a giant way? Also how awesome is it to know that you will definitely be a household name for many many years to come, your famous, did you ever foresee this for your future?
signed,
Elissia King Your Biggest Fan
Also you made me proud, well at least not completely embarrassed anymore, to be from Arkansas. It’s great to see so much talent come from states that are literally on the bottom of the totem poll.
LOVED ALL THE BOOKS! I just have one simple question, why Eric instead of Bill for Sookie?
First of all, I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the gifts you have given us! Those gifts being the Sookie Stackhouse novels, of course.
*First question: Regarding FBI agent Tom Lattesta… Since Sookie is no longer under investigation, will Lattesta actually leave her alone, or will he just create more problems for her?
*I absolutely adored Claude in DITF! Will he stay as her roomie?
*Will Eric & Sookie have a great Tuesday reunion (as promised by Eric)?
*Also, like the majority of the readers, I’m utterly in love with the pairing of Eric & Sookie! It’s quite obvious he genuinely loves her (and vice versa). He’s done so much for her… Although, I know you won’t give away too much about Sookie’s love life, I couldn’t help but wonder if she just might end up with Remy Savoy (who seems like a decent enough man). Anything can happen, of course. I just don’t want to think about Eric & Sookie breaking up… That would be too painful…
*Just one more thing… When Eric & Sookie exchanged “I love yous”, inside of Fangtasia, he says: “And you are my wife, in the only way that matters to me.” Now, I could be COMPLETELY wrong on this, but what I got out of that statement was: ‘I know deep down in my heart, you are my wife… Whether or not you accept our marriage, you will ALWAYS be my wife…’. Will Sookie eventually ask Eric what he meant by that? Or will she simply put that thought aside?
I adored DITH. So many of my questions were answered. Thank you Charlaine. I am glad that Sookie and Claude are becoming close and leaning on each other for support. Love love that Sookie has finally opened her heart to Eric. Eric is such a dynamic character and in DITH he openly expresses his devotion & love to Sookie. Sookie wondering about doing artifical insemination to have a baby with Eric was a curve ball that I didn’t see coming. That opens up for a lot for discussion.
The vampire politics with Victor Madden are a major issue for Eric and Sookie’s well being, I am wondering if there is a trip to Las Vegas in the future for Eric and Sookie to meet with Felipe de Castro maybe a vamprie summit or something? Sookie and Eric in Vegas!! I always love when Charlaine takes her characters on the road.
hi I love all your sookie stackhouse books and i just recently technically last night finished the last book and i was just wondering are you going to continue writing more books because I really like all of them and I wouldn’t want the series /story to end..
thanks so much
I LOVED all of the Sookie Stackhouse Novels, cannot wait for more!! I really like how all of the charactors are so unique and thier stories unfold, wondering if Pam is ever going to have a love object in her life, would hate to see her cut out of the stories, she’s one of my favorite’s in the books and on the show! When is the next book due out??
Im such a big fan.
I believe there should be more books after dead in the family :}