Author takes questions during event at Ritz

Acclaimed author Charlaine Harris appeared at the Ritz Civic Center Tuesday night as a part of the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce's "Stardust on Blytheville" series.

Harris spent the evening answering audience questions and talking with Chamber executive director Liz Smith about her history as a writer, her role in the HBO show "True Blood," offering advice for aspiring writers and discussing whether or not she is, herself, a vampire.

Harris had her first book published when she was in her 20s, a book titled "Sweet and Deadly." Since then, she has had several books published including her Harper Conneally series, recently optioned by the Syfy network; and the New York Times best-selling Sookie Stackhouse series that HBO used as the basis for its "True Blood."

One of the most common questions Harris got Tuesday was if she had done any kind of research before starting to write the Sookie Stackhouse series, to which she jokingly answered, "I interviewed a lot of vampires." She also told writers that the most important thing is to spend a lot of time writing.

Harris said she is currently writing the 13th and final book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, and when she is done, her next book will be completely different, just like what she did when she started the Stackhouse books.

After her appearance at the Ritz, Harris made a stop at That Bookstore in Blytheville to sign books for fans.

cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com